NFL MVP Odds, Candidates, Best Bets: Hurts Takes Commanding Lead, Dak Joins Top Five

The NFL MVP is given to the most outstanding player in a league of genetic anomalies and athletic freaks. It is one of the toughest awards to win and almost always correlates to team success.

Quarterbacks have dominated the MVP in recent years because of the importance of the position. That is not to say that a non-quarterback can’t also win, but it will take a record-breaking season and countless highlight moments to mount a true challenge.

Here is a comprehensive overview of the odds to win 2023 NFL MVP heading into the year, and who the top candidates are. Take a look at our top-rated NFL betting sites to make sure you're wagering with the best in the business.

NFL MVP Odds

Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. Start using Draftking and get $150 in Bonus Bets once you make your first real money wager of $5.

Favorite to Win NFL MVP Entering Week 13

Jalen Hurts, QB (+115) - Philadelphia Eagles

Unless the Eagles find themselves in a similar position to the one they did a few years ago when Carson Wentz was a shoo-in for the MVP before he suffered a season-ending knee injury, Hurts should win the award. He’s the heart and soul of the best team in the league and has led impressive wins over the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Bills in three straight weeks.

The past couple of weeks have brought his passing average down to 245.2 per game, but he has 29 total touchdowns to 10 interceptions and is playing at an elite level despite being hampered by a knee injury. He and the Eagles still have a couple of tough games to go, but they should lock up the one seed in the NFC.

Patrick Mahomes, QB (+350) - Kansas City Chiefs

Mahomes moved from third to second in odds following last week’s 31-17 win over the Raiders. The reigning MVP went 27-34 for 298 yards and two touchdowns, improving his team record to 8-3, the joint-second-best in the AFC. 

Mahomes’ season numbers are impressive (265.2 passing yards per game, 21 touchdowns, nine interceptions), but they're well below his personal standard and nowhere near what he managed during his two MVP years. His low quality of receivers also limits him from racking up gaudier numbers like the NFL public is used to seeing from him.

Lamar Jackson, QB (+400) - Baltimore Ravens

Lamar averages 290.2 total yards per game, more than Hurts and Mahomes, and has 18 total touchdowns to five interceptions on the year. His Ravens hold the best record in the AFC at 9-3, and his ability to run the offense seemingly without fault or flaw has helped them rank sixth in points per game.

Like Mahomes, Lamar isn’t playing at the level he did when he was the unanimous MVP in 2019. That said, he looks comfortable and is operating the offense at an extremely high level, which is why the Ravens are one of the most feared teams in the league.

2023 NFL MVP

Our Pick: Jalen Hurts (+115) at DraftKings

Hurts has been our MVP for a few weeks, and the quality of wins along with his late-game heroics have kept him right atop our board of favorites. He’s prone to lulls like he had in the first half of the Bills game, but he’s proving himself to be clutch at the end of games and is as devastating a dual threat as there is in the league.

Long Shot Pick: C.J. Stroud (+1800) at DraftKings

Stroud and the Texans missed out on a golden opportunity to take the AFC South lead from the Jaguars last Sunday when a 58-yard game-tying field goal doinked off the crossbar at the end of regulation. It now seems as if the Texans, currently the eighth seed, will have to make the playoffs as a Wild Card if they want to get in, but Stroud’s numbers (296.9 yards per game, 22 total touchdowns, five interceptions) are truly elite.

NFL MVP by Year

Popular NFL Futures Bets

Betting on the NFL MVP is one of the most popular futures bets in the sport of football. Bettors simply just pick who they think will win the MVP any time before it is announced and place their bet. More information about how to bet on the NFL and what types of bets are available can be found here.

How to Choose the Best Sportsbook for Betting on the NFL MVP?

Sportsbooks can offer different odds for MVPs, and the best way to get the most value out of your NFL MVP futures bet is to consult different sportsbooks and find the one that offers the best bang for your buck. That is called line shopping and is key to obtaining the greatest value in sports betting.