The NFL MVP is the league’s top honor. Yearly players take home this award due to their individual play and their integral parts in their team’s success for that season. Quarterbacks have dominated this award in recent seasons, especially with the league’s affinity for passing (for good reason). This is not to say another skill player can’t take it down, but for that to happen in today’s NFL, many dominoes are going to have to fall precisely. Right now is the time to dive into NFL MVP props as the lines will continue to move with free agency and the NFL Draft. Head to our Prop Shop Tool and search any player by name to find their latest betting odds across numerous legal sportsbooks.
Let’s discuss the player pool and who we’re putting our dinero behind in 2021.
All odds listed below are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
2021 NFL MVP Odds
Betting on the MVP Favorites
Without a doubt, there are two clear-cut favorites to win the 2021 NFL MVP. Here’s a look.
Patrick Mahomes MVP Odds
The former MVP (2018) finished third in 2020 in MVP voting. Mahomes (+500) is the favorite anytime he plays 15-16 games in a season. Any player that can log nearly 5,000 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns on a team winning 12-14 games yearly can take home the league’s top honor.
Aaron Rodgers MVP Odds
Rodgers (+800) ran away with the award this past season, crushing the competition by 40 votes (Rodgers 44, Josh Allen 4). Rodgers did so by setting a career-high in passing touchdowns (48) and completion percentage (70.7%). Those numbers would be incredibly difficult to replicate by any player not entering their age 38 season. Rodgers has proven at this point to never say never regarding him.
2021 NFL MVP Contenders
Here is a look at some contenders to win the 2021 NFL MVP award.
Josh Allen MVP Odds
Josh Allen (+1300) returns with Brian Daboll, Stefon Diggs, and Cole Beasley all in tow. Allen took a massive leap in 2020, but that also lets the imagination still wonder what his true ceiling is. It’s possible we still haven’t seen it, and that’s scary. On a team that will again be loaded with weapons, Allen could improve his second place in the voting in 2020 and take it home.
Russell Wilson MVP Odds
Russell Wilson (+1400) was on an MVP pace in the first half of 2020. Through his first eight games, Wilson was on pace for 5,082 passing yards and 56 passing touchdowns. Pete Carroll neutered the passing offense down the stretch, trouncing Wilson’s hopes. This upcoming season doesn’t look any rosier, but Wilson still has that type of upside in him.
Deshaun Watson MVP Odds
Deshaun Watson (+1500) could be the prime player to get your exposure now. Watson’s odds for MVP could jump with a change of scenery. Watson on a winning squad is a threat to take home the honors. Last season Watson led the league in passing yards (4,823) and yards per attempt (8.9). Any team willing to fork over the capital to acquire him will not pigeonhole him into a game manager role.
Dak Prescott MVP Odds
Dak Prescott (+1500) was on a breakneck pace in his four full games played in 2020. Prescott was averaging 50.3 passing attempts per game, with the Cowboys leading the league in pace. Even toning down some of those numbers to a degree, Prescott still has the ceiling to put up MVP caliber numbers.
Tom Brady MVP Odds
Tom Brady (+1600) doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. In his first season in Tampa, Brady passed for his most yards since 2012 (4,633) and finished with the third-highest passing touchdown % (6.6) of his career. If Chris Godwin and Rob Gronkowski return, Brady could even surpass those marks in 2021.
Lamar Jackson MVP Odds
Lamar Jackson’s (+1600) ability with his legs alone gives him the upside to log his second MVP season. If Jackson can rebound as a passer and Baltimore adds more firepower to the receiving depth chart, these odds could look laughable when looking back.
Kyler Murray MVP Odds
Before Kyler Murray’s mid-season injury (+1600), he headed toward a 30 passing touchdown and 1,000 yard rushing season. The Cardinals are a team on the rise, and if Murray hits those marks in 2021 on an 11 win team, he’s got a legit shot.
NFL MVP Longshot bets
A look at some longshot bets for NFL MVP in 2021.
Matthew Stafford MVP Odds
Matthew Stafford (+1600) played out of his mind in 2019 before dealing with injuries and a lame duck Lions team in 2020. Stafford plus Sean McVay could equal fireworks in 2021.
Justin Herbert MVP Odds
Justin Herbert (+2200) finished his rookie season with the all-time rookie records in passing touchdowns (31), total touchdowns (36), completions (396), games with 300-plus passing yards (eight), and games with three-plus touchdowns (six). What do you do for an encore? Win an MVP in your second season?
Derrick Henry MVP Odds
Derrick Henry (+3300) just rushed for 2,027 yards and scored 17 total touchdowns and he didn’t get a sniff for the MVP honors. Henry replicating last season’s numbers will be tough and even if he is able to do so multiple quarterbacks are going to need to faceplant for him to have a chance.
Christian McCaffrey MVP Odds
Christian McCaffrey (+3300) and Dalvin Cook (+6600) face uphill battles in the same manner as Henry because of their position. Over the last 20 years, only three running backs have taken home MVP honors. Adrian Peterson (2012), LaDainian Tomlinson (2006), and Shaun Alexander (2006) are the only runners to do so in that span. Those three running backs averaged 1,930 rushing yards, 2,198 total yards, and 24 total touchdowns in route to MVP status. Those numbers are difficult to attain in a now pass-first league, and like with Henry, multiple passers will have to falter to put them in contention.
NFL MVP Winner History
A look at the winner of the NFL MVP from each season, dating back to 1957.
Year | Position | Player | Team |
2020 | QB | Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay Packers |
2019 | QB | Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens |
2018 | QB | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs |
2017 | QB | Tom Brady | New England Patriots |
2016 | QB | Matt Ryan | Atlanta Falcons |
2015 | QB | Cam Newton | Carolina Panthers |
2014 | QB | Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay Packers |
2013 | QB | Peyton Manning | Denver Broncos |
2012 | RB | Adrian Peterson | Minnesota Vikings |
2011 | QB | Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay Packers |
2010 | QB | Tom Brady | New England Patriots |
2009 | QB | Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts |
2008 | QB | Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts |
2007 | QB | Tom Brady | New England Patriots |
2006 | RB | LaDainian Tomlinson | San Diego Chargers |
2005 | RB | Shaun Alexander | Seattle Seahawks |
2004 | QB | Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts |
2003 | QB | Steve McNair | Tennessee Titans |
2003 | QB | Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts |
2002 | QB | Rich Gannon | Oakland Raiders |
2001 | QB | Kurt Warner | St. Louis Rams |
2000 | RB | Marshall Faulk | St. Louis Rams |
1999 | QB | Kurt Warner | St. Louis Rams |
1998 | RB | Terrell Davis | Denver Broncos |
1997 | RB | Barry Sanders | Detroit Lions |
1997 | QB | Brett Favre | Green Bay Packers |
1996 | QB | Brett Favre | Green Bay Packers |
1995 | QB | Brett Favre | Green Bay Packers |
1994 | QB | Steve Young | San Francisco 49ers |
1993 | RB | Emmitt Smith | Dallas Cowboys |
1992 | QB | Steve Young | San Francisco 49ers |
1991 | RB | Thurman Thomas | Buffalo Bills |
1990 | QB | Joe Montana | San Francisco 49ers |
1989 | QB | Joe Montana | San Francisco 49ers |
1988 | QB | Boomer Esiason | Cincinnati Bengals |
1987 | QB | John Elway | Denver Broncos |
1986 | LB | Lawrence Taylor | New York Giants |
1985 | RB | Marcus Allen | Los Angeles Raiders |
1984 | QB | Dan Marino | Miami Dolphins |
1983 | QB | Joe Theismann | Washington Redskins |
1982 | K | Mark Moseley | Washington Redskins |
1981 | QB | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals |
1980 | QB | Brian Sipe | Cleveland Browns |
1979 | RB | Earl Campbell | Houston Oilers |
1978 | QB | Terry Bradshaw | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1977 | RB | Walter Payton | Chicago Bears |
1976 | QB | Bert Jones | Baltimore Colts |
1975 | QB | Fran Tarkenton | Minnesota Vikings |
1974 | QB | Ken Stabler | Oakland Raiders |
1973 | RB | O.J. Simpson | Buffalo Bills |
1972 | RB | Larry Brown | Washington Redskins |
1971 | DT | Alan Page | Minnesota Vikings |
1970 | QB | John Brodie | San Francisco 49ers |
1969 | QB | Roman Gabriel | Los Angeles Rams |
1968 | QB | Earl Morrall | Baltimore Colts |
1967 | QB | Johnny Unitas | Baltimore Colts |
1966 | QB | Bart Starr | Green Bay Packers |
1965 | FB | Jim Brown | Cleveland Browns |
1964 | QB | Johnny Unitas | Baltimore Colts |
1963 | QB | Y.A. Tittle | New York Giants |
1962 | FB | Jim Taylor | Green Bay Packers |
1961 | HB | Paul Hornung | Green Bay Packers |
1960 | QB | Norm Van Brocklin | Philadelphia Eagles |
1959 | QB | Johnny Unitas | Baltimore Colts |
1958 | FB | Jim Brown | Cleveland Browns |
1957 | FB | Jim Brown | Cleveland Browns |
NFL MVP Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the NFL MVP in 2020?
Aaron Rodgers was the regular season NFL MVP.
Who is the youngest NFL MVP?
Lamar Jackson (2019) became the youngest NFL MVP at 23 years old.
When is the NFL MVP announced?
The NFL MVP is announced during the first week in February following the Super Bowl.
Has a rookie ever won the NFL MVP?
The league’s first MVP, Jim Brown in 1957, is the only player to take home the NFL MVP as a rookie.