NFL MVP odds: Russell Wilson overtakes Mahomes as new favorite
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.
There's a new favorite in the NFL MVP race, and he doesn't hail from Kansas City.
Russell Wilson, who's piloted the Seattle Seahawks to a 5-1 record through the first six weeks, enters the week as the 2-1 favorite to win the NFL's top individual honor. The eighth-year quarterback opened the year with modest 20-1 odds but has steadily climbed to the top of the leaderboard. Wilson leads the league in passer rating (124.7) and is the only full-time starter without an interception.
He's been brilliant in his last two starts in wins over the Rams and Browns, and he'll have a chance to shine Sunday against a Ravens secondary in flux. Upcoming games against the beleaguered Falcons and Bucs defenses could mean now is the time to buy on the Seahawks signal-caller.
Wilson wrestled pole position away from reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes, who has slipped in the race after two mediocre performances in losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. It's only the second time in Mahomes' career that he's lost consecutive games and the first time he's dropped two straight at home. Those losses were also the first two times his team has scored fewer than 25 points with him as the starter.
Mahomes (9-4) is still a close second in the race, with Deshaun Watson just behind at (4-1). Christian McCaffrey (12-1) is a distant but intriguing fourth, while three players are tied for the fifth spot.
Here's a list of the NFL MVP candidates with shorter than 100-1 odds, with a rundown on a few notable contenders outside of Wilson and Mahomes:
| PLAYER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Russell Wilson | 2-1 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 9-4 |
| Deshaun Watson | 4-1 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 12-1 |
| Dalvin Cook | 20-1 |
| Tom Brady | 20-1 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 20-1 |
| Carson Wentz | 25-1 |
| Lamar Jackson | 50-1 |
| Alvin Kamara | 60-1 |
| Dak Prescott | 60-1 |
| Matthew Stafford | 60-1 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 80-1 |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | 80-1 |
The Texans quarterback went toe to toe with Mahomes and won in Arrowhead Stadium in a head-turning moment for his MVP candidacy. Watson had a clunker two weeks ago in a loss to Carolina, but he's been strong in his other five starts. He's come through in high-leverage spots - remember his near-winner versus New Orleans in Week 1? He'll need Wilson to falter, but if he can guide Houston to a top-two seed with his current pace, he'd likely vault up the MVP ladder.
Christian McCaffrey (12-1)What do you do with McCaffrey? He's been exceptional as the engine for the Panthers' surprisingly potent offense and has shown no signs of slowing down. His weakest points were two games against Tampa Bay's stout run defense, and he still scored two touchdowns last week in London. He's not a quarterback, though, so you're most likely paying for a ripped ticket. A 12-1 for McCaffrey is too rich, even if he is drawing comparisons to the great Jim Brown.
Aaron Rodgers (20-1)The fact that Rodgers is 20-1 amid a somewhat disappointing season speaks to oddsmakers' respect for his past exploits. Still, the Packers quarterback showed signs of the "old Rodgers" in Monday night's comeback win over Detroit, and Green Bay's defense will help keep his team high enough in the standings to sustain his MVP campaign. If he torches the Raiders, Chiefs, and Chargers - three teams with iffy secondaries - in his next three games, expect this number to tighten dramatically.
Lamar Jackson (50-1)Remember when Jackson was the shiny new toy and inevitable MVP winner after a Week 1 rout in Miami? His MVP odds are still half what they were at open, but the market has cooled on the Ravens QB after two losses against so-so defenses. The 22-year-old flashed his remarkable rushing ability against Cincinnati but needs his arm to get him back in the race. He's probably worth a shot at 50-1, though he may never repeat his season-debut performance.
Matthew Stafford (60-1)Stafford has never been a sexy name in QB circles, but he's arguably having the best season of his career on a throw-by-throw basis. The Lions are a few blown calls from leading the NFC North after six weeks, and Stafford's shortened price from 80-1 suggests oddsmakers see the upside if his stats catch up to the front-runners.
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.
Copyright (C) 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.