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5 underdog MVP candidates worth placing a bet on

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

On Thursday, Bovada released their odds for the 2017 NFL MVP award, naming Tom Brady (4-1), Aaron Rodgers (7-1), and Derek Carr (9-1) as the favorites to take home the hardware.

With the MVP race being such a crapshoot from year to year, the favorites in June could very well be replaced by October, but you can still get some pretty solid odds on some potential candidates right now.

Related: 5 underdog Super Bowl LII matchups worth placing a bet on

Here are five wager-worthy MVP hopefuls who can give you the best bang for your buck.

Drew Brees (25-1)

Despite being the only quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards multiple times and leading the league in passing on a yearly basis, Brees has never won an MVP award - and voters know this.

Related: Why Drew Brees is the most under-appreciated player in NFL history

The Saints bulked up their run game this offseason, which may lead to less-ridiculous passing numbers from Brees than we're used to seeing, but a balanced offense will enhance his overall performance without taking away from his role as team leader. Brees has produced MVP-caliber seasons in the past, but has always fallen short - all he needs is a lucky break.

Matt Stafford (50-1)

Stafford's chaotic comebacks last season moved him into the MVP conversation, but his statistics caused him to slide just below the strongest candidates.

The Lions' offense has improved this offseason, with the team signing veteran blockers Rick Wagner and T.J. Lang and getting a healthy Ameer Abdullah in the backfield. Stafford would need to replicate something closer to the 5,038-yard, 41-touchdown campaign he had in 2011 to surpass the more reputed quarterback candidates, but at 50-1 odds, it's worth the risk.

Jameis Winston (66-1)

One of the biggest head-scratchers in the list of odds was the contrast in odds given to the 2015 draft's top two picks, Winston and Marcus Mariota, with the latter receiving 33-1 odds of becoming MVP.

Despite currently sporting much longer odds at 66-1, Winston looks poised to break the 4,400-yard mark and the 30-touchdown barrier with Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, and O.J. Howard to throw to. Mariota could very well become an MVP candidate, but with the weapons at Winston's disposal and his team's greater affinity for passing the ball, he is the more likely winner.

LeSean McCoy (100-1)

A running back has been named MVP just three times in the 21st century, hence the long odds for the 29-year-old who's contributed over 1,100 yards from scrimmage in seven straight seasons.

Tyrod Taylor seems to be taking on a bigger role with the Bills this spring, but McCoy is still the offensive leader. New offensive coordinator Rick Dennison likes to pound the ball and lean on his offensive line, which is good news for McCoy's production. If his rushing leads the Bills to their first playoff spot since 1999, his chances of winning MVP go way up.

Marshawn Lynch (100-1)

Yes, Lynch is 31 years old, and yes, he's coming off a year away from football, but he still has a chance to get this done.

Lynch is motivated to win a championship for his city, and he's be running behind the best offensive line of his career in an offense that will likely give him all the red-zone carries he can handle. At 100-1, you don't need to wager much to get a nice payoff if Beast Mode comes back better than ever.

Other candidates: Philip Rivers (50-1), Odell Beckham Jr. (66-1), Von Miller (100-1), Andy Dalton (100-1)

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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