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2018 NFL Betting Props: Rodgers, Brady Atop NFL MVP Odds

If you’re thinking about placing a bet on the NFL MVP odds this season, you really only have two choices. You can go for value and put some money on a running back. Or, go for the win and bet on a quarterback. Every other position in the league has been shut out of the award most of the time.

Out of the 63 players to receive NFL MVP honors since 1957, 42 of them have been quarterbacks. This includes 10 of the last 11 winners. It should come as no surprise that the top eight players on the NFL MVP odds for the 2018 season are quarterbacks.

Who Are The Favorites For NFL MVP Odds?

Leading the way in the NFL odds is the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers at +550. Rodgers is a two-time NFL MVP winner having last claimed the award in 2014. If not for an injury-shortened season last year, he could have won another. Rodgers truly epitomizes the term “MVP” by literally carrying his team.

Following Rodgers on the MVP odds are the Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz at +700. Then, you have the reigning MVP, the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady, at +800. Wentz was the MVP favorite a year ago before his season was cut short by a knee injury. Brady won his third career MVP award last season and like Rodgers is a true difference-maker on his team.

What Underdogs Should You Check Out In 2018 NFL MVP Odds?

What if there is a repeat of 2015 or 2016? In those years, Cam Newton and Matt Ryan delivered career seasons to take MVP honors as an underdog. If you want to take a flyer on Newton, you can get him at +2000 odds. Meanwhile, Ryan checks in at +2200. Smarter bets could be made on a young gun like Deshaun Watson at +2000, or Kirk Cousins who at +2200 joins the Minnesota Vikings with a chance to play for a Super Bowl contender for the first time.

The first non-quarterback to appear on the NFL MVP odds list is Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley at +2000. Gurley finished second in MVP voting last season during a career year in which he led the league in touchdowns. If he can match last season’s success while also adding MVP honors he would become the 19th running back to win the award, and the first since Adrian Peterson in 2012.

Other running backs that could make the MVP grade and have value for bettors include the Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott at +3000, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell at +4000, and the Arizona Cardinals’ David Johnson at +5000.

Should You Bet On Any Position Outside Of Quarterback and Running Back?

If you want to be a real gambler you can try betting on a player that isn’t a quarterback or a running back. Only three MVP winners fit that mold. Linebacker Lawrence Taylor won in 1986, then kicker Mark Moseley in 1982, and defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971.

The one player that football bettors seem to keep focusing on is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. He’s a +5000 longshot on the odds, but has put up such big numbers at times in his career that he could legitimately become the first wide receiver to win the MVP if he can stay healthy.