NFL MVP odds: Bills' Josh Allen odds-on-favorite ahead of Saquon Barkley after Week 13
Sunday's Week 13 is in the books, and with it, playoff positioning continues to become increasingly clear, as did the NFL MVP race. According to the latest NFL MVP odds, the favorite for the league's most prestigious award has its first odds-on-favorite of 2024.
The Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns still play on "Monday Night Football" before Week 13 concludes, but there's a two-way race in MVP odds.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson is the reigning MVP and has spent most of the season as the favorite, according to BetMGM's NFL MVP odds. That was until Week 11, when the Buffalo Bills knocked off the undefeated and defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Josh Allen of the Bills leapfrogged the field and has been the favorite in NFL MVP odds since, but Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has surged into the MVP race with five weeks remaining.
NFL MVP odds
Here's which players are the favorites for the NFL MVP award after 13 weeks of action, according to BetMGM on Monday:
1. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills: -250
Allen has never claimed an MVP award but has finished in the top five in voting in three of his last four seasons. He was the runner-up in 2020 behind Aaron Rodgers and a finalist in 2022 (third place) and 2023 (fifth place). After taking down the undefeated Chiefs in Week 11, he passed the reigning MVP Lamar Jackson as the favorite.
The Bills have won seven consecutive games and claimed the AFC East division title after their impressive 35-10 win on "Sunday Night Football" over the defending NFC champion 49ers. Buffalo boasts a 10-2 record and is in the race for the AFC's top seed. They will try to hunt down and catch the Chiefs (11-1) over the final five weeks.
Allen is sixth in the NFL with 20 passing touchdowns. He has been a wrecking ball, rushing for 334 yards and six touchdowns. Allen has protected the ball this season with just five interceptions and one fumble. The Bills have scored at least 30 points in six straight games.
Allen put his stamp on the award after taking down the 49ers on a snowy night in Orchard Park. His night was highlighted by a ridiculous play where Amari Cooper pitched the ball back to Allen, and he launched himself toward the pylon for a touchdown.
2. Saquon Barkley, RB Philadelphia Eagles: +325
The last time a non-quarterback earned NFL MVP honors was in 2012, when running back Adrian Peterson won. He finished that season with 2,097 rushing yards. Before Peterson, it was LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006 when he had 28 touchdowns and more than 1,800 rushing yards. History suggests a quarterback will win, but Barkley is making his case as the Eagles have won eight in a row and are pushing the Lions for the top seed in the NFC.
Barkley scampered for 107 rushing yards in the Eagles' win over the Ravens. He became the first player to rush for 100 yards against the Ravens' league-leading run defense. He has 1,499 yards on the ground through 12 games, putting him on pace to finish with 2,123 yards and break the single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. Only eight players have reached hit 2,000 rushing yards.
3. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens: +1100
The Ravens have lost two of their last three games and head into their Week 14 bye after losing to Barkley and the Eagles. Jackson spent the first two months of the season as the favorite, but since losing to the division-rival Steelers in Week 11, 18-16, Jackson has tumbled behind Allen and Barkley.
Last season, Baltimore claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and Jackson earned MVP honors for the second time in his career. The Ravens are currently 8-5, and it will be difficult for Jackson to claim his third MVP award if they don't at least win the AFC North. Jackson is second in passing yards (3,290) and passing touchdowns (29)
4. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions: +1100
Goff continues to lead the NFL with an astronomical 71.8% completion percentage. Drew Brees holds the record with his 74.4% mark in 2018. Goff is fifth in passing touchdowns (22) and eighth in passing yards (2,982).
The Lions have the best record in the NFC at 11-1 and lead the league in point differential. Detroit has won ten straight, and their 11-1 record is the best mark in franchise history in 12 games.
Detroit's schedule down the stretch will give Goff a chance to show he is worthy of MVP honors. The Lions host the Packers on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 14. A clash with the MVP favorite Josh Allen and the Bills will follow. Goff's ultimate test is in Week 17, with a chance at redemption for the NFC Championship loss on the road for "Monday Night Football" against the 49ers. He can claim MVP honors if he continues to produce at a high level against these opponents.
5. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs: +2500
The two-time NFL MVP and reigning back-to-back Super Bowl MVP is on pace for the worst statistical season of his career. He's on pace for his fewest passing touchdowns in a single season (26), his most interceptions in a season (15), his lowest passing-yard total since 2019 – a season in which he played just 14 games – and the worst passer rating of his career (92.2).
Since Mahomes fell short against Allen and the Bills in Week 11, the Chiefs have won two in a row against the lowly Panthers and Raiders over the last two weeks. However, the defending Super Bowl champs narrowly escaped both games. Mahomes has had zero turnovers in the last two games, but his stats are still far behind those of his counterparts. It will take a historic run over the final month for Mahomes to thrust himself into the MVP race.