New LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has made just one Pro Bowl in his 12-year NFL career, has never been a First-Team All-Pro, and has only led his teams to the postseason three times. But he is now a top-5 MVP favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook (+1500), with lower odds than that of three-time MVP Tom Brady, 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson and the likes of Deshaun Watson, Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray and Christian McCaffrey.
The Rams’ acquisition of the former No. 1 overall pick late last month had a major impact on LA’s futures odds for 2021-22, as they went from +2000 to win the Super Bowl to +1100 at DraftKings Sportsbook. LA had the third lowest 2021-22 Super Bowl odds at +1100 at DK for a few days immediately after the trade but they are now +1300 with the 2020-21 NFL season now complete. At +1300, Stafford’s Rams currently have the sixth lowest title odds at DraftKings. Only the Chiefs (+550), Packers (+900), Buccaneers (+900), Ravens (+1200) and Bills (+1200) have shorter odds.
Perhaps Stafford’s move to Southern California will totally revitalize him and he will put up career numbers. But the jury is still very much out on exactly how much better the Rams are today than they were three weeks ago, and if Stafford can truly be elite at the age of 33.
Stafford was +4400 at FanDuel Sportsbook to win the 2020 MVP last summer and has been mentioned as a longshot MVP candidate prior to many seasons. But this is the first time in a long time that he’s getting serious consideration for the NFL’s highest individual honor.
2021-22 NFL MVP odds
Here are NFL MVP odds from DraftKings Sportsbook for the 2021-22 NFL season.
Patrick Mahomes | Bet now +500 |
Aaron Rodgers | Bet now +800 |
Josh Allen | Bet now +1300 |
Russell Wilson | Bet now +1300 |
Matthew Stafford | Bet now +1500 |
Tom Brady | Bet now +1600 |
Lamar Jackson | Bet now +1600 |
Dak Prescott | Bet now +1700 |
Deshaun Watson | Bet now +1700 |
Justin Herbert | Bet now +1800 |
Kyler Murray | Bet now +1800 |
Ryan Tannehill | Bet now +2500 |
Carson Wentz | Bet now +3000 |
Derrick Henry | Bet now +3300 |
Christian McCaffrey | Bet now +3300 |
Baker Mayfield | Bet now +4000 |
Jameis Winston | Bet now +4000 |
Joe Burrow | Bet now +5000 |
Kirk Cousins | Bet now +5000 |
Tua Tagovailoa | Bet now +5000 |
Dalvin Cook | Bet now +6600 |
Cam Newton | Bet now +6600 |
Derek Carr | Bet now +8000 |
Sam Darnold | Bet now +8000 |
Alvin Kamara | Bet now +8000 |
Trevor Lawrence | Bet now +8000 |
Familiar faces
Outside of Stafford, the top of DraftKings’ MVP odds board features familiar faces. Patrick Mahomes is unsurprisingly the favorite at +500. The Chiefs QB was also the favorite heading into the 2020-21 season with +400 odds at DK.
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers had +3000 odds to win the award just prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, and he currently has +800 odds to repeat.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was one of the three MVP favorites down the stretch of 2020-21, along with Mahomes and Rodgers. Allen had been a longshot, +4000 at most books just prior to the start of this past campaign.
The great unknowns
There could be some considerable MVP odds board movement soon for several players that are currently in murky situations.
- Carson Wentz, who will likely be traded this week, is +4000 at DK – owning the same odds as Baker Mayfield.
- Dak Prescott is +1700 and Joe Burrow is +5000 but it isn’t yet known how healthy each player will be this fall as they recover from major injuries.
- Jameis Winston also has +4000 odds, but it isn’t entirely certain that he will be the Saints starter in Week 1.
- Tua Tagovailoa, Derek Carr, Cam Newton, Sam Darnold and Drew Lock have longshot MVP odds ranging from +5000 to +8000 but there are no guarantees that any of them will be a starter in 2021-22 either.
