MVP Race after Week 12: Allen leads in BYE, Barkley appears, Mahomes hanging on

It took 12 weeks, but we finally have someone other than a quarterback on the MVP odds list. That’s the only change we have from last week, as the leader on the board had the week off and the rest of the QB’s that are chasing won their games over the weekend.

Here are the MVP odds after Week 12 according to our friends at MGM Grand.

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills (+150)

The leader of the pack got a much deserved week off and now will come back rested and refreshed for the final stretch of the regular season. He tops the odds board, and the Bills are just a game behind the Chiefs in the AFC race for the one seed. Last time we saw Allen he was running the Bills past the Chiefs on maybe the play of the season. Let’s see how Allen and the Bills come out of the BYE week against the Niners on Sunday Night Football.

Pass stats: 64% CMP, 2,543 YDS, 18 TD, 5 INT, 98.2 RTG

Run stats: 67 CAR, 316 YDS, 5 TD

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens (+250)

Can we just admit what Lamar Jackson is doing with the Ravens is incredible. The Ravens might be 8-4, but it’s hard to blame their QB for those losses. He has been perfect nearly all season. He is at the top of the statistical passing charts, with 3,053 yards (1st), 27 TDs (T-1st), and 117.9 RTG (1st), while throwing just three INTs. He didn’t have to do a whole lot against the Chargers as Derrick Henry carried the load in LA on Monday night, but he was efficient and effective with 2 TDs and 177 yards on 16/22 passing and another rushing TD. He may be falling behind in the chase for 1,000 yards rushing, but that’s a good thing for the Ravens later in the season. The less banged up he is going into the playoffs the better.

Pass stats: 67.3% CMP, 3,053 YDS, 27 TD, 3 INT, 117.9 RTG

Run stats: 103 CAR, 599 YDS, 3 TD

Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (+475)

Ladies and gentleman, I present to you a running back in the race for MVP. It’s been a long time since a player that wasn’t a QB won the award. Adrian Peterson was the last one in 2012, but what Saquon is doing with the Eagles this season can’t be ignored. If it was up to me I would have given him the MVP right after his backwards hurdle over a defender against the Cowboys a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works, so to build his case even more, he went for 255 yards rushing on Sunday night against the Rams. The league’s leading rusher has been sensational in his first year in Philly and has them primed for a deep playoff push.

Rushing stats: 223 CAR, 1,392 YDS, 10 TD

Receiving stats: 27 REC, 257 YDS, 2 TD

Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions (+700)

Nine straight wins for the best looking team in the league, and nine straight wins for the most accurate passer in the league. Jared Goff sat back and marveled at his running backs that scored three TDs against the Colts this week as the Lions kept their cushion on the rest of the pack in the NFC. Goff was 26/36 for 269 yards and he is back on track ever since throwing five INTs a few weeks ago against the Texans. Detroit is a well oiled machine that looks polished in every facet of the game, starting with their QB who is hanging around the MVP conversation.

Pass stats: 72.9 CMP, 2,761 YDS, 20 TD, 9 INT, 109.9 RTG

Run stats: 24 CAR, 39 YDS, 0 TD

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (+1300)

Another week and another narrow victory for the Chiefs, this time against the Carolina Panthers. It was ok when they were squeaking by these teams as an undefeated team, but watching them struggle against bottom feeders of the league is no longer cute. It’s a problem. Once again, it was Patrick Mahomes bailing them out on an MVP type play on the final drive of the game. He had a 33 yard scramble that helped set up the game winning field goal as time expired, but again the Chiefs needed their two time MVP to make the game winning play after 59 minutes of sub par football. Mahomes’ numbers are improving as the season goes on, but that doesn’t mean that the Chiefs are breezing by games. In the last four games, they beat the Bucs in OT, blocked a game winning field goal against the Broncos, lost to the Bills and squeaked by the Panthers. Things are only going to get tougher. The good news is the Chiefs are getting healthier.

Pass stats: 69.8% CMP, 2,673 YDS, 18 TD, 11 INT, 93.2 RTG

Run stats: 44 CAR, 227 YDS, 1 TD