NFL MVP favorites after Week 8: Josh Allen in odds on favorite, Hurts jumps Mahomes after Chiefs bye week
Josh Allen is leading the race for the NFL MVP. He and Buffalo took down the Green Bay Packers while Jalen Hurts returned from a bye week with a bang.
We are almost at the halfway point of the NFL season and we have a pretty good idea of the short list of quarterbacks that will be in the running for the league’s MVP.
Josh Allen came into the campaign as the favorite for the award, and it appears those who forecasted him to be the frontrunner were spot on. Patrick Mahomes got a little R&R this week, which will do his body good but the bye gave Jalen Hurts the chance to jump him in the MVP race. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens finally stung together consecutive wins for the first time this year, while Joe Burrow struggled under the spotlight of the Monday Night lights against the Cleveland Browns.
Josh Allen +120, last week: +120
The Bills QB1 had perhaps one of his most pedestrian performances of the season against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. It was supposed to be a battle of two of the top quarterbacks in the game, but it turned into a run fest in Orchard Park. Allen threw for just 218 yards, and did throw two TDs, but also had two INTs . Buffalo’s QB1 also had 49 rushing yards including a 3rd and long conversion to set up the first TD of the game. The Bills cruised to victory to keep their distance on the rest of the AFC, and continue to look like the best team in the league.
Season stats: Comp %: 65.5 % YDS: 2,198 TD: 19 INT: 6 RYDS: 306 RTD: 2
Jalen Hurts +350, last week +450
You just had to know that the Philadelphia Eagles were going to come out firing after their Week 7 bye. Jalen Hurts had his best game in terms of passer rating this season at the expense of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he was having an exceptional season before Sunday, the one knock on Hurts was his lack of touchdown passes. He had just six through the first six games of the season, but his four TDs against the Steelers has bumped his total to a very respectable 10, and let’s not forget about his six rushing TDs which is good enough for a tie for fourth in the entire league.
Season stats: Comp %: 67% YDS: 1,799 TD: 10 INT: 2 RYDS: 303 RTD: 6
Patrick Mahomes +400, last week +400
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs spent the week resting and getting their bodies ready for the second half of the season. Mahomes has been trailing Josh Allen in the MVP race all season, but now has seen Jalen Hurts jump above him after his four TD performance over the Steelers. KC and Mahomes will come out of the bye set for a massive showdown between the Tennessee Titans in a battle of 5-2 teams in the AFC.
Season stats: Comp %: 66.9%. YDS: 2,159 TD: 20 INT: 5 RYDS: 113 RTD: 0
Lamar Jackson +1000, last week +1200
Baltimore’s back and forth season came to a momentary halt when Lamar Jackson and the Ravens put together a win streak for the first time this season. Before last Sunday, Jim Harbaugh’s men were alternating wins and losses. It wasn’t pretty in the first half of Thursday’s game against the Bucs as Baltimore was wereheld to just three points through 30 minutes. Jackson took over in the second half, using his legs and arm to lead his side to three second half TDs including two passing touchdowns from the Baltimore QB1. He also picked up a few crucial first downs with his legs as the Ravens went on to sink the Buccaneers and move to 5-3 on the year.
Season stats: Comp %: 63% YDS: 1,635 TD: 15 INT: 6 RYDS: 553 RTD: 2
Joe Burrow +1600, last week +1600
Monday Night’s performance in Cleveland didn’t do Joe Burrow any favors when it comes to his MVP candidacy. For as poorly as he played, it somehow didn’t drop his odds to win the award, but if you were watching the game, it did not look like a QB who has a chance to win the league’s Most Valuable Player. If we are making excuses for Burrow, his offensive line gave him no protection, and his top WR Ja’marr Chase is out for a month which will make moving the ball like Cincy is used to much tougher. That’s one way to look at it, but if Burrow can carry the Bengals offense without his top target, that would only enhance his MVP chances. Unfortunately Thursday night’s QB rating of 17.6 is not going to look to attractive to the MVP voters.
Season stats: Comp %: 69.2 %. YDS: 2,329 TD: 17 INT: 6 RYDS: 132 RTD: 3