Following Week 1, Justin Herbert’s NFL MVP odds are on the rise across all major sportsbooks in the US. The young superstar quarterback of the Los Angeles Chargers is off to a hot start this season, and sports betting sites have taken notice.
You can find the best Herbert MVP odds on Caesars Sportsbook California at +700. The current favorite across most sportsbooks is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. However, Caesars has moved Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes to the top spot.
Herbert and the Chargers passed the first tough test of the season after beating the Las Vegas Raiders. However, there is no rest for the weary, as they will head on the road to take on another strong AFC West opponent in the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football.
In a matchup of two MVP frontrunners, this next game could dramatically shift Herbert’s odds of winning the award depending on who wins and who loses.
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Justin Herbert Rises to Top 3 in NFL MVP Odds
Player | Caesars Sportsbook | BetMGM Sportsbook | FanDuel Sportsbook | DraftKings Sportsbook |
---|---|---|---|---|
Patrick Mahomes | +500 | +550 | +600 | +750 |
Josh Allen | +550 | +450 | +400 | +500 |
Justin Herbert | +700 | +750 | +750 | +750 |
Tom Brady | +1200 | +900 | +850 | +1200 |
Jalen Hurts | +1400 | +1600 | +1800 | +1600 |
Odds listed for four of the top sportsbooks as of Sep. 13, 2022.
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Is the MVP Award Chase Officially a Three-Horse Race?
If you are a nerd like me and love diving into NFL history, you know that there have been incredible eras of quarterback play. In the 1990s, it was John Elway, Brett Favre, and Troy Aikman. In the 2000s, it was Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. In the 2010s, it was Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and more Brady. As we move along into the 2020s, guys like Rodgers and Brady are still slinging it. But now, a crop of young star quarterbacks is taking the league by storm.
Allen and Mahomes have seemingly set themselves above the rest. They are the consensus one and two picks for MVP across all major sportsbooks. However, Herbert is right on their heels and in the top three on all major sports betting sites.
After Week 1, Herbert’s MVP odds have jumped across the board. At Caesars, the odds have moved from +1000 to +700. On BetMGM California and FanDuel California, the odds have gone from +900 to +750. And over on DraftKings California, the odds have risen from +1000 to +750.
It appears as if it is now a three-horse race for the NFL MVP award. Of course, odds will undoubtedly change as the season goes along. It would be a colossal overreaction to say that guys like Brady and Rodgers are out of it after one week of football. However, the NFL MVP award is often and narrative-driven. Many believe that Brady and Rodgers had their time. And whether it is Herbert, Mahomes, or Allen, it seems that this is a young man’s game now.
Herbert Shines in Hot Start Against Raiders
Herbert picked up right where he left off last season with an outstanding performance against the Raiders in Week 1. Herbert had the 13th three-touchdown passing game of his young, prolific career.
Herbert was his usual self, hitting receivers in stride with pinpoint accuracy. Even after star wideout Keenan Allen went down with a hamstring injury, the Chargers’ QB1 was still able to make plays down the field. All three of Herbert’s TD passes were caught by players making their debut in Powder Blue.
Los Angeles avenged last season’s finale, which Vegas won on a field goal in the final seconds of overtime to knock the Chargers out of a playoff spot. Many experts will tell you that these AFC West divisional games are critical this year because of the talent across the division.
Now the focus turns toward a critical primetime matchup with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Last season, the Chargers and Chiefs played two incredible instant classics, with each team winning on the other’s home turf. Fans should expect another intense divisional showdown on Thursday Night Football.
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NFL MVP Betting History
Below, you’ll see the top three vote-getters for NFL MVP over the past 10 seasons. You’ll also see the MVP winner’s preseason odds. If you made preseason MVP bets on Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson to win in 2018 and 2019, “Lady Luck” must be your best friend.
Year | NFL MVP Winner | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Aaron Rodgers (+800) | Tom Brady | Cooper Kupp |
2020 | Aaron Rodgers (+2200) | Josh Allen | Patrick Mahomes |
2019 | Lamar Jackson (+8000) | NA | NA |
2018 | Patrick Mahomes (+10000) | Drew Brees | NA |
2017 | Tom Brady (+400) | Todd Gurley | Carson Wentz |
2016 | Matt Ryan (+9000) | Tom Brady | Derek Carr |
2015 | Cam Newton (+1500) | Tom Brady | Carson Palmer |
2014 | Aaron Rodgers (+600) | J.J. Watt | DeMarco Murray |
2013 | Peyton Manning (+600) | Tom Brady | NA |
2012 | Adrian Peterson (+4000) | Peyton Manning | NA |
NFL MVPs From the Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers were established on Aug. 14, 1959. In their 63-year history, only one Chargers player has ever been named NFL MVP.
Back in 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson was toting the rock for the then-San Diego Chargers. “LT” had a monster campaign, setting the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 28. Tomlinson would finish his record-breaking season with 2,323 yards from scrimmage and 31 total touchdowns (28 rushing, three receiving).
San Diego finished with a franchise-best 14–2 record in 2006. However, it would go on to lose to the New England Patriots lose in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.
Other NFL Player Futures Bets
There are a ton of options for customers interested in NFL player futures bets. Most major sportsbooks offer a wide range, including:
- Will any player break the record for most passing touchdowns in a season?
- Which player will lead the NFL in regular season rushing yards?
- Who will record the most sacks this season?
- Parlays: Will Player A have the most passing yards and Player B have the most receiving yards this season?
You can also place futures bets on player totals. For example:
- Justin Herbert passing yards total: Over/Under 4,700.5 yards
- Austin Ekeler rushing touchdowns total: Over/Under 8.5
- Keenan Allen receptions total: Over/Under 100.5
Justin Herbert NFL MVP Odds FAQs
California sportsbooks use odds based on a $100 wager for an awards future bet like NFL MVP. For example, +200 is the same as 2-to-1, meaning a $100 bet that wins would pay out $200. So, +1000 would net you $1,000 on a $100 bet.
The Associated Press hands out the NFL MVP. At the end of the regular season, but before the playoffs begin, 50 sportswriters all vote on which NFL player was the most valuable during that regular season. How the term “most valuable” is defined is up to the people with the votes. By looking at the history of the award winners, we can see there are certain characteristics that voters look for when making their decision.
They look at a player’s statistics and accomplishments. For quarterbacks, yards and touchdowns are the classic categories for analyzing a potential MVP. Team success is also a major component. No one is going to win the MVP if their team finishes last in the NFL.
Most sportsbooks list NFL MVP award odds under “NFL Futures” or in a section called “NFL Awards” or simply “awards.” You can bookmark a page in a sportsbook within your web browser (either laptop or mobile device), and return to it regularly to see how the odds shift.
During the NFL season, the odds will move often — every week based on injury and player/team performance. It’s rare for a player on a bad team to win the award, so if a team gets off to a bad start to the season, that player will typically plummet in the odds. The NFL MVP race is important to keep an eye on because odds can shift quite a bit based on week-to-week action.