Normally, Week 17 would be the final week of the NFL season. Instead, we now have two more weeks to go, which means time is winding down for players to prove why they deserve to be named the 2021 NFL MVP.
Nevertheless, oddsmakers are continuing to update their Most Valuable Player odds, pointing us in the direction that voters may lean towards. According to BetOnline, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is currently the MVP favorite at -185 odds ahead of Week 17.
On one hand, winning another NFL MVP award would be historic for the Green Bay gunslinger. After all, he’s the defending award-winner and would become the first player since Peyton Manning did it in 2009 and 2010 to earn the honor in back-to-back years. Not only that but Rodgers would join Manning (5) as the only other player in NFL history to win the trophy at least four times.
Statistically, Rodgers is still one of the best to play the game despite turning 38 years old at the start of December. The Chico, California native has been terrific this season, completing 68.0% of his passes for 3,689 passing yards and 33 touchdowns to four interceptions. He also paces the league when it comes to quarterback rating (110.8), as well as interception rating (0.8%) for the fourth straight year.
Rodgers terrific play has the Packers rolling, proven by their 12-3 record. They’re also heating up offensively, averaging 33.3 points per game over their last three contests. That ranks third-best in the NFL during that span.
As long as Rodgers keeps up his pace for the next two weeks, it’s hard to see him losing his spot as the 2021 NFL MVP favorite.
Tom Brady Also Defies Time in MVP Race
While it’s impressive to see Rodgers performing as he is at the age of 38, Tom Brady’s performance this year has also been fascinating. As a result, he has +550 odds to win the 2021 NFL MVP award.
The 44-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB has been having one of the best campaigns of his career even though it’s his 21st season as a starter. He leads all NFL quarters in several major categories, including completions (422), passing yards (4,580) and touchdowns (37) ahead of Week 17.
Still, overall team success is taken into account when it comes to NFL MVP voting. While the Buccaneers locked up the NFC South with an 11-4 record, their 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints a few weeks ago may have hurt Brady’s odds. After all, getting shut out is never a good look for anyone.
At the end of the day, perhaps Brady can put up some more MVP-quality numbers over the next two weeks to have oddsmakers rethinking their odds.
NFL MVP Odds: Jonathan Taylor a Dark Horse
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor sits third in the 2021 NFL MVP race at +600 odds. However, there’s a good argument to be made that he can pull off the upset as a dark horse.
The Colts began the year on a sour note, starting the 2021 NFL season with a 1-4 record. However, the team has since won eight of its last 10 games and a lot of that has been thanks to Taylor. The 22-year-old has averaged 129.9 yards per game and 15 rushing touchdowns over that span, sometimes single-handedly winning the game for Indianapolis.
Overall, Taylor leads the NFL with 1,626 rushing yards, which is nearly 500 more than Joe Mixon in second place with 1,159. The Colts’ rusher also leads the league with 297 rushing attempts, 17 rushing TDs and he also has the longest run of the season (83 yards).
At the end of the day, it isn’t tough to see just how important Taylor is for the Colts. They wouldn’t have had this comeback without him, which might be enough to convince some people that he’s the true 2021 MVP.
2021 NFL MVP Odds Tracker
Odds via BetOnline as of Thursday, December 30
- Aaron Rodgers (-185)
- Tom Brady (+550)
- Jonathan Taylor (+600)
- Patrick Mahomes (+1100)
- Josh Allen (+1400)
- Dak Prescott (+2800)
- Cooper Kupp (+2800)
- Matthew Stafford (+4000)
- Joe Burrow (+5000)
