The competition for the National Football League's Most Valuable Player award has intensified as the season enters the final stretch. While running back Kenneth Walker III was considered an early contender, the field has narrowed significantly to a group of quarterbacks. A signal caller has claimed the honor every year since 2013, and current projections suggest that trend will continue unless a non-quarterback produces an extraordinary performance in the remaining two months.
According to odds provided by DraftKings, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals has surpassed Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills to become the front runner for the award. Burrow enters Week 10 with odds of plus 175, placing him ahead of Allen, who sits at plus 275. Both players are strong candidates, but Burrow’s recent trajectory has shifted the momentum in his favor.
Burrow’s case for the MVP award is bolstered by improved team performance and individual statistics. The Bengals have started the season with a 6 2 record, a stark contrast to the 9 8 finish that saw them miss the playoffs in 2024. In the previous year, Allen won the award largely due to Buffalo’s 13 4 record, despite Burrow leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. This season, Cincinnati’s defense has become more reliable, allowing Burrow to focus on his offense.
The Bengals quarterback is currently leading the NFL in completion percentage at 74 percent and has thrown 23 touchdown passes. His chemistry with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins has been a key factor in the team's success. Additionally, the Cincinnati offensive line has improved rapidly, reducing the number of sacks Burrow faces and allowing him to extend plays and look downfield with greater confidence.
Josh Allen remains a serious threat to reclaim the top spot. The Bills are 7 1 and would hold the top seed in the AFC if the playoffs began now. Allen continues to be a dual threat, ranking second in the league with nine rushing touchdowns. However, his passing touchdown total of 12 is tied with Geno Smith for the 15th highest mark in the NFL. He has thrown 11 fewer touchdown passes than Burrow, which may be the differentiating factor in the voting process.
Behind the top two, the odds list includes several other prominent quarterbacks. Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers is the third favorite at plus 425, while Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers sits in fourth at plus 600. Love has thrown for the most yards in the league this season, supported by a receiving corps that includes Matthew Golden and Christian Watson. The Packers are 6 3, having recovered from a slow 1 2 start to the season.
Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars is fifth at plus 800, benefiting from a strengthened defense that includes new acquisitions like Jessie Bates III. Lawrence leads the league in average yards per pass attempt and completion percentage. Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears is sixth at plus 1800, with his MVP chances hinging on the team’s ability to secure a division title and a high playoff seed.
The list continues with Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots all tied for seventh at plus 4500. Mahomes has shown strong efficiency recently, including a game against the New York Jets where he completed over 74 percent of his passes. Goff has helped lead the Lions to four straight wins, while Maye is hoping to reverse a recent slump in interceptions.
Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions is the only non-quarterback in the top ten, sitting at 10th with odds of plus 6500. The running back is third in the NFL in rushing and leads the league in first down runs. If he wins, he would be the first running back to receive the award since Adrian Peterson in 2012. For now, however, the race appears to be dominated by the league's top quarterbacks as they push toward the end of the regular season.
