Struggling to find a good NFL MVP bet? Check our best picks and NFL MVP Odds 2022

NFL MVP Odds 2022: Recommended Picks

•     Frontrunner: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, +150 at BetMGM
•     Sleeper: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals, +3000 at Caesars
•     Longshot: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants, +15000 at BetMGM

Who’s in the NFL MVP Odds 2022 Race?

As the NFL pushes into the second quarter of its 2022 season, sportsbooks continue to update their odds board. Last year, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took home the honor for the second straight season. But barring a monster resurgence from Rodgers and the Packers offense, the NFL MVP Odds in 2022 point toward a new winner this season. Josh Allen’s play lifted him to the best odds to win NFL MVP this season, but there is still plenty of value in the market.  

Best Odds to Win NFL MVP

 NFL MVP Odds 2022 Frontrunner Pick: Josh Allen

•  Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, +150 at BetMGM

Buffalo Bills starting quarterback Josh Allen submitted another impressive performance last week, further cementing him with the best odds to win NFL MVP. Allen threw for 329 passing yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the closing minutes of their 24-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Allen rallied the Bills on the road, helping Buffalo improve to an AFC-best 5-1 on the season.  

Allen closed as the NFL’s passing leader through the first six weeks of the season, having thrown for 1,980 yards thus far. He’s tied with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the league lead in touchdown passes and trails only Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in yards per attempt. He’s also top 10 in completion percentage. 

Data from: pro-football-reference.com (Accurate as of 10/18/22)

What’s more, Allen leads his team in rushing yards (257) and rushing touchdowns (2). That statistical dominance explains why Allen stands atop the board for the NFL MVP odds 2022.

The Bills get to enjoy their bye week following their win over Kansas City but then resume their schedule with a marquee game versus the Green Bay Packers. Allen will square off with four-time NFL MVP Rodgers, who’s having something of a down season. After that, Buffalo sees compelling matchups with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings. Another solid stretch could see Allen cement his place as the NFL MVP odds 2022 frontrunner.

If Allen continues his impressive play, he should remain with the best odds of winning NFL MVP for the first time in his career. Although Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to push Allen near the top of this odds board, Hurts is buoyed by Philadelphia’s current 6-0 record and likely will slip when the Eagles take their first loss. 

NFL MVP Odds 2022 Sleeper Pick: Joe Burrow

• Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals, +3000 at Caesars

The NFL MVP odds in 2022 opened with the notable names atop the board. Allen looked like a consensus favorite to start, while previous winners Mahomes, Rodgers, and Tom Brady stood within striking distance. One of the early sleepers for this honor, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, checked in with +1300 odds at Caesars to start but has since faded to +3000.

In 2021 Burrow threw for over 4,600 yards and 34 touchdowns and led Cincinnati to the Super Bowl, winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Many figured this season would see the Bengals’ third-year signal caller take another step forward, but a disastrous start to the season saw him slip in the NFL MVP odds in 2022. Burrow threw four interceptions in a Week 1 loss but has bounced back. 

Data from: pro-football-reference.com (Accurate as of 10/18/22)

Burrow ranks among the better sleeper plays for this award because he currently checks in with the sixth-best odds to win NFL MVP at +3000. His shortest odds come from PointsBet at +2200, but that’s also sixth among NFL MVP odds for 2022.  

Since that disastrous Week 1 performance, Burrow has been one of the better quarterbacks in the league. His touchdown-to-interception ratio over the last five contests stands at 10-to-1, the best mark in the NFL. 

The Bengals have rebounded from their 0-2 start and have won three of their last four games. Cincinnati sees a string of favorable matchups on its schedule ahead of a marquee matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13, a game that will be a rematch of last season’s AFC championship. 

If Burrow maintains his current pace, he’ll end up among the best odds to win NFL MVP this season. Mahomes’ loss to Buffalo, plus the inconsistent play of Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert, means grabbing Burrow’s NFL MVP odds in 2022 at +3000 seems like a solid value play.

NFL MVP Odds 2022 Longshot Pick: Saquon Barkley

• Saquon Barkley, +15000 at BetMGM

Quarterbacks have won this honor in 14 of the last 15 seasons – the previous non-QB to win the award was Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson in 2012. Since 2001, only three non-quarterbacks took home the honor, and each was a running back. Looking at the NFL MVP odds in 2022, 17 quarterbacks take up space among the top 20. The only running back in that grouping is New York Giants star, Saquon Barkley.  

Data from: pro-football-reference.com (Accurate as of 10/18/22)

Barkley currently ranks second in the league in both total rushing yards and rushing yards per game, trailing only Cleveland’s Nick Chubb, who will likely see his workload lessened once Deshaun Watson returns from his suspension. Barkley, meanwhile, has handled the biggest workload of any running back this season with 119 rushing attempts, and his four rushing touchdowns rank sixth. Barkley also leads the Giants in receptions this season (21) and is second in receiving yards (155). That offensive volume share should keep Barkley in the NFL MVP odds 2022 conversation, especially if the Giants continue their solid play throughout the season. 

Barkley’s best odds to win NFL MVP are +15000 at BetMGM, making him a potentially valuable longshot play for this award. He’s more likely to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year, but playing such a huge role in New York’s offense could also keep him in the running for this honor. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is the NFL MVP announced?

Since 2012, the NFL MVP has been announced during a televised awards presentation called NFL Honors. Other than last year, when the Super Bowl was moved up a few days, NFL Honors is held the night.  For the 2022 season, it will be announced on February 11, 2023.

Who's leading the NFL MVP race?

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the current frontrunner in the MVP race. BetMGM lists him at +150, the longest odds any sportsbook offers on Allen winning MVP. Meanwhile, the next-shortest odds any other player has right now belong to Jalen Hurts, who is listed at +400 by BetMGM.

Who has won the NFL MVP Award the most times?

Peyton Manning is the record-holder for most NFL MVP awards, winning it five times. Aaron Rodgers is close behind with four MVP awards, while Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Jim Brown, and Johnny Unitas have all won it three times. These are the only players with more than two MVP awards in NFL history.

Who is the current MVP in the NFL?

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the reigning MVP winner in the NFL. He won the award in both 2020 and 2021.

Conclusion

NFL MVP Odds in 2022 remains one of the most compelling awards races on the board. Josh Allen remains the clear frontrunner at this point, and barring an unexpected drop-off from him or the Bills, he should be in play for the honor. Joe Burrow is a solid sleeper and should further his case as the season continues. For longshots, it’s hard to overlook a player like Saquon Barkley, who’s helped the Giants off to an unlikely 5-1 start and stands among the top running backs in the game. 

If you're interested in more football content, be sure to read our guide: How To Bet on American Football, and visit our odds comparison tool to compare the latest NFL Week 6 odds.

Written by David Fernandez

David has more than 15 years of writing experience in sports and sports betting. Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a high school English, Creative Writing, and Journalism teacher for nearly 20 years. He holds a Master's Degree in English and Creative Writing.

David writes for various publications, including Sidelines, Scorebook Live (SBLive), and Five Reasons Sports, and has previously been published in the Miami Herald and USA Today.