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HomeSportLamar Jackson and Derrick Henry Lead the Charge in NFL MVP Race...

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry Lead the Charge in NFL MVP Race as Week 10 Approaches

 

NFL MVP odds: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry among favorites before Week 10


With Week 9 now complete, we’re at the halfway mark of the 2024 NFL season. The top teams in each division and the playoff race are becoming clearer, and the latest NFL MVP odds show who the frontrunners are for this prestigious award.

 

Notably, the Baltimore Ravens have two standout candidates for the MVP award on their roster.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP himself, is currently the leading candidate according to BetMGM and DraftKings. Meanwhile, 2020 Offensive Player of the Year Derrick Henry is also in the top 10 of DraftKings’ odds, making him the only non-quarterback to feature in that elite group.

It’s no surprise that the Ravens, holding a 6-3 record and second in the AFC North, are seen as strong contenders for the Super Bowl.

Other top MVP candidates include quarterbacks leading their divisions: Josh Allen from the Buffalo Bills, and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

 

NFL MVP odds: Week 10

Here’s a look at the favorites for the NFL MVP award after nine weeks of play, based on DraftKings’ latest odds as of Wednesday:

 

1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens: +280

Although Jackson ranks 15th in the league in pass attempts (255), he stands third in passing yards with 2,379. Only Geno Smith of the Seahawks (2,560) and Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers (2,389) have thrown more, and both of them have higher attempt counts.

 

Jackson is tied for second in passing touchdowns alongside Joe Burrow of the Bengals, with 20 touchdowns this season. Jackson’s impressive stats include a 7.8% touchdown percentage that leads the league, alongside just two interceptions all year—both of which were tipped off receivers’ hands into defenders’ arms.

 

Additionally, Jackson is a strong running threat. He rushed for 122 yards in the season opener against the Chiefs and has surpassed 40 rushing yards in every game except for his latest, a 41-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 9.

 

2. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills: +300

Allen is no stranger to the MVP conversation, finishing in the top five of voting in three of the past four seasons, though he hasn’t secured the award yet.

While his statistics aren’t quite at Jackson’s level, Allen’s impact is evident in the Bills’ strong performance. With a record of 7-2, the Bills are dominating the AFC East. Allen ranks fourth in the NFL with 17 touchdown passes and has multiple touchdown games in six out of nine contests this season.

Similar to Jackson, he has only two interceptions so far and is on track to achieve his career’s lowest interception rate.

3. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs: +400

The two-time NFL MVP and reigning Super Bowl MVP is having an off year statistically, projecting to have the fewest passing touchdowns (23) and highest interceptions (19) of his career, along with his lowest passing yard total since 2019 and subpar passer rating (90.1).

 

Nonetheless, the Chiefs remain the only unbeaten team after nine weeks. Mahomes continues to find ways to produce wins. He recently had his best game of the season, completing 34 of 44 passes (a season-high 77.3% completion rate) for 291 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

 

4. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions: +700

Goff currently leads the league with an astounding 74.9% completion rate after nine weeks. This is partly thanks to a remarkable streak of 30 consecutive completions to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. If he maintains or improves this percentage, Goff could set the record for the highest completion rate in a season, surpassing Drew Brees’ 74.4% in 2018.

Moreover, Goff has propelled the Lions to a top NFC record of 7-1, making them genuine contenders for the Super Bowl.

T-5. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders: +1200

The rookie quarterback for the Washington Commanders, who is a second overall pick, has emerged as a strong MVP candidate in his first season, joining the ranks of C.J. Stroud from the Texans.

 

Daniels has led Washington to a 7-2 record and the top position in the NFC East, a sharp turnaround from last year’s 4-13 finish.

Thanks to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Daniels has transitioned smoothly to the pro level. He ranks third in completion percentage and has started more games than the other top quarterbacks he is chasing (Goff, 8; Tua Tagovailoa, 4).

 

Daniels is also a highly effective runner, achieving four games with at least 50 rushing yards and scoring four rushing touchdowns along with his nine passing touchdowns. With only two interceptions, he’s shown great ball security, earning him the leading odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

T-5. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles: +1200

After a rocky start in the first four weeks of 2024, Hurts has significantly improved since the Eagles’ Week 5 bye.

 

In the initial four games, the quarterback recorded a completion percentage of 68.2% with 930 yards and managed to throw four touchdowns along with four interceptions. However, in his most recent four games, Hurts improved his performance significantly, achieving a 72.3% completion rate with 844 passing yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Hurts has also demonstrated remarkable skills on the ground, achieving 322 rushing yards, placing him fourth among quarterbacks, and leading the league with eight rushing touchdowns. The Philadelphia Eagles currently hold a 6-2 record, which strengthens Hurts’ chances for the MVP award.

7. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: +1800

Burrow’s case for MVP stands in stark contrast to Mahomes’ argument.

Statistically, the Bengals’ quarterback is performing admirably. He ranks second in the NFL with 20 passing touchdowns and holds second place with a 53.1% passing success rate (according to Pro Football Reference). Additionally, he leads ESPN’s QBR ranking with a score of 76.3 and is fifth in the NFL with 2,244 passing yards.

Nonetheless, Cincinnati’s record is only 4-5, placing them third in the AFC North following a tough start of 1-4. The last time an MVP was awarded to a player from a non-playoff team was O.J. Simpson in 1973. To enhance Burrow’s chances, the Bengals must continue to secure wins.

 

T-8. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens: +2000

Henry is a strong contender for the Offensive Player of the Year award, which would mark his second win (the first was in 2020). In 2020, he became the first player to exceed 2,000 rushing yards in a single season since Adrian Peterson. This season, he has the opportunity to achieve something even more remarkable, potentially becoming the first non-quarterback since Peterson to earn the MVP title.

During Week 8, the Ravens’ top running back distinguished himself as the first player in the league since Jim Brown in 1963 to lead in four significant rushing statistics: attempts, yards, yards per carry, and touchdowns. Although Jahmyr Gibbs has since surpassed Henry in yards per carry, Henry remains close behind with only a 0.1 yard difference.

In a time when running backs are often undervalued in the NFL, Henry stands out among his peers.

T-8. Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings: +2000

Darnold, currently with his third team in three years, has emerged as one of the major surprises of the 2024 season. The seventh-year quarterback has played a pivotal role in leading the Vikings to a 6-2 record, even as many considered this a rebuilding year ahead of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. After McCarthy required season-ending surgery shortly before the season commenced, Darnold stepped in, driving Minnesota into playoff contention following a disappointing 7-10 record last year.

 

In his eight games so far, he has achieved a career-high completion percentage of 69.5% and passer rating of 107.8, with projections suggesting career highs in both passing yards (4,038) and touchdowns (36).

 

T-8. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals: +2000

The sixth-year quarterback currently leads the offense for the only NFC West team with a winning record (5-4) after nine weeks. Murray plays a key role in why Arizona is atop the division. He has directed three fourth-quarter comebacks and three game-winning drives, leading the NFL in both categories.

Following his ACL injury two years ago, Murray shows no signs of losing his agility. The 27-year-old continues to evade defenders in the pocket while accumulating rushing yards as opportunities arise. His 350 rushing yards rank third among quarterbacks this season, trailing only Jackson and Daniels.