After the Philadelphia Eagles picked up their 12th victory of the season in Week 14, the NFL oddsmakers effectively decided the 2022 MVP race was over. And that Jalen Hurts had already won it.
Count us among those who aren't quite sold. Jalen Hurts is indeed the best player on the NFL-leading 12-1 Eagles, but there's still one-quarter of the season left to play and plenty of worthwhile candidates to monitor as alternatives.
Can any of these MVP possibilities usurp Philadelphia's star quarterback before the end of the year? To find out, let's start by looking at the latest NFL futures betting odds from Bovada:
| NFL MVP |  |
|---|---|
| Jalen Hurts | -175 |
| Patrick Mahomes | +200 |
| Joe Burrow | +750 |
| Josh Allen | +2000 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | +2000 |
| Geno Smith | +8000 |
| Tyreek Hill | +10000 |
| Justin Jefferson | +10000 |
Like always, you'll want to confirm these NFL online betting odds until you actually submit your wager. Our NFL MVP betting odds are accurate entering Tuesday, December 13. That means Week 15 games have yet to even kick off. And that, in turn, means there's still loads of time for linemakers to adjust their odds to win NFL MVP over the final weeks of the season.
Don't view these future changes as a mere possibility. Consider them a formality. Online betting odds to win NFL MVP will definitely shift between now and the end of Week 17. That's why you need to make sure you're using the right NFL sportsbook. This way, you'll be up to date on all the latest 2022 NFL futures. Luckily, that's why we put together reviews for the best online sportsbooks. By breaking down the pros and cons of every single one, we try to ensure you'll have no issue signing up with the best online NFL betting sites in 2022.
With this in mind, does Jalen Hurts deserve to be the ultra-heavy favorite to win the 2022 NFL MVP award? Or should you be looking to mine value from one of his primary competitors?
Is Jalen Hurts the Rightful 2022 NFL MVP Winner?
Jalen Hurts' MVP case was so often painted as a ceremonial candidacy prior to Week 14. That understates how well he's played this season.
Indeed, he barely ranks inside the top 10 of total passing yards. That's atypical of an MVP QB. But he has completed 68 percent of his passes, one of the best marks in the league, and he offsets the passing-yard gap by making plays on the ground. In fact, Jalen Hurts ranks 19th in total rushing yards on the season.
That combination of accurate throwing and mobility renders Philly's quarterback a true anomaly. It has also helped him enter the superstar discussion. And when you're the primary signal-caller for the NFL's best team who's likewise on the individual superstar track, your status as an MVP favorite is more than deserved.
Patrick Mahomes is Closer to Jalen Hurts Than You Think
As convincing as Jalen Hurts might be as an MVP favorite, we would be remiss if we just wrote off Patrick Mahomes.
The one-time MVP leads the NFL in total passing yards, is completing nearly 66 percent of his passes and ranks fourth in quarterback rating. Mahomes has once again led the Kansas City Chiefs offense into Super Bowl contention, and if we're being honest, this might be his most impressive body of work yet.
Sure, Kansas City has looked more dominant in the past. But Mahomes lost one of his favorite weapons in Tyreek Hill over the offseason. That he's still at the top of his game is nothing if not proof of his value.
Does Former MVP Favorite Josh Allen Still Have Time to Enter the Fold?
Remember when Josh Allen entered the 2022 NFL season as the betting favorite to win MVP? Oh, how things have changed.
To Allen's credit, he has played the past few weeks with an injury. And he's still managed to place fifth in total passing yards, as well as third in total touchdowns thrown.
Still, the Buffalo Bills offense has been reliant on yards after the catch, which is not directly tied to Allen's value under center. We're actually surprised star wideout Stefon Diggs isn't currently laying (long-shot) MVP odds.
Who's the Best Dark Horse NFL MVP Bet Entering Week 15?
Some people will be tempted to look at Miami Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill (+10000) in this spot. We'd implore you to reconsider.
The NFL MVP award is almost never given to someone who doesn't play the quarterback position. The last non-QB to take home the honor was LaDanian Tomlinson in 2006, and a wide receiver has never earned the hardware.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (+2000), Hill's teammates, is instead the more interesting option. Though the Dolphins are working off two straight losses at this writing, Tua has been spectacular. His arm is both incredibly strong and accurate, and he's posting the second-highest quarterback rating in the league.
2022 NFL MVP Prediction
For our money, this exercise comes down to the three players listed below:
- Jalen Hurts (-2000)
- Patrick Mahomes (+200)
- Tua Tagovailoa (+2000)
Tagovailoa ends up being our first cut. He missed a couple of games in the middle of the season while in concussion protocols. That absence only reinforced his value to the Dolphins offense, but voters usually weight availability.
Mahomes is our prediction if we're picking with our heart. He is the engine of the Chiefs organization. Hurts, on the other hand, may not actually be the most valuable aspect of his team. That honor belongs to the Eagles defense.
However, awards aren't given to entire units. And when one team has so clearly been better than everyone else in a given season, voters tend to default toward that squad's quarterback. In this case, that's Jalen Hurts. And this isn't meant to imply he hasn't earned it. On the contrary, he leads the entire NFL in QB rating—a big reason why oddsmakers have placed himself head and shoulders above everyone else for the time being.
OSB Prediction: Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles (-2000)
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