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3 Dark Horses That Could Win NFL MVP

By Iain MacMillan

Christian McCaffrey has the Panthers top running back and receiver in their Week 1 game against the Jets.
Christian McCaffrey has the Panthers top running back and receiver in their Week 1 game against the Jets. / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
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Now that we have at least an idea of how teams and players will look this NFL season, it’s time to once again look at the odds to win NFL MVP.

Nobody likes betting on the favorites, especially only after one week of action, so how about some dark horses?

My preseason dark horse to win the award, Jameis Winston, got off to a hot start in Week 1 by throwing five touchdown passes against the Green Bay Packers, and his odds now sit at +1600. 

Let’s see if there are any other post-Week 1 longshots that are worth a bet.

All odds are courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Dak Prescott +1500

I don’t really know if +1500 odds is still considered a “dark horse”, but it’s shocking to see his odds still available at this price after a dominant Week 1 performance against a very tough Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback completed 42-of-58 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw an interception, but he seemed to pick up right where he left off after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 5 of the 2020 NFL season.

If you’re going to bet on him, do it now before his odds get shorter.

Joe Burrow +4000

Speaking of quarterbacks who are coming back off an injury, Joe Burrow looked fantastic in the Cincinnati Bengals season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Bengals won the game as 3-point underdogs, beating the betting public who was all over the Vikings in the opening week of action. Burrow looked even better than he did before his catastrophic knee injury last year, completing 20-of-27 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns.

If he can lead the Bengals to the postseason in a year where nobody expected them to succeed, he could be among the top names in the MVP conversation.

Chirstian McCaffery +5000

Derrick Henry wasn’t able to win the league MVP award last season despite rushing for over 2,000 yards, so if any running back is going to be able to win the award, it’s going to have to be someone who racks up yards through the air as well.

Despite the win, Sam Darnold showed that he’s not going to be able to lead the Carolina Panthers to many wins this season. If they have any hope of taking a run at the postseason, it’ll be on the shoulders of McCaffery.

The 25-year old failed to find the endzone in his season debut, but he rushed for 98 yards on 21 carries and caught nine catches for 89 yards. That kind of production screams MVP.

Download the WynnBET app now and make your pick.

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