Mahomes takes top spot from Tua in latest NFL MVP odds

Two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes is back in the lead for the 2023 Most Valuable Player award after the five-time Pro Bowler recorded a season-high 424 yards and four touchdown passes in a 31-17 victory over AFC West division rival Los Angeles. The reigning Super Bowl champ is now the +275 favorite to receive the end-of-year honor; an improvement from his +450 odds the week before.

Just last week, Mahomes sat in second on the MVP odds board behind Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered a 31-17 loss at Philadelphia, where he went 23-of-32 for 216 yards passing, with one touchdown against one interception. Tua went from the +350 top choice ahead of Week 7 to the second-favorite at +400.

The winning quarterback behind Sunday night’s marquee matchup between the Eagles and Miami Dolphins, Jalen Hurts received a boost on the odds board. Following Week 6, Hurts owned the fourth-best odds for MVP (+750). He’s now the third choice, at +500, behind his second-best performance of the season.

In a matchup against the top offense in the NFL, Hurts outplayed Tua as he completed 23 of 31 passes (74.2%) for 279 yards and recorded three total touchdowns. He’ll have a chance to pad the stat sheet further in Week 8, when he faces division foe Washington, whose defense ranks 29th in total yards surrendered (374.1) as well as points allowed (27.1).

Lamar Jackson in the hunt for second MVP award

Winner of the 2019 NFL MVP award by unanimous vote, Lamar Jackson catapulted to the fourth spot on the odds board (+650; up from +1800 the week prior) this weekend after the Baltimore Ravens demolished the 5-2 Detroit Lions 38-6 at M&T Bank Stadium.

With a season-high 357 yards through the air and four total touchdowns, Jackson connected on all but six of his 27 passes and rushed for 36 yards on nine attempts. He finished with a 155.8 passer rating and achieved his sixth game of the season with a completion percentage of 70% or better.

Baltimore’s offense was so sharp on Sunday that the Ravens reached paydirt four times before the Lions accomplished a first down. Prior to Sunday’s game, Detroit had won four straight by at least 14 points but were held to fewer than 10 points for the first time since Week 7 of the 2022 season. Baltimore currently ranks first in the league in scoring defense, permitting just 13.9 points per contest.

Brock Purdy, Josh Allen tumble down the board

As for two quarterbacks who dropped down the odds board, Buffalo Bills signal caller Josh Allen went from the third choice in the odds, at +700, to sixth, at +1500.

On Sunday, the six-year veteran turned the ball over twice in a 29-25 defeat to the 2-5 New England Patriots. Allen’s first turnover was an interception on his first pass of the game, which New England proceeded to convert into a touchdown on their next possession. Allen also fumbled on the final play of the day.

Buffalo’s last three games have resulted in a pair of losses and a way-too-close 14-9 win over the 2-5 New York Giants. The Bills remain a game behind Miami for first place in the AFC East and next host Tampa Bay on Thursday night before visiting the Cincinnati Bengals.

In the NFC, Brock Purdy endured his second straight loss of his young career in a 22-17 setback at Minnesota on Monday night. The second-year signal caller looked sharper than he did the week before in a 19-17 thriller at Cleveland, but he got picked off twice in a game for the first time in his career, and both turnovers occurred on the Niners' final two possessions as they trailed by five points.

Entering Week 7, Purdy was the fifth choice in the MVP odds at +1000. He dropped only slightly to the sixth spot, with his odds increasing to +1400, but we may see more struggles to come as he matches up with Cincinnati in Week 8 and confronts Jacksonville on the road coming off a bye week in Week 10.