NFL MVP Race 2024-25: Latest Predictions After Updated Odds Entering Week 17

Who is the NFL's best player?

It is a question answered, or attempted to, each season via the league's Most Valuable Player award and in 2024, there are several worthy candidates.

From high-scoring quarterbacks to running backs sprinting into the history books, there are four or five different candidates capable of emerging from the regular season as the front-runner for the trophy.

Which player is the odds-on favorite heading into Week 17 and are they the best choice?

Find out with this deep dive.

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills (-500; bet $100, win $120)

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens (+370)

Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (+1200)

Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions (+2000)

Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (+7000)

Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings (+8000)

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (+9000)

Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers (+10000)

Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+10000)

Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders (+10000)

TJ Watt, EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers (+10000)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Joe Burrow is having the best season by a quarterback in the NFL in 2024.

His team, however, has under-performed defensively, leaving the Cincinnati Bengals on the brink of elimination and Burrow's banner season flying under the radar.

The former LSU Tiger leads the league with 4,229 yards and 39 touchdowns while throwing just eight interceptions. His quarterback rating of 108.5 is third behind Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff.

He has carried his team on his back and is a large reason, if not the reason, the Bengals are still in contention for a Wild Card spot at all, making him the very definition of "most valuable player."

Still, when the postseason awards are handed out on the eve of Super Bowl LIX, he is unlikely to hear his name called for the most prestigious individual honor thanks to his team's as-of-now losing record.

He sits fifth among candidates, behind Jackson, Goff, Bill signal-caller Josh Allen, and running back Saquon Barkley.

Unless he gets his team into the playoffs and has them in a position to go on a 2021-esque run to the Super Bowl, the likelihood that he fields enough votes to overcome any of those players is low.

Still, it would be irresponsible not to recognize him for the extraordinary season he has had and the record-chasing tandem he has developed with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who leads the league with 1,510 yards.

Allen will win the NFL MVP award barring a colossal fall off.

The Bills quarterback has delivered another strong season, tallying 3,549 yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 11 rushing touchdowns, and 514 rushing yards.

He has been the unquestioned leader and driving force behind the AFC's No. 2 seed, in a year where the offense was expected to take a step back following a trade that sent top wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Texans.

Instead, Allen has been a one-man wrecking ball for the Bills, running over defenders and toward his first league MVP award.

Jackson is his toughest challenger, a generational player whose quarterbacking has only managed to improve since is won his first of two MVP awards back in 2019. With two winnable games against Houston and Cleveland on the docket, there is plenty of time for the Ravens QB to surge ahead of Allen, but the Bills leader feels like the most likely winner in a year of quality play at football's most prominent position.