Patrick Mahomes had the best Week 1 out of any quarterback in the NFL. He threw for 360 yards and five touchdowns while keeping the sheet clean for interceptions. He has both the top rating and the best QBR with all Week 1 games in the books.
Patrick Mahomes is 3 to 1 to win MVP
Mahomes was the NFL's MVP in 2018 and he is the outright favorite for MVP this season (+300 with Unibet; 3/1). That he previously won the MVP award is a point that cannot be overlooked when deciding on whether to bet him to win it again this season. There is no question that he is capable of keeping his high level of play up over the course of an entire season.
The other MVP favorites with Unibet are Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. However, neither of them can claim an MVP in their respective histories. With Allen, we saw dips in form last season and we saw that with Herbert as well. Neither of these two players can be backed with full confidence.
Tom Brady is the fourth favorite and he is capable of putting an entire season together. However, he's 45 years old and that makes him a risky bet for many reasons. Bettors have to beware of this veteran player. Although his team won in Week 1, the offense wasn't excellent for the Buccaneers and Brady made some mistakes in the game.
Saquon Barkley -- the best non-QB in Week 1
If you were to select a non-QB player for MVP, then it would be Saquon Barkley at this point. The New York Giants running back was the rushing king in Week 1, galloping for 164 yards. There is definitely a question as to whether he can keep his elite performance consistent from week to week because of his history of injuries. However, Barkley is priced at 100 to 1 to win the MVP, odds that more than account for the risk in backing him.
If you are opening your betting in the NFL MVP market, then a healthy bet on Mahomes accompanied by a sprinkle on Barkley is the move to make.
Recommendations (Unibet):
- Mahomes to win NFL MVP at +300 (3/1)
- Barkley to win NFL MVP at +10000 (100/1)
