2025 NFL Season: 5 Early MVP Candidates

These Five Standout Players Are Already Leading the MVP Conversation as the 2025 NFL Season Heats Up

2025-26 Most Valuable Player Contenders

The Most Valuable Player Award in the National Football League, selected by the Associated Press, dates back to 1957, when the iconic running back Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns took home the hardware. 

However, recent history reaffirms the award to be the domain of the quarterbacks. That position has been honored each season since 2013 and all but once since 2007 (running back Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings in ’12).

Forty-eight of the awards have gone to quarterbacks, which dwarfs rushers (18) on the list.

It’s not surprising this season, at least through the first month, continues that trend, 

Looking at the current NFL odds through the season’s first five weeks, ‘defending champion’ Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs’ two-time winner Patrick Mahomes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield, Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers as well as Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) and the once-swapped Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) and Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) are getting all of Rodney Dangerfield’s respect. 

Any other position player has lottery-esque odds associated with him. 

So, the theme is that if you want to be the NFL MVP, you had better run the offense. 

It wouldn’t hurt to be part of a Super Bowl LX contender, as Allen and the Bills are current 5-1 (+500) favorites to win what would be the franchise’s first championship in the NFL (that after a pair in the dearly departed American Football League).

With a decent sample size to date, here’s a bit of a primer on the 2025 NFL MVP board…

Who is Favored to Win the NFL MVP?

As was mentioned, NFL news has those quarterbacks at the forefront of the MVP board. Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, winner in 2024, is the solid +135 choice to do so again. Through five weeks of the season, only two-time-winner Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Allen are below double figures in the wagering. Mahomes is at 9-2 (+450). You’re then at 10-1 (+1000) with Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 12-1 (+1200) quoted with the Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love. 

Currently at 14-1 (+1400) are the trio of Jared Goff (Detroit Lions), Justin Herbert (LA Chargers) and Matthew Stafford (LA Rams). Incidentally, quarterback Jalen Hurts of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles is at 22-1 (+2200).

Who Will Win NFL MVP 2025?

If you believe the board, quarterback Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is going to be a back-to-back recipient of the NFL MVP award. Note that the Bills and Philadelphia Eagles were both knocked off in NFL games during the season’s fifth week, so no more unbeaten teams in the league.

Whether that’s a harbinger of what transpires the rest of the regular season remains to be seen.

Who is Leading the MVP in the NFL?

At the quarter-pole of the 2025 NFL schedule, clearly, it’s Josh Allen, quarterback of the Buffalo Bills. Allen, the 2024 winner, is arguably the premier player in the league. Though never getting Buffalo past the title game in the American Football Conference (at least entering this season), remember this is a regular-season-only MVP award. 

Allen is atop the BetUS board when it comes to NFL MVP odds, but remember, the odds are fluid as the season progresses.  

Any Final Thoughts?

NFL odds are what drives the bus in sports gambling, and not just Team ‘A’ against Team ‘B’. There are a plethora of props all over the board, including those NFL lines on individual winners of regular-season awards. Odds are strongly suggesting it’s going to be another quarterback, but as with any wager, do some homework before placing any wager.