How Jackson-Daniels Showdown Impacted NFL MVP, Rookie Races


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How Jackson-Daniels Showdown Impacted NFL MVP, Rookie Races

In a season full of parity, the NFL MVP race is wide open.

A couple of perennial contenders are among the early favorites, including reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, who has seen his odds shorten each week during Baltimore’s current four-game winning streak. 

Jackson and the Ravens took down a Commanders team that was receiving a ton of public money in Week 6, shifting the MVP and Offensive Rookie of the Year odds based on that result. Below, we take a look at the impact of Week 6 games at some online sportsbooks

Jackson’s MVP campaign continues to gain steam 

Jackson opened at +1200 to win the award this season. Those MVP odds lengthened to +2200 in Week 3 following a stunning collapse in a loss to the Raiders. After beating the Cowboys, Jackson only dipped to +2000, then to +1000 after his squad dominated Josh Allen’s Bills — shifting Allen from the MVP favorite down the odds board in the process. 

Edging the Bengals in overtime shifted Jackson down to +650, and he remains around that number at most books, with DraftKings offering +550 odds. Only Patrick Mahomes (+350) has shorter odds at DraftKings, and BetMGM is listing Mahomes as a +250 favorite ahead of a huge Week 7 matchup at San Francisco. 

The Ravens are now -350 favorites to win the AFC North at BetMGM and getting +1000 odds to finish with the best record in the NFL. Jackson is the favorite to lead all quarterbacks in rushing yards at +220, with Jayden Daniels now sporting the fourth-shortest odds at +700 in that market. 

Daniels shifts from MVP candidate back to Rookie of the Year favorite

Daniels opened the season at +600 to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and is now a sizable favorite, with odds of around -200 at online sportsbooks. His MVP campaign was gaining steam ahead of Washington’s big test at Baltimore in Week 6. 

Getting 6.5 points at most books, Washington drew 88% of the bets and 92% of the handle at BetMGM but ultimately failed to cover in a 30-23 loss at Baltimore. Daniels to win MVP has moved from +900 to +1300 at BetMGM following that result. 

Odds have not moved much on the dynamic rookie quarterback to be the next Offensive Rookie of the Year, but No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is down to odds of +160 to win the award at some books after leading the Bears to a third straight win. 

Photo by Associated Press/Nick Wass