When people are making wagers, no matter what the wager is, everyone loves an underdog. People like those underdogs, even more so, when they pay out a large sum of money. With the NFL season right around the corner, betting is going to pick up soon.
When looking at prop bets in the NFL, one that people always try to hit it big on is the MVP award. Picking a quarterback is usually the way to go, as that position has produced eight consecutive winners and 13 out of the last 14. So, there is a chance that it could be a running back, as they are the only offensive position that has won an MVP in the history of the NFL other than a quarterback.
To hit it big, you have to dig a little deeper and we have done that for you. Here are five dark-horse MVP candidates as we enter the 2021 NFL season.
5. Jameis Winston, Quarterback New Orleans Saints
Jameis Winston hasn’t even officially been named the starter yet for the New Orleans Saints, but there are worse long-shots to take than for him to win MVP.
New Orleans also has a lot of weapons around him, led by Alvin Kamara at running back and Michael Thomas at wide receiver. The team’s offensive line is also good, which means he should have time in the pocket to make some plays.
It was only two years ago that Winston led the NFL with 5,109 yards while starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He did throw 30 interceptions that season, but he also had 33 touchdowns. A little more ball security and a cut down on the turnovers and Winston could have a very strong stat line this season.
4. Christian McCaffrey, Running Back, Carolina Panthers
In 2019 an argument could be made that Christan McCaffrey could have won MVP. His statistics were right on par with what Adrian Peterson accomplished when he won the award in 2012 and when LaDainian Tomlinson won the award in 2006.
The only thing Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander, who won it in 2005, had over McCaffrey was their touchdown totals, as Tomlinson had 31 total touchdowns and Alexander had 28. McCaffrey blew Alexander’s total yardage out of the water, as well.
McCaffrey battled injuries in 2020, playing in only three games. He will be poised to bounce back in 2021 and with an improved roster around him, McCaffrey should have no problem producing once again. He has as good of a chance as any non-QB to win the MVP given his dual-threat ability out of the backfield.
3. Carson Wentz, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
Carson Wentz is looking to get his career back on track with the Indianapolis Colts after the Philadelphia Eagles traded him away this offseason. Wentz needed a change of scenery and the pieces are in place for him to succeed in Indianapolis.
The Colts have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL, which will help after Wentz was beaten and battered with the Eagles. They also have a strong running game with Jonathan Taylor and Marlon Mack. While there is no superstar at wide receiver, T.Y. Hilton is a steady performer and Paris Campbell will be back to complement Michael Pittman.
Most importantly, Wentz’s offensive coordinator from when he was on pace to win the MVP in 2017, Frank Reich, is now his head coach. There should be a level of comfortability for Wentz to hit the ground running.
2. Derrick Henry, Running Back, Tennessee Titans
What Aaron Rodgers accomplished last season was worthy of the MVP award he received, but Derrick Henry was also worthy of receiving the award.
Henry led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns for the second consecutive season, rumbling to 2,027 yards and 17 scores. He also set a career-high with 19 receptions and 397 total touches.
The Titans are among the better teams in the AFC, so that should keep Henry in the MVP discussion once again if he is able to plow over opposing defenses in a similar fashion to what he has done the previous two seasons. If the Titans get him a little more involved in the passing game, he would have an even stronger case.
1. Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Los Angeles Rams
After spending the first 12 years of his career in football purgatory with the Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford will be playing under the sun in California in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams look like one of the best teams in the NFL on paper, putting Stafford in the MVP discussion right away. Despite putting up gaudy stats with the Lions, he was never recognized for his performance as much as he should have been because the Lions were rarely competitive. He only had a winning record four times so far in his career.
In Los Angeles, he has a great supporting cast offensively and they are buoyed by a dominant defense. If Stafford produces at the level we are accustomed to seeing him and he leads the Rams to a division title, he will be right there in the end for the MVP award.
