The NFL season is nearly halfway through, and what a strange season it’s been! There is parity across the league, with nearly every team having at least two wins. We’ve seen surprising results, exciting finishes and much more over the first 7 weeks, and the rest of the campaign should be just as entertaining.
With nearly half of the season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at some updated NFL futures markets. Let’s take a look at the current odds and our favorite bets to make for NFL MVP, Comeback Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.
2022 NFL Week 8 MVP odds update
The MVP award has quickly become a 3-horse race at this stage in the season. Josh Allen is leading the way, while Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes both sit at +450 to win the award at most sportsbooks. Lamar Jackson sits in a distant 4th place at 10/1 odds, which is still a sharp drop from his 20/1 odds prior to Week 1. The biggest mover has been Hurts, whose performance — along with that of his team — has put him in position to win the MVP award in his 3rd NFL season.
2022 NFL MVP Race – Top Players
Patrick Mahomes (+450)
Mahomes is a perennial MVP contender, but it appears that he might be out of luck if Kansas City doesn’t capture the No. 1 seed in the AFC. With Josh Allen and the Bills leading the charge in the AFC, it seems unlikely Mahomes gets the award barring an unforeseen injury.
Josh Allen (+125)
Over the summer, I touted Josh Allen to win the MVP award at +700. At the midseason point, Allen is now the clear favorite for the award, and for good reason. The Bills are the league’s best team and Allen is on pace to lead the NFL in most passing categories. At this stage, it’s hard to see anyone overtaking Allen. That is, except for the next candidate on this list…
Lamar Jackson (+1000)
At this point, it seems that Lamar Jackson’s early season MVP buzz has faded. Jackson and the Ravens have struggled in close games, which has affected the market perception around his MVP campaign. While he remains a fringe contender, it seems unlikely that he’d overtake Hurts, Mahomes and Allen.
Jalen Hurts (+450)
Jalen Hurts is the quarterback and leader of the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. Therefore, that has to account for a lot in a market that is predicated on winning games. As long as the Eagles keep rolling toward the top seed in the NFL, Hurts has a ton of value in this market. With an easy schedule down the stretch, I think Hurts is worth buying at this price, especially if you’re holding a preseason ticket on Allen.
2022 Week 8 NFL Coach of the Year odds
Brian Daboll (+250)
The better value on the board in this market sits with Brian Daboll, who is doing a masterful job in New York. The Giants have already equaled their preseason win total projection and are doing it with limited talent on offense. Daboll has made Daniel Jones look like a competent NFL quarterback while righting the ship with the team’s confidence. He’s our favorite bet for this award at the moment, especially if New York continues to exceed expectations.
Nick Sirianni (+125)
Sirianni is the leader in the clubhouse for the Coach of the Year award thanks to the brilliance of the Eagles through 7 weeks. As the last unbeaten team, Sirianni is rightfully getting praise from the NFL media for his job at the center of this very successful season for Philadelphia.
2022 Week 8 NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds update
Geno Smith (+450)
On the other hand, the player with the most value to win this award is Geno Smith. Smith has had a career renaissance in Seattle, posting consistently great numbers while grading out as one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks. It’s a feel-good story and one that should resonate with voters. If the Seahawks can make the playoffs in a weak NFC, Smith has a real chance to take this award home. Plus, there’s a real chance that the Giants regress a bit during the second half of the season, which could hinder Barkley’s chances.
Saquon Barkley (-200)
Barkley is the solid favorite for the Comeback Player of the Year award, and it makes sense. Barkley is thriving after multiple injuries derailed previous seasons of his. The former Penn State running back is a special talent and has a compelling story that should connect with voters. As long as the Giants continue to win and he keeps driving their offense, Barkley will continue to be a serious contender to win this award.