As we head toward Week 15 of the 2021 NFL season, it is clear that one player is head and shoulders above the rest in the race for the league MVP – Tom Brady.
Brady has Tampa Bay primed to defend its Super Bowl title and he has been putting up the type of numbers that warrant MVP consideration. There are a handful of others in the mix, but right now this is Brady’s race to lose.
Here’s a look at the updated 2021 NFL MVP race.
Tom Brady Is Favored to Win the 2021 NFL MVP
Hall of Famer Peyton Manning is the only player with five NFL MVPs. Brady could close the gap with his fourth this season. He won the award in 2007, 2010, and 2017 at the age of 40. That, of course, is the record for the oldest NFL MVP ever.
At 44 years of age, Brady, who is listed at -165 odds, leads the NFL in passing yards (4,134), passing yards per game (318) and passing touchdowns (36). Tampa Bay is 10-3 overall and has a four-game lead in the NFC South Division. A win over New Orleans next week will ensure a division title for the Bucs, the first since 2007.
If he plays all 17 games this season, Brady will throw for over 5,400 yards and 47 touchdowns. He could challenge Manning’s single season passing yardage record of 5,477 yards set in 2013.
Repeat?
The reigning NFL MVP is Aaron Rodgers, who is listed at +600 to repeat. The likelihood of a repeat is small. Since the award has been given out (1957), only five times has there been a player to win in consecutive seasons.
Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown was the first. Manning actually did it twice, Joe Montana did it in 1989 and ’90, and Brett Favre is the only NFL player to win the MVP in three consecutive seasons.
Can Rodgers do it? It’s surely possible. He has 3,219 passing yards (268.3 ypg) and 27 touchdowns to just four interceptions. More importantly, he has his Packers ready to win a third straight NFC North Division title. Green Bay is 10-3 and the Packers have been to the last two straight NFC title games. With four weeks left in the season, anything is possible.
Remaining Contenders
The Arizona Cardinals have had an outstanding season and part of the success is due to QB Kyler Murray. The Cardinals signal caller is listed at +750 to win the MVP, but he has missed three games this season and only has 19 touchdown passes thus far.
Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes has helped the Chiefs win six straight games. The Chiefs are now 9-4 and poised to win another AFC East title. Mahomes is listed at +1200 to win his second MVP award. His numbers are solid – 3,642 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.
The only non-quarterback among the leading contenders is Indianapolis RB Jonathan Taylor who is also listed at +1200. Taylor leads the NFL in rushing with 1,348 yards per game. He also leads all ball carriers with 16 rushing touchdowns. The last running back to win the award was Adrian Peterson in 2012. He rushed for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns. Taylor is on pace for 1,763 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Odds to Win 2021 NFL MVP
Tom Brady -165
Aaron Rodgers +600
Kyler Murray +750
Patrick Mahomes +1200
Jonathan Taylor +1200
Matthew Stafford +1400
Justin Herbert +1400
Dak Prescott +2200
Josh Allen +2800
Mac Jones +10000
Learn how to bet on NFL futures.