Patrick Mahomes has Better 2018 NFL MVP Odds than Tom Brady
- Mahomes opened at a distant +10000 in 2018 NFL MVP odds
- Chiefs pivot set NFL record with 10 touchdown passes through Week 2
- Brady slips on NFL MVP odds despite matching his historical numbers
Patrick Mahomes continued his debut as an NFL starting quarterback in record-breaking fashion last weekend.
After tossing four touchdown passes to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a stunning 38-28 upset victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1, Mahomes brought his aerial show to Pittsburgh in Week 2.
The rising star threw for six additional scores to lead the Chiefs to a thrilling 42-37 win over the Steelers, while setting a new NFL record with 10 total touchdown passes through his team’s first two games of the season.
In addition to guiding Kansas City to the early lead atop the AFC West standings, Mahomes’ 2018 NFL MVP odds have also made a dizzying climb following his first two weeks at the helm of the Chiefs offense, moving into a tie with Tom Brady in average odds to win the award.
(See the top 5 tab in the graph below.)
Average 2018 NFL MVP Odds
With just one start to his credit in his rookie campaign , Mahomes’ promotion to Chiefs starter was met with lengthy +10000 opening odds on the NFL MVP futures.
The 23-year-old moved to +4000 by the close of the preseason, and now carries the third-shortest odds to be named MVP. Some online sports betting sites even have him listed higher than Brady.
Odds to Win the 2018 NFL MVP
| Player | Position | Team | Odds to Win 2018 NFL MVP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | QB | GB | +350 |
| Patrick Mahomes | QB | KC | +800 |
| Todd Gurley | RB | LAR | +800 |
| Tom Brady | QB | NE | +1000 |
| Drew Brees | QB | NO | +1400 |
| Philip Rivers | QB | LAC | +2000 |
But does his spectacular start to the NFL season warrant his recent leap past veteran passers like the reigning MVP Tom Brady?
Brady vs Mahomes 2018 Stats Comparison
| Player | Passing Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Completion % | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Brady | 511 | 5 | 1 | 67.6 | 104.1 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 582 | 10 | 0 | 69.1 | 143.3 |
Brady defied Father Time last season, celebrating his 40th birthday by leading the NFL in passing yards, while finishing third in the league with 32 touchdown passes and a 102.8 passer rating.
The New England passer has been no slouch in the early going of the 2018 campaign. Brady has connected on five touchdowns through the first two weeks of the campaign despite working with a diminished receiving corps.
But while Brady has taken a slight step back to +1000 on the NFL MVP odds following the Patriots 31-20 loss in Jacksonville on Sunday, it remains far too early to write off the 19-year veteran.
Gordon, Edelman to Bolster Patriots Receiving Corps
New England’s move earlier this week to acquire bad boy receiver Josh Gordon in a trade with the Cleveland Brown should bolster a receiving corps that sorely misses Brandin Cooks, who was dealt to the Los Angeles Rams during the offseason.
Veteran wideout Julian Edelman will also be eligible to return to action in the team’s Week 5 clash with the Miami Dolphins after serving a four-game suspension.
The five-time Super Bowl champion is currently on pace to top his 2017 numbers in an array of categories, including touchdowns, completion percentage, total QB rating, and passer rating
But even without his traditional downfield targets, Brady has produced solid numbers in line with his historical production.
The five-time Super Bowl champion is currently on pace to top his 2017 numbers in an array of categories, including touchdown passes, completion percentage, and passer rating.
In addition, Brady will have a golden opportunity to pad those numbers, with eight of New England’s next nine contests coming against teams that failed to make the postseason in 2017, starting with Sunday night’s clash with the Detroit Lions as 6.5-point road chalk.
Veterans Brees, Rivers Slide on NFL MVP Odds
It has also been a tough start to the season for veterans Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, who now also trail Mahomes on the average NFL MVP odds at +1300 and +1900, respectively.
A stunning Week 1 loss to Tampa Bay and a less than confidence-inspiring win over Cleveland last weekend have diminished the New Orleans Saints, both in their odds to win Super Bowl 53 and the NFC South.
Out west, high hopes and short odds surrounding the Chargers were immediately dampened with their Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. Pegged as preseason favorites to edge out Kansas City for top spot in the AFC West, Los Angeles was outclassed in its season-opening loss.
Rivers has racked up an impressive 680 passing yards and six touchdowns through Week 2, but with the rival Chiefs stealing a divisional spotlight intended for Los Angeles, Rivers must once again go through the annual exercise of carrying the Chargers, if the team is to end its three-year drought, and the 36-year-old is to remain an MVP contender.
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
