NFL futures: MVP betting favorites and two picks we like now

The NFL schedule is set to be released in a week, which has us craving some football bets. In the interim, a trip to some of the futures markets seems worth a journey, and we'll get started with the betting odds for this coming season's Most Valuable Player.

Lamar Jackson took home MVP honors last year, the 11th straight season a quarterback has won the award. It's very likely to be that position again, let's find us some good options to get behind.

2024-25 NFL MVP betting favorites

1. Patrick Mahomes (+600)
2. Josh Allen (+800)
3. Joe Burrow (+900)
4. C.J. Stroud (+900)
5. Lamar Jackson (+1000)
6. Jordan Love (+1200)
7. Brock Purdy (+1200)
8. Justin Herbert (+1400)
9. Jalen Hurts (+1500)
10. Dak Prescott (+1500)

Of the 10 names above, only Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson have won MVP before, each taking it home twice. We certainly like the idea of some fresh faces emerging, and there's no shortage of top-end quarterback talent in the league.

When considering who wins this award, it's of course worth nothing that team success is massively important for consideration. The MVP winner is very likely the QB on one of the NFL's best teams and top seeds, so consider teams with a pathway to such success when betting this market.

Our two favorite bets

C.J. Stroud (+900)

The Houston Texans are definitely going to be the betting darlings all offseason now, and we're not shying away from it either. 

Stroud looked simply phenomenal in his first season with the Texans, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and helping Houston win the AFC South and a playoff game.

The Texans passer will retain all three of Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz, and now Houston has added Stefon Diggs to the mix.

That's about as strong of a receiving quartet as you'll find in the league. Stroud could conceivably push for 5,000+ yards this season after going for 4,108 in his first season. Stroud also sported an elite TD:INT ratio of 23:5, which will go a long way in voters' eyes if he can maintain that.

The Texans were one of the pass-happier teams in the NFL last season, throwing at the 12th-highest rate last year. That type of volume and offensive philosophy will definitely help Stroud pad his statistics in a division the Texans should win again.

Jalen Hurts (+1500)

Jalen Hurts has been the MVP betting favorite for two straight Decembers. Two years ago, he missed two games that caused him to fall out of favor, and last year, the Philadelphia team implosion down the stretch torched his odds.

However, that should tell you a few things. One: the Eagles have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the past two seasons, and two: the betting market is respecting Jalen Hurts's role in that success while it's happening.

Expectations are sky-high in Philly ahead of the 2024 season. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have both been secured to long-term deals, Saquon Barkley has joined the fold, the offensive line should remain a strength, Kellen Moore as the new offensive coordinator should help ignite some fresh looks on offense, and the defense has added a number of key new pieces.

When you also consider how relatively weak the NFC is compared to the AFC, it's not a bad idea to look toward this conference for the MVP. Should the Eagles stay healthy and deliver on expectations, we're likely looking at one of the conference's top seeds, and Hurts should continue to pile up plenty of touchdowns both through the air and on the ground.