It seems like the 2023 NFL season began yesterday, but we’ve already hit October with Week 5 around the corner. Not only have the standings begun to take shape over the last month, but so has the NFL MVP race.
Superstars around the league are putting on a show as they attempt to will their team into the playoffs and toward Super Bowl LVIII. One example of a player in this category is San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, who just can’t be held out of the end zone.
But is McCaffrey a legitimate MVP candidate? Or are there other better options lurking in the shadows?
Below, we’ll take a look at the latest odds for the 2023 NFL MVP race, as well as if McCaffrey is the right pick to become the league’s most valuable player.
NFL MVP 2023 Odds Update — Week 5
NFL odds courtesy of BetOnline as of Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 10:12 a.m. ET.
- Josh Allen – BUF (+350)
- Patrick Mahomes – KC (+500)
- Tua Tagovailoa – MIA (+500)
- Lamar Jackson – BAL (+800)
- Jalen Hurts – PHI (+900)
- Christian McCaffrey – SF (+1000)
- Brock Purdy – SF (+1200)
- Justin Herbert – LAC (+1600)
- Trevor Lawrence – JAX (+2200)
- Dak Prescott – DAL (+3300)
- Jared Goff – DET (+5000)
- Micah Parsons – DAL (+5000)
- Tyreek Hill – MIA (+6600)
- Joe Burrow – CIN (+7500)
- Kirk Cousins – MIN (+7500)
- Matthew Stafford – LAR (+7500)
- Deshaun Watson – CLE (+10000)
- Derek Carr – NO (+15000)
- Jordan Love – GB (+15000)
- Justin Jefferson – MIN (+15000)
- TJ Watt – PIT (+15000)
Can Christian McCaffrey Win the 2023 NFL MVP?
It’s no secret that McCaffrey is one of the best running backs over the last decade.
The former Stanford Cardinal is an extremely versatile threat, able to damage opponents on the ground and through the air. He’s racked up over 5,100 rushing yards and close to 3,900 receiving yards since entering the league in 2017, racking up 67 touchdowns along the way.
While injuries were a concern a few years ago, the current season proves that CMC is back. He fits like a glove in San Francisco’s RB-friendly offense, resulting in his leading the NFL in the following categories:
- Carries: 80
- Rushing yards: 459
- Rushing touchdowns: 6
- Total touches: 98
- Scrimmage yards: 600
- Scrimmage touchdowns: 7
If the above numbers aren’t impressive enough, there’s also the fact that McCaffrey has accounted for 50% of the 49ers’ touchdowns thus far. For reference, Brock Purdy and Brandon Aiyuk are the next closest players at 14.3% apiece. Considering how the NFL MVP is supposed to be the player most crucial to his team’s success, it’s easy to see how McCaffrey fits the bill.
It’s also telling that the 27-year-old rusher owns the best odds of any non-QB on BetOnline’s odds list.
Considering how he has better odds to win than his quarterback, it’s safe to say that CMC is a legit MVP candidate. If he isn’t producing, the 49ers aren’t 4-0.
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Now, back to the gridiron…
2023 NFL MVP Prediction Before Week 5
Don’t get me wrong — I think McCaffrey is more than capable of being named the 2023 NFL MVP. He’s an elite offensive weapon who is, more or less, single-handedly leading the 49ers’ offense.
At the same time, I can’t ignore what Josh Allen is doing for the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills look like the team to beat in the AFC and a lot of that has to do with Allen’s play. He’s racked up 1,048 passing yards and nine TD passes through four games, putting him on pace for over 4,400 yards and a career-high 38 touchdowns.
That’s without mentioning how he’s also rushed for 106 yards and two TDs on 16 carries.
Allen has already proven that he’s an NFL MVP candidate in the past, finishing second in 2020 before placing third last season. He’s also the only one between himself, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson who hasn’t won the award, which should motivate Allen to get things done.
Again, CMC is a strong bet if you’re looking for a dark horse, but all signs point to Allen at the moment.
2023 NFL MVP Pick: Josh Allen (+325 on BetOnline)
2023 NFL MVP FAQ
How many running backs have won NFL MVP?
- 16 running backs have been named NFL MVP since the award was introduced in 1957.
Who was the last running back to win NFL MVP?
- Adrian Peterson was the last RB to be named NFL MVP when he won the award in 2012.
Which running back has won NFL MVP the most?
- Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown holds the record for most MVP wins by a running back, having won the award three times (1957, 1958, 1965).
Who won the last NFL MVP?
- Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was named MVP for the 2022 NFL season.
How can I bet on the NFL MVP race?
- 2023 NFL MVP odds are available across all top sportsbooks. You can also bet on other major NFL futures, including Super Bowl LVIII, division winners, Offensive Rookie of the Year, and more on the following sportsbooks:
