50-1 odds for 50 days until NFL Kickoff: Can non-QBs (like Cooper Kupp) make the MVP conversation interesting?
Quarterbacks have won MVP every year since 2012.
With 50 days until the NFL’s opening kickoff between the Bills and Rams on Sept. 8, I decided to look for some 50-1 betting odds for the 2022 season with sneaky value.
Browsing through the futures on Tipico Sportsbook, MVP immediately jumped out to me because of one player: Cooper Kupp. To be clear, my personal favorite bet for MVP is Joe Burrow at +1200, but Kupp and a couple other non-quarterbacks have interesting cases at +5000.
The MVP of Super Bowl LVI, Kupp finished last season third in regular-season voting behind Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. He returns to a similar situation in Los Angeles, where the Rams didn’t suffer any dramatic losses to their offense (he was putting up goofy numbers even before Odell Beckham joined). Yet, his 50-1 odds are long relative to the other finalists.
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That’s for good reason: a wide receiver has never won MVP. Kupp put together one of the greatest seasons in NFL history, completing the receptions-yards-touchdowns triple-crown, and it still wasn’t enough to win. Odds of him putting together a similar season are probably longer than his MVP odds.
However, if the 29-year-old were somehow able to repeat, he’d likely have a greater chance at claiming the award than in 2021. He’ll have greater chemistry with Matthew Stafford after a year together. Also, I don’t think people realized his true value until the playoffs, when the difference he made was on full display. With a Super Bowl MVP to his name, voters will likely be more open to giving him consideration this year, especially if the league’s quarterbacks don’t continue to put up record-breaking numbers.
Another non-quarterback with 50-1 odds is Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. It’s been 10 years since the last running back won the award — Adrian Peterson in 2012 — however Taylor is set up to have a monster season this year.
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A runner-up to Kupp for 2021 Offensive Player of the Year, Taylor led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, averaging over 100 yards per game. And at 23 years old, his best might still be ahead of him. The Colts will go as he goes, and Matt Ryan replacing the erratic Carson Wentz at quarterback could potentially make Taylor’s job a little easier. Plus, there’s still room for him to improve as a pass catcher.
In the same division, Derrick Henry, the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, also has 50-1 odds. An injury that sidelined Henry for nine games last season is a bit concerning, as his mileage is beginning to pile up. But you can’t argue with the results when he’s on the field.
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Even with all the missed time, Henry finished the season top 10 in rushing yards and touchdowns. His 117 yards per game average led the league. If he stays healthy, he could potentially find himself in the convo for MVP. Especially after the Tennessee Titans traded A.J. Brown in the offseason, which boosts the value of everyone remaining.
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