Jackson and Allen are co-favorites in the opening 2026 NFL MVP odds.

• NFL MVP odds are already available for the 2025-26 season
• Lamar Jackson is slightly favored over Josh Allen in the MVP odds
• Read below for the opening 2025-26 NFL MVP odds, plus our early prediction

The hardware was just handed out for the NFL awards in New Orleans, but sportsbooks are already flipping over the calendar. Opening NFL MVP odds were released on Friday, along with other major award categories.

Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are the early co-favorites, although the Ravens’ QB has the slight edge as he aims to reclaim his throne. But are these two stars the best bets this early in the offseason?

Here is a look at the opening 2026 NFL MVP odds, plus our best bet.

Opening 2026 NFL MVP Odds

The early NFL 2026 MVP odds show Lamar Jackson as the +500 favorite to win his third NFL MVP award, which is 16.67% implied probability.

Odds as of Feb. 7, 2025. Browse the top NFL betting apps for the 2025-26 player awards.

Jackson vs Allen in MVP Race (Again)

Oddsmakers are projecting another tight race for the MVP award in 2025-26. The Bills’ QB Allen secured his first MVP award on Friday night, edging out Lamar Jackson in one of the closest votes in recent history. Allen received 27 of 50 first-place votes, narrowly defeating Jackson (23 first-place votes).

2024-25 was a very interesting season for MVP voting, as Jackson led in nearly every traditional passing metric, while Allen dominated as a dual-threat QB. The Wyoming product became the first QB since 1987 to win MVP without being first-team All-Pro (Jackson earned 30/50 All-Pro votes).

Allen also became the first QB with 25+ passing TDs, 10+ rushing TDs, and 1 receiving TD in a season. The 28-year-old led Bills to a 13-4 record despite losing WRs Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Jackson, meanwhile, led the Ravens to a 12-5 record but lost a few crucial games late. He also had Pro Bowl TE Mark Andrews and RB Derrick Henry.

Looking ahead to 2025-26, I lean Lamar if I had to place an early bet on one of these two studs. His stats in 2024-25 were superior in every category except rushing TDs, and he also had some “Heisman-like” moments in games against KC.

Voter fatigue likely hurt Lamar’s chances this year, but now that Allen has his first trophy, another ridiculous season should lead him to his third MVP award. I think he will be playing like a man possessed in 2025-26 after losing out to Allen in both the MVP race and the AFC Championship game.

Joe Burrow MVP Odds

While Jackson and Allen deserved to be favored in the early NFL MVP Odds, my best early value bet is Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow at +750. Joey B delivered a career-best performance in the 2024-25 NFL season, solidifying himself as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks despite Cincinnati missing the playoffs.

Burrow led the NFL with 4,918 yards, falling just short of 5,000. He threw a league-high 43 passing touchdowns (tied for first in total TDs with 45) while limiting interceptions to nine. The Ohio native was also incredibly efficient, posting a 70.6% completion rate (4th in NFL) and a 7.5 yards-per-attempt average.

Many pundits argue Burrow deserved the MVP trophy based on play alone, however, Cincinnati’s defensive troubles prevented him from overtaking Josh or Lamar. The Bengals’ defense allowed 25.5 points per game, which was 3rd-worst ever for a QB with 40+ TDs.

NFL MVP voters prioritize postseason-bound QBs, which is why Burrow was somewhat of an afterthought in this year’s race. However, it’s not like the Bengals missed the playoffs by a wide margin. The organization has brought in Al Golden from Notre Dame to try and shore up their biggest weakness.

Burrow has been lobbying in the media for the team to lock up Bengals star players Trey Hendrickson, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Likely one of Tee or Trey isn’t coming back, but the Bengals are a few moves away from getting back into the postseason, especially with teams like Pittsburgh and Cleveland seeming to trend in the wrong direction.

Barring Cincinnati doesn’t completely fumble this offseason, Burrow’s implied probability of 11.8% will look like tremendous value at this point next season, provided he avoids the injury bug that’s hampered him throughout his early career.

The 2026 NFL season is still months away, but the early MVP odds are already generating buzz among football fans and analysts alike. According to the latest odds, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills are co-favorites to win the prestigious award.

Both Jackson and Allen have had impressive seasons in recent years, with Jackson winning the MVP award in 2019 and Allen leading the Bills to the AFC Championship game in 2020. Their dynamic playmaking abilities and leadership on the field have made them two of the most exciting players to watch in the league.

Jackson, known for his electrifying speed and agility as a dual-threat quarterback, has consistently put up impressive numbers both through the air and on the ground. His ability to extend plays and make something out of nothing has made him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

On the other hand, Allen has shown tremendous growth and improvement since entering the league in 2018. His strong arm and accuracy have made him a dangerous passer, while his size and athleticism make him a threat to run as well. Allen’s ability to make big plays in crucial moments has endeared him to Bills fans and earned him respect from around the league.

While Jackson and Allen are certainly deserving of their status as co-favorites, there are plenty of other talented players who could also make a run at the MVP award in 2026. Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks are just a few names to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Ultimately, the race for the MVP award is sure to be a thrilling one, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Whether it’s Jackson, Allen, or another player who ultimately takes home the award, one thing is for certain – football fans are in for an exciting season ahead.