NFL MVP Odds: Can Anyone Catch Aaron Rodgers if He Sits in Week 18?
If Aaron Rodgers doesn't play a full game will anyone be able to catch him in the NFL MVP race?
Matt O'Leary - January 6, 2022, 1:26 PM EST
3 minutesNFL MVP Odds: Can Anyone Catch Aaron Rodgers if He Sits in Week 18?
The Green Bay Packers are going back to the playoffs. Once again the Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers duo is playoff-bound and this time they have a first-round bye locked in heading into the final game of the year.
So Matt LaFleur has a decision to make in Week 18. Will he play his starters, if so for how long, or will he rest up and try to get his guys healthy?
Listening to press conferences it sounds like his starters are at the very least going to start this game. I'd be shocked if they play the entirety of it but maybe a quarter or a half of action for the regulars makes sense.
If that's the case, and let's say Aaron Rodgers only attempts 10 passes, can someone catch him for the MVP?
Tom Brady is the closest challenger at +700 so he would have a significant hill to climb. Here's how the two quarterbacks numbers compare going into the final week of the NFL season.
Name | CMP% | Yards | TD | INT | Y/A | Y/G | Rating | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aaron Rodgers | 68.6% | 3977 | 35 | 4 | 7.8 | 265.1 | 111.1 | 67.8 |
Tom Brady | 66.9% | 4990 | 40 | 12 | 7.3 | 311.9 | 100.5 | 66.7 |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing Carolina this week, so how long does he play in this game too? There's a good chance that he could sit too if Tampa jumps out to a lead on this team in the first half.
It's Aaron's award, there's a reason why he's -400 right now. That implies he has an 80 percent chance of winning the award going into the final week of the season. Something absolutely bonkers would have to happen, like a seven touchdown performance from Brady might be enough to do it.
Still, even despite what Hub Arkush thinks, Rodgers is the MVP this year.
NFL MVP Odds
Name | Odds |
|---|---|
Aaron Rodgers | -400 |
Tom Brady | +700 |
Jonathan Taylor | +1400 |
Joe Burrow | +3500 |
