As we enter the home stretch of the NFL season, the talk about who should win the 2023 NFL MVP is certainly heating up. There are so many great options out there this season and for the first time in a while, I don’t think it’s crazy to say that a non-QB should be seriously considered for the award. We are going to break down some of the top candidates to win MVP based on the odds from Vegas but also who is truly deserving.
The Vegas Front Runners
Dak Prescott – QB – Dallas Cowboys
He has been criticized heavily his entire career…that happens when you are the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. But Dak is really proving the doubters wrong this season, in his first year without running back Ezekiel Elliott. He currently has the best odds to win MVP, according to Vegas. Prescott has the Cowboys operating at a very high level and Dallas has the top offense in the league. He ranks first in passing touchdowns with 28, he has just six interceptions, he has the second highest QBR in the league, and is 4th in passing yards. It’s hard to overlook Dak when Dallas seems to score at least 30 points a game.
Brock Purdy – QB – San Francisco 49ers
It’s a tight race in Vegas for odds between Purdy and Prescott. Purdy was just the guy who was Mr. Irrelevant last season and took the Niners on an improbable playoff run but we didn’t really believe he was going to show up in year two and actually improve this team and offense, did we? Purdy has been sensational. He has the third most passing yards, second most touchdowns, and best QBR in the league. He just tied Joe Montana for a record of throwing for most consecutive games with a completion rating over 70 percent…which is eight by the way. You can knock him for having a ton of great weapons around him, but the QB is the most important position in football (just look at the Niners in the 2022 NFC Championship game) and Purdy is crushing it.
Out of the box but deserving
Tyreek Hill – WR – Miami Dolphins
Hill has the highest odds of winning MVP for a guy who isn’t a quarterback. He has been a nightmare for defenses this season and there is no reason to think he shouldn’t be a legit MVP candidate. The Dolphins were without him in the first half this past Monday night and his absence revealed all the issues that offense has without Hill. Right now, Hill is first in receiving yards and first in receiving touchdowns. We still have another four games to play, and Hill is on pace for 2,000 yards and has 12 scores. The record for yards is 1,964 set by Calvin Johnson. I can’t imagine Hill not breaking that record at this point.
Christian McCaffrey – RB – San Francisco 49ers
It’s hard not to mention CMC in MVP talks. He is the workhorse of the 49ers offense and he’s probably the biggest reason that Brock Purdy won’t win the award. He had his insane touchdown streak that went into this season when he scored 17 straight games with a score. McCaffrey has the most rushing yards in the league, second most rushing touchdowns, and 437 receiving yards and five touchdowns through the air. This guy can do it all.