What Are the Chances of Jonathan Taylor Winning MVP?

Do you remember what it was like seeing Adrian Peterson, the last non-quarterback, win NFL MVP? Neither do I, but Jonathan Taylor is staking a claim to the NFL MVP odds after another dazzling performance in Week 8, this time against the Tennessee Titans. 

The 26-year-old is attempting to become the first running back to win NFL MVP since 2012, and his recent exploits have him among the NFL MVP odds front-runners. So, what are Taylor's chances of winning, and should you back the prolific Colt to become the fourth running back to win MVP since the turn of the millennium?

📊 Latest NFL MVP odds 

Latest NFL odds updated live in real time from our best NFL betting sites.

🤔 What are the chances of Jonathan Taylor winning MVP?  

After another sensational performance on the ground against the Tennessee Titans in Week 8, in which he stampeded for 153 yards and two TDs on 12 carries, the hype surrounding Taylor's MVP chances rivals the chatter about Drake Maye's MVP odds. 

But is the hype full-on hyperbole and overblown conjecture, or does the dynamic running back actually have a chance of winning an award that has been reserved for quarterbacks since 2012?

Taylor's MVP odds comparison

Of the five best sports betting sites, four have Taylor at +2000 odds, which imply a 4.76% win probability. Before his MVP-winning campaign, Peterson had +4000 odds, a 2.44% chance of winning. 

Compare that 2.44% win probability to Taylor, whose +25000 odds before the season at BetMGM translate to a 0.4% likelihood.

At DraftKings, Taylor is currently receiving the seventh-shortest MVP odds (+2000), tied with teammate Daniel Jones.

However, the optics and the fact that it's a narrative-based award that is heavily swayed toward QBs makes it feel like Jones has a much better shot of taking home the prized possession.

Taylor's MVP-caliber stats 

Taylor enters Week 9 with 850 rushing yards, 97 ahead of second-place James Cook, who went off for 216 yards and two TDs on 19 carries in the Buffalo Bills' 40-9 rout of the Carolina Panthers. 

Taylor has 12 rushing TDs in eight games, three ahead of second-place Josh Jacobs. Nine of those 12 TDs came in the last four games. He also has one receiving TD, which he scored against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. At this stage of last season, Saquon Barkley, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, had 766 yards in one fewer game, an average of 109.4.

Taylor is averaging 106.3 yards per game. 

While Taylor's stats, along with his importance to the Colts, scream potential MVP, let's not kid ourselves. He's up against Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Maye, Matthew Stafford, Jones, and other clutch QBs, rendering his chances of winning as low as the 4.76% implied probability suggests.

🏆 Jonathan Taylor MVP odds

NFL MVP odds as of Oct. 27 from our NFL prop betting sites.