Futures market bettors just can’t resist the thought of Joe Burrow delivering a monster season.
Key Takeaways
- Joe Burrow is the most-bet MVP candidate by tickets and handle, creating a big liability.
- Bettors were all over Burrow last summer as well, but an injury cost him nine games.
- Only Chargers QB Justin Herbert is taking more money in the MVP market.
As NFL training camps open this week, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is BetMGM’s biggest liability in the MVP market, the same status he held last summer.
Burrow’s 2025 season was derailed by a turf toe injury that cost him nine games and any chance of winning the league’s top individual award. Nearly a quarter of the handle last August was on the QB.
Bettors love the talent. Burrow has thrown for over 4,000 yards three times in his career and has arguably the best receiver tandem in the league in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, Burrow has only played 16 games or more in three of his six seasons.
This year, bettors are hoping for a better return on their investment. Burrow, with odds of +1,000, is getting a market-high 13.9% of the tickets and 13.3% of the handle, second among listed candidates, in BetMGM’s latest futures release.
Only Justin Herbert, at 20% of the money, is attracting more handle than Burrow, but the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback comes with slightly lesser odds of +900 with 5.8% of the tickets.
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Other candidates
Market favorite Josh Allen is +600. The Buffalo Bills signal-caller is getting 5.2% of the bets and 4.4% of the handle. Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams (+1,200) is receiving a notable 10.5% of the tickets and 8.7% of the money.
Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes is tied with Burrow on the odds list at +1,000, but coming off of a knee injury, the two-time MVP is only getting 5% of the tickets and 6% of the handle.
Broncos passer Bo Nix has seen the most action among long shots of +3,000 or longer, getting 5.4% of the bets, but he’s only taken 3.7% of the handle.
Smith stepping up?
No non-quarterbacks have reached 2% of the tickets or 1% of the money, but Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is the +750 odds leader to win Offensive Player of the Year, getting 12.6% of the tickets and 24% of the handle, the most of any player in the market.
With A.J. Brown now in New England, Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith is BetMGM’s biggest liability to be named top offensive player. With enticing odds of +6,600, he’s getting 6.5% of the bets and 6.3% of the handle.
L.A. Rams pass-rusher Myles Garrett is the +400 favorite and commands the most tickets and money in the Defensive Player of the Year market, but Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is a bigger liability with odds of +800 and 13.9% of the bets and 16.1% of the handle.
Mahomes (+185) is getting an incredible 48.1% of the money to win Comeback Player of the Year, but Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson (+5,000) is BetMGM’s biggest liability in the market.
Rookie watch
Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price is the most-bet player to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at +750, while his former Notre Dame teammate, Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, is the +300 favorite. Cardinals passer Carson Beck is the biggest liability with odds of +3,000.
Bettors are all over Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez to be named Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s getting 14% of the tickets and 19.2% of the handle, both most of any player, with odds of +2,000, while New York Jets pass rusher David Bailey is the +500 favorite.
