The last time a running back won MVP was Adrian Peterson back in 2012. We might never see another non-quarterback win the award. However, there are at least a couple of elite talents at RB with an outside chance. According to the latest MVP odds for 2021 at BetMGM, Panthers star Christian McCaffrey is tied with Titans stud Derrick Henry for the best MVP odds of any non-quarterback at +2500 (or 25-1).
Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Tom Brady, Matt Stafford, Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson are the only players with better odds.
Carolina’s projected starting quarterback Sam Darnold is significantly lower on the list, tied with several other players at +10000, or 100-1.
McCaffrey missed most of the 2020 season due to injuries, sitting out all but three games. When he was on the field though McCaffrey proved he’s still a special player, totaling 374 yards and six touchdowns from scrimmage.
As for Henry, he and Alvin Kamara traded the best-back-in-the-game title with McCaffrey sidelined. Last season Henry rumbled for over 2,000 rushing yards and led the NFL for the second straight year in rushing touchdowns with 17.
If we were to rank every running back in the league heading into 2021, McCaffrey, Henry and Kamara would be an inseparable three-headed monster at the top of the heap, followed by Nick Chubb and Dalvin Cook.
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