Do you think Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford has what it takes to win the 2020 NFL MVP?
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ran away with the 2019 NFL MVP, as the exciting, young quarterback flashed all season long with his legs and his strong arm. In the past couple of seasons we have seen a bit of a changing of the guard at the quarterback position, as the MVP has landed in the laps of two young, up-and-coming stars after being dominated for years by long-term veterans.
Let’s examine Stafford’s MVP chances, the BetMGM NFL futures odds around it happening and whether or not Stafford is worth a bet.
Recent NFL MVP winners
Stafford will be looking to join the ranks of recent winners Jackson (2019), Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (2018) and QB Tom Brady (2017), then of the New England Patriots. The good news for Stafford is that a quarterback has won the MVP in seven straight seasons, and 12 of the previous 13 years. The bad news is that the award has been trending toward younger, more mobile signal callers in recent seasons.
Matthew Stafford’s 2020 NFL MVP odds
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated April 16th at 10 a.m. ET.
Stafford (+5000) is a long shot for MVP. There are 15 quarterbacks listed with lesser odds than the Detroit signal caller, and 18 total players with better odds. Mahomes (+325) is the favorite, followed by Jackson (+500), Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson (+500) and New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees (+1400). In the NFC Central, Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (+1600) and Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins (+4000) have lower odds, while Chicago Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky (+8000) is the clear-cut underdog in the division.
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Matthew Stafford’s stats
Stafford has 11 NFL seasons under his belt, all in the Motor City, but he was limited to eight games in 2019 due to fractured bones in his back. Stafford had played eight consecutive 16-game seasons before 2019, so it was shocking to see him sidelined since he has been one of the most durable players in the NFL. Stafford was on his way to a potential career season last year, throwing for 2,499 yards and 19 touchdowns with just five interceptions in the eight games before departing, and he was sacked just 18 times. His 106.0 QB Rating was a career high.
Is Matthew Stafford worth a 2020 NFL MVP bet?
Stafford, who is now 32 years old, will be coming off a major injury for the first time in his career. He isn’t mobile at all, and should be even less so after his back ailment. Most of the monumental moves for the Lions in free agency have been on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the secondary, although OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai bolsters the O-line and gives Stafford more peace of mind.
Still, MVP? He was on his way to career type numbers in 2019, and projected over a 16-game season he would have flirted with 5,000 passing yards and 38 TDs. Can he do it in 2020? He has a stud wideout in WR Kenny Golladay, while RB Kerryon Johnson should be back healthy to make the offense a bit more balanced. After Golladay there is a steep drop in talent at wide receiver. Unless the team makes a splash with another playmaker, there might not be enough skill position talent for Stafford to seriously be considered for MVP.
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