Where Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen stands in NFL MVP race
No Stefon Diggs? No problem for Josh Allen.
The veteran quarterback has played one of his most efficient seasons of his seven-year NFL career. Even after the Buffalo Bills lost Diggs — his No. 1 target — in the offseason, Allen has thrown for 2,001 yards, 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions through nine games.
Where does he currently stand in the NFL’s Most Valuable Player race?
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Josh Allen is currently second in the MVP odds at +300. The only player listed ahead of him is Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson at +280.
Jackson has an edge on Allen in most categories.
The dual-threat star has logged 2,379 yards, 20 touchdowns and two interceptions. His completion percentage (68.2%) is also higher than Allen’s (64.1%).
Jackson also has considerably more rushing yards than Allen, holding a 505-211 advantage. Allen, though, has rushed for three touchdowns to Jackson’s two.
It’s worth noting that Allen’s supporting cast is far different than in years’ past.
Receivers Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman and tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid have been forced to play larger roles in the passing game without Diggs and Gabe Davis.
The closest player behind those two in the race is Patrick Mahomes, the two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion. Mahomes’ numbers haven’t been as flashy as Allen or Jackson’s this year, however, as he’s thrown for just 1,942 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
With half of the season remaining, the race is far from over. Jackson likely has the edge at this point, but the final stretch of the season plays a key role in determining the league’s MVP.
Team success is another factor. Both the Bills and Ravens are playoff teams at the moment, holding 7-2 and 6-3 records, respectively.
Should one of those teams pull ahead of the other, their quarterback would likely be the beneficiary in the MVP race.