Entering Week 6, oddsmakers had an established hierarchy of candidates for the Associated Press Most Valuable Player award.
Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes quietly held the third-lowest odds leading into the team’s 30-17 win over the Detroit Lions on “Sunday Night Football.“ His 289 total yards (and four touchdowns) helped lift the Chiefs to a 3-3 record. Then the Bills fell to the Atlanta Falcons 24-14 on “Monday Night Football” — a game that included two Allen interceptions.
Before the clock could reach midnight, the FanDuel odds had dramatically shifted to reveal a new betting favorite: Mahomes.
In fact, Mahomes’ 2025 interception rate is less than 1%, which is a career low. He is one of nine full-time starting quarterbacks two or fewer picks this season — and one of those was an accurate, goal-line throw that tight end Travis Kelce muffed into the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.
But Mahomes’ passing statistics are generally on par with the rest of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. It’s probably been his success as a rusher that has moved him to the top of the oddsmakers’ charts. Allen (and Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts) have more rushing attempts, but Mahomes leads all quarterbacks with 11 rushes of at least 10 yards.
With 11 games left in the regular season, Mahomes will now have a full arsenal of offensive weapons, confidence in his pass protection and the motivation to climb back to the top of the division — and the conference. It could easily end up being his third MVP season.