Best NFL Bets for Super Bowl LX MVP
by Sam Cox | by Tyler Doty
Super Bowl MVP has been given to a quarterback in each of the last three years with Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts claiming the honors. Unlike regular-season MVP, however, non-quarterbacks have a legitimate chance of winning Super Bowl MVP, with 26 non-quarterbacks topping the voting since the award was first handed out in 1967.
Six players have won the award on multiple occasions. Eli Manning, Bart Starr, and Terry Bradshaw have been named MVP of the Big Game two times apiece, with three wins each for Mahomes and Joe Montana, and five MVPs for Tom Brady.
With quarterbacks winning the award in more than half of the Super Bowls to date, it’s no surprise Sam Darnold and Drake Maye are the two favorites for Super Bowl LX. There are no defensive players shorter than +10000 – you have to go back 10 years to Von Miller for the last defensive player to win Super Bowl MVP.
Here are some of our favorite bets for Super Bowl LX MVP:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+550 at DraftKings)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has had 100 or more receiving yards on 10 occasions across the regular season and playoffs. He led the NFL in target share in the regular season and grabbed 10 catches for 153 yards against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
The biggest challenge for Smith-Njigba’s MVP candidacy is that if he puts up big numbers, so will Darnold. If Seattle wins, what would it take for Darnold not to win MVP?
If he throws for 300+ yards, it’s almost guaranteed to be Darnold’s award. Smith-Njigba will need at least one touchdown, several other clutch catches, and 100+ receiving yards.
The path for Smith-Njigba to win is a relatively low-scoring game where New England keeps Seattle’s other receivers quiet, leading to a mixture of inaccuracy and turnovers from Darnold. It’s also in play for Smith-Njigba to break records – either for receptions or receiving yards – which could sway voters in his favor.
Marcus Jones (+10000 at FanDuel)
Marcus Jones earned All-Pro honors for his punt returning ability. Jones had a 94-yard punt return touchdown in the regular season and will be gunning to be the first player to return a punt for a score in a Super Bowl.
If New England is going to beat Seattle, they need a couple of big plays on defense. Jones had three interceptions, including a pick six, in the regular season. He added a 26-yard pick six against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round.
The path to Jones winning MVP is at least one pick and a couple of game-altering returns. He’s obviously an outsider, but there’s value at this long price.
Milton Williams (+22500 at FanDuel)
The Patriots need to get pressure on Darnold and keep Seattle’s running game quiet. Their best route to doing so is by dominating the Seahawks’ interior offensive line, which has been a weakness all year.
Signing Milton Williams proved to be a masterstroke for the Pats. Williams had eight tackles for a loss and eight quarterback hits in the regular season. He followed up with two sacks against the Los Angeles Chargers and two quarterback hits against the Denver Broncos.
Seattle’s three interior offensive linemen ranked well below league average in the regular season. Williams could hurry Darnold frequently and his presence might force the Seahawks to call outside runs for Kenneth Walker III.
DeMarcus Lawrence (+10000 at FanDuel)
DeMarcus Lawrence has registered sacks in each of Seattle’s playoff games. He’s also got three TFLs across those two games and forced three fumbles in the regular season.
Per PFF, Lawrence was the second-best run-defending edge defender this season. The pass rush numbers are less eye-catching, but Lawrence should have some favorable matchups against the rookie left side of the Patriots’ offensive line.
If the gamescript pushes New England to pass the ball as expected, Lawrence is going to have extra sack opportunities. He’s going to put up some big numbers if Seattle stifles the Patriots’ offense.
Previous Super Bowl MVPs
- 2025 – Jalen Hurts
- 2024 – Patrick Mahomes
- 2023 – Patrick Mahomes
- 2022 – Cooper Kupp
- 2021 – Tom Brady
- 2020 – Patrick Mahomes
- 2019 – Julian Edelman
- 2018 – Nick Foles
- 2017 – Tom Brady
- 2016 – Von Miller
Super Bowl MVP by Position
- Quarterback: 34
- Wide receiver: 8
- Running back: 7
- Linebacker: 4
- Defensive end: 2
- Safety: 2
- Cornerback: 1
- Defensive tackle: 1
- Kick return: 1
