While NFL MVPs are almost exclusively quarterbacks now, Titans running back Derrick Henry has the best odds out of all non-quarterbacks so far in 2021.
It’s been nearly 10 years since someone else other than a quarterback won the highly coveted NFL MVP award, and you’d have to go back all the way to 2012 when then-Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Since then, it’s been all signal-callers. And judging by how the league has evolved since Peterson took home that hardware, it’s not likely this trend changes anytime soon.
But if there’s one player who could potentially shake up recent history, it’s Tennessee Titans All-Pro running back Derrick Henry.
The league leader in rushing the past two seasons, including reaching an ever-so-elite 2,000-plus rush yards in 2020, is already on pace to emerge as the NFL’s top rusher again this season, currently leading the league in carries (191), total rush yards (869), rushing touchdowns (10) and rush yards per game (124.1).
Heck, he even passed for a touchdown in Tennessee’s massive upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7.
If that’s not MVP status, what is?
Titans RB Derrick Henry has best non-quarterback MVP odds
OK, if we’re being realistic, the voters will ultimately name a quarterback as the 2021 league MVP. And while it might be a while before a non-quarterback ultimately receives the accolade, there currently isn’t another player out there who doesn’t toss passes (at least regularly) better than Henry right now when it comes to the odds.
According to the folks over at WynnBET, Henry’s MVP odds for 2021 are +2000, which puts him ninth:
- QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: +300
- QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: +450
- QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: +450
- QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +600
- QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: +800
- QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: +1000
- QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: +1200
- QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: +1400
- RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans: +2000
- QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: +4000
Interestingly enough, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes isn’t even in the top 10 right now, and Tennessee certainly had something to do with that. But that’s Kansas City’s issue now.
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Titans’ tough road matchups could be a challenge for Derrick Henry
Week 7 proved the Titans didn’t need Henry to rush for well over 100 yards to win a game, especially considering how poor the Chiefs defense has been as of late.
Yet Tennessee takes to the road for two challenging bouts in Weeks 8 and 9, facing off against the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams, who are allowing 4.2 and 4.4 rush yards per carry, respectively.
Currently, Indianapolis is a one-point favorite at home over head coach Mike Vrabel’s squad, and Indy’s defense has one of the best run-stopping linebackers in the game right now, Darius Leonard.
That’ll certainly be a matchup Henry will relish when these two teams square off in Week 8.