Josh Allen still sits atop the NFL MVP board, but the race around him has tightened fast.
After Buffalo’s dramatic win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Allen remains the favorite at +200 entering Week 7. That edge is getting slimmer by the day, though, with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy right behind him at +220 after guiding the Niners to an undefeated start through six weeks and thriving in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
The MVP conversation is no longer a two-man show. Patrick Mahomes has pushed his way back into the mix, while Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow and Drake Maye are all climbing. Lamar Jackson is still in the picture as well, and Jordan Love, Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bryce Young and Dak Prescott round out the latest board from DraftKings Sportsbook.
The full list after Week 6 reads: Josh Allen at +200, Brock Purdy at +220, Mahomes at +850, Trevor Lawrence at +1000, Joe Burrow at +1100, Drake Maye at +1500, Lamar Jackson at +2000, Jordan Love at +3500, Jared Goff at +3500, Matthew Stafford at +4000, Jahmyr Gibbs at +4000, Bryce Young at +4000 and Dak Prescott at +4000. All odds were listed by DraftKings Sportsbook as of Tuesday, Oct. 13.
One of the most interesting names to track is Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker. The free agent signing has been a huge boost after winning Super Bowl 60 with Seattle, and his numbers are eye-popping: 665 rushing yards, the most in the NFL, and eight total touchdowns in just five games for Kansas City.
Love is also starting to make noise in the conversation. The Packers’ offense has been one of the league’s best, and that gives him a clear path to piling up the kind of production that gets MVP attention. He has topped 300 passing yards three times in 2026, and his 11 touchdown passes leave him tied for seventh in the league, only three behind Kirk Cousins, Lawrence and Purdy.
Running backs usually have a tougher road to MVP recognition, but Walker’s current pace is impossible to ignore. If he keeps rolling, he could threaten Eric Dickerson’s single-single rushing record and finish north of 2,200 yards in 2026.
In Other News...
Bills Trade Debate Centers On A Risky Receiver Target
A trade-deadline conversation around Brian Thomas Jr. has started to pick up because the Bills could use another dynamic option at wide receiver, and the Jaguars pass catcher is at least the kind of name that makes sense on paper. Buffalo has spent plenty of time looking for ways to keep its offense dangerous around Josh Allen, and Thomas brings the sort of size and playmaking profile that would naturally get attention if Jacksonville were willing to listen.
The catch is that this is a gamble, not a clean upgrade. Thomass recent production has raised real questions about whether his value matches the price it would take to pry him away, and any deal would also come with a meaningful financial layer for Buffalo to sort through. For a team trying to balance immediate help against long-term flexibility, that makes this one of those speculative deadline ideas that is easy to talk about and much harder to justify once the full cost comes into view. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Third Down Problem Is Becoming Harder To Ignore
Buffalos defense has been living with a third-down issue that keeps showing up at the worst possible times. The Bills have had trouble getting off the field all season, and the problem has grown more noticeable in recent games, including a stretch against the Raiders in which those stops were hard to come by. For a unit that has usually been defined by its speed and cohesion, the repeated breakdowns have made third down a point of real concern.
Some of the answer may come from cleaner execution and fewer late reactions once the defense gets everyone moving in the same direction again. TreDavious Whites return is part of that conversation, since his ability to recognize what an offense is trying to do could help settle things down and reduce the kind of hesitation that has been costing Buffalo in key moments. The Bills do not need a dramatic overhaul as much as they need a sharper response when the game turns into a must-stop situation. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Hit With Another Ugly Discipline Issue As Fallout Grows
The Bills lingering discipline problem grew louder this week after safety and special teams contributor Sam Franklin Jr. was hit with a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct. The punishment stems from an accusation that Franklin spit on a Las Vegas Raiders player after the game, a moment that followed the final extra point attempt and drew no penalty on the field.
For Buffalo, the ugly part is not just the league action but the timing. This is the second time in four days a Bills player has been accused of spitting on an opponent, turning what should have been a routine finish into another unwanted storyline the team now has to manage. [Read more 🡒]