NFL Awards Betting: How to Bet on NFL MVP and Other League Honors
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Published: Thu Sep 24, 2026, 1:35 pm ET
Read Time: 14 minutes
NFL awards betting gives you the opportunity to wager on which players and coaches will receive some of the league's highest individual honors. Rather than betting on the outcome of a particular game, you can back a quarterback to win Most Valuable Player, a rookie to earn recognition for an outstanding debut season, or a head coach to be named Coach of the Year.
Sportsbooks offer NFL awards odds before and during the regular season. Those odds can change substantially as players establish themselves, teams exceed or fall short of expectations, and award races develop. A preseason favorite may struggle to live up to expectations, while a candidate who initially received little attention could emerge as a contender.
Awards betting is one form of NFL futures betting, but the factors that matter can differ considerably from one award to another. A quarterback's team success may influence his MVP candidacy, while playing time and opportunity can be especially important when evaluating rookies.
This guide covers the seven NFL awards commonly offered by sportsbooks, explains how these markets work, and looks at what bettors should consider before placing a wager.
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What Is NFL Awards Betting?
NFL awards betting involves wagering on which player or coach will win a particular award for their performance during the regular season. Sportsbooks post odds for potential winners, allowing bettors to select a candidate at the available price.
For example, you could place a preseason bet on a quarterback to win MVP or wait until the season is underway before backing a defensive player for Defensive Player of the Year. If your selected candidate wins the specified award, the wager settles as a winner according to the sportsbook's rules.
The seven markets covered in this guide correspond to awards selected by The Associated Press (AP). A nationwide panel of 50 media members who cover the NFL votes on the awards, with winners announced at the NFL Honors ceremony. Because voters determine the winners, leading the league in a particular statistic does not automatically guarantee an award.
These awards recognize regular-season performance. They are separate from awards such as Super Bowl MVP, which is determined by a player's performance in the championship game.
An NFL awards wager may also remain unsettled for months. Unlike a point spread or total that is generally resolved when a game ends, an awards bet placed before the season begins remains open until the winner is determined.
What NFL Awards Can You Bet On?
Sportsbooks commonly offer markets for seven major NFL player and coach awards. Each recognizes a different achievement, which means a candidate who is well positioned in one race may not be equally competitive in another.
Market availability varies by sportsbook and time of year. Some awards may have extensive candidate lists throughout the season, while others may feature fewer options or become available later.
NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP)
The NFL Most Valuable Player award recognizes the player whose regular-season performance earns the most support from AP voters. Quarterbacks frequently feature prominently in this market because of their influence on an offense and their role in a team's success.
Passing statistics are important when evaluating MVP candidates, but they do not tell the entire story. Efficiency, consistency, individual contributions, and team performance can all shape an award race. A quarterback may produce impressive numbers yet face strong competition from another candidate whose team is enjoying a better season.
For a closer look at this particular market, see our dedicated NFL MVP betting guide.
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY)
Offensive Player of the Year recognizes an outstanding offensive performer. While quarterbacks can receive consideration, running backs and wide receivers regularly feature in the OPOY race. That gives bettors a different candidate pool to evaluate than the one that often dominates MVP betting.
A player's production and importance to his offense are useful starting points. For running backs, rushing efficiency, yards from scrimmage, and touchdowns can help illustrate their contributions. For receivers, consider production alongside consistency and the role they play in their team's passing game.
A player can receive votes for both MVP and OPOY, but each is a separate betting market with its own odds and eventual winner.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)
Defensive Player of the Year recognizes exceptional individual performance on defense. Pass rushers often attract considerable attention because sacks and other disruptive plays are highly visible. That said, players from any position have a chance to win the award.
When researching DPOY candidates, consider the different ways defenders can affect a game. Pressures and tackles for loss may help illustrate a pass rusher's impact, while coverage performance, pass breakups, and turnovers can provide context for a defensive back's season.
A single statistic rarely captures everything a defender contributes. Comparing players across positions requires looking at their responsibilities and the overall effect they have on their respective defenses.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY)
Offensive Rookie of the Year recognizes an outstanding first-year offensive player. Quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers are common contenders, although the makeup of the field depends on the players entering the league each season.
Opportunity is especially important in this market. A rookie expected to start immediately may have more chances to produce than one entering the season behind established veterans. Offensive scheme, competition for touches or targets, and a player's ability to earn a larger role can all influence his candidacy.
Preseason expectations can change quickly once games begin. A highly regarded rookie may receive fewer opportunities than anticipated, while another player could become a contender after moving into a starting role.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY)
Defensive Rookie of the Year recognizes an outstanding first-year defensive player. Candidates can come from several positions, including the defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, and safety.
Different roles produce different statistics, so comparing candidates requires more than looking at sacks or interceptions. A pass rusher may make his mark by disrupting opposing quarterbacks, while a defensive back may contribute through coverage and limiting opportunities for opposing receivers.
Playing time also matters. Before backing a rookie, consider whether he has secured a meaningful role in his defense and how much opportunity he is likely to have over the remainder of the season.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (CPOY)
Comeback Player of the Year recognizes a player who returns to make a meaningful contribution after overcoming a significant setback.
AP voting guidance emphasizes players who missed time during the previous season because of injury, illness, or other circumstances. A player simply performing better after a disappointing season is not necessarily the type of comeback the award is intended to recognize.
When evaluating CPOY odds, consider both the circumstances behind a player's return and his performance during the current season. Returning to the field is significant, but playing time, effectiveness, and overall contributions can help distinguish candidates.
Because players may be returning from very different circumstances, this is a market where understanding each candidate's situation is particularly important.
NFL Coach of the Year (COY)
Coach of the Year recognizes an NFL head coach for his team's regular-season performance. This market differs from the player awards because a candidate's case is built around the performance of an entire team.
A substantial improvement in a team's record can draw attention, particularly when that improvement exceeds preseason expectations. However, a coach may also receive consideration for sustaining success, navigating important personnel losses, or helping his team perform well despite difficult circumstances.
When researching Coach of the Year candidates, look at a team's starting point as well as its results. The coach whose team finishes with the most wins is not automatically the award winner.
How to Bet on NFL Awards
Understanding the available awards is the first step. Before placing a wager, you also need to evaluate the candidates, compare their odds, and decide whether the potential return justifies tying up part of your bankroll until the award is decided.
You do not need to make a selection in every market. Some races may become easier to assess as the season progresses, while others may never offer a price you consider worthwhile.
Understanding NFL Awards Odds
NFL awards odds indicate the potential return on a winning wager. In American odds format, candidates with shorter positive prices are generally viewed by the sportsbook as having a greater chance of winning than those with longer prices.
For example, a $10 bet at +1000 would return $110 if it wins: $100 in profit plus the original $10 stake. If the same candidate were available at +700, a winning $10 wager would return $80 in total.
That difference is important when comparing NFL awards odds. You may like a candidate's chances but still decide that the available payout is too small relative to the risk of losing the bet.
Prices can also vary between sportsbooks. If one site offers +1000 on a candidate and another offers +850, the higher price provides a greater potential return for the same stake. Line shopping is therefore worth considering before committing to an awards wager.
Remember that a candidate's odds reflect the sportsbook's pricing of the market, not a guarantee of how voters will evaluate that player or coach at the end of the season.
Evaluating NFL Awards Candidates
Start with the award itself. An MVP candidate, a defensive rookie, and a Coach of the Year contender should not be evaluated using an identical set of factors.
For player awards, individual performance is an important part of the assessment. However, raw totals often need additional context.
A receiver's production may depend partly on his role and target opportunities, while a defender's value may not be fully reflected by sacks or interceptions alone. Relevant NFL stats and metrics can help you examine how candidates are performing beyond the most familiar box-score numbers.
Consider playing time and opportunity as well. A rookie may be talented enough to contend for an award but have difficulty building a convincing season-long case if he plays a limited role. An established player may lose ground in an award race if his workload declines or he misses an extended stretch of games.
Injuries can be particularly significant because awards are based on an entire regular season. Following NFL injury reports can help you assess whether a candidate is expected to play, whether he may be limited, and how an absence could affect his opportunities over the weeks ahead.
The competition within a market matters, too. A player might be enjoying an excellent season yet face several candidates with similarly strong cases. Rather than evaluating your preferred selection in isolation, compare his performance and circumstances with those of the other contenders.
Finally, keep in mind that voting determines who wins these awards. Yes, statistics, team results, and memorable performances may all form part of the discussion. But none of those things guarantees how the AP panel will vote. Your assessment should account for that uncertainty rather than treating any one factor as decisive.
When to Place NFL Awards Bets
You can begin researching NFL awards markets before the regular season, when sportsbooks may offer longer prices on candidates who have yet to establish themselves. Betting early can secure a favorable number if your selection goes on to perform well and his odds shorten.
However, a preseason wager comes with considerable uncertainty. You may be relying on assumptions about a player's health, role, team performance, and ability to maintain a high level of play over an entire season.
Waiting until games have taken place gives you more information to work with. You can evaluate actual performances, see how rookies are being used, and assess whether a coach's team is meeting or exceeding expectations. The trade-off is that the available odds may have shortened by the time a candidate's case becomes more convincing.
Also, deciding when to place your bet means weighing the current price against what else you may learn by waiting. There is no single point in the season that will be right for every candidate or award.
You should also consider how long it will take for your bet(s) to resolve. Offseason bets or bets made in the first several weeks of the season could tie up those funds for months.
Where Can You Bet on NFL Awards?
You can bet on NFL awards at many of the best online sportsbooks, but finding the award you want and a price you like may take a little shopping around.
Some sites offer an extensive range of NFL futures, while others focus on a smaller selection of markets or candidates. One sportsbook may have NFL MVP odds, but you may need to look elsewhere for OPOY or COY odds.
Lucky Rebel, BetOnline, Everygame, SportsBetting.ag, and Bovada are our top recommended sites for NFL betting, and all five sites are great options if you are looking to bet on NFL MVP and other NFL awards. Whether you are looking for competitive odds, a variety of betting options, or enticing sportsbook bonuses and promotions, you will find what you are looking for collectively across these sites.
Once you find your candidate, don't stop at the first price you see. A difference between +800 and +1000 might not look dramatic on the surface. However, it changes your potential profit by $100 on a $50 wager and $200 on a $100 wager.
Comparing NFL betting sites can help you find the markets you want and get more out of a winning selection. Before placing a bet, review the sportsbook's settlement rules, particularly how it handles a candidate who misses time or is ruled out for the season.
Conclusion
NFL awards betting offers a way to follow individual players, rookies, and head coaches throughout the regular season. The seven commonly offered markets recognize different achievements, so each requires an understanding of what the award is intended to honor.
Before making a selection, consider the candidate's performance, opportunities, competition, and circumstances. Then compare your assessment with the available odds to determine whether the potential return makes the wager worthwhile.
You do not need to bet on every award or make every selection before the season begins. Focus on the markets you understand, compare prices when you identify a candidate worth considering, and be prepared to pass when the available odds do not justify a bet.
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