Leach's Lists: Top 5 Best Bets For NFL MVP
By: Dan Leach
@dtmleach
With the NFL regular season fast approaching I wanted to take a look at who I thought were the top five NFL players with the best chance to win the MVP award for 2013 along with their Vegas odds. Last season AP ran away with it both literally and figuratively, who will this year's hero be?
#5 Robert Griffin III QB Washington Redskins- RG3 burst on the scene in 2012 leading the Washington Redskins to a playoff berth in his first year under center and the future only looks brighter. There are injury concerns with RG3's knee, but it looks like he is ready for liftoff and healthy for 2013 and his 18-1 odds to win the MVP seem very high.
#4 Matthew Stafford QB Detroit Lions – Stafford and the Lions had an awful season in 2012 after qualifying for their first playoff berth since 1999 in the 2011 season. This year Stafford has a healthy compliment of offensive studs including free agent acquisition Reggie Bush, the best WR in the game in "Megatron" Calvin Johnson, and a healthy Nate Burleson and Ryan Broyles. If all is clicking it could give the lions one of the best offenses in the game. Stafford coming in at 33-1 is a steal.
#3 Adrian Peterson RB Minnesota Vikings – AP was simply sensational in winning the MVP last year and as hard as it is to repeat winning the award there is no reason to think that the league's best RB could be counted out to do so. The fact that AP is the fifth overall odds selection at 15-1 makes that value too much not to take a look at.
#2 Colin Kaepernick QB San Francisco 49'ers- Kaepernick was simply sensational after taking over for Alex Smith last season, leading his team to the Super Bowl and was literally seconds away from winning it. I look for Kaepernick to only improve in his first full year under center in San Fran and at 10-1 with a team that has a great chance to get back to the big game he is a major factor.
#1 Peyton Manning QB Denver Broncos- This is my pick to take home the 2013 MVP award as Manning was phenomenal in his first season under center in Denver. Even with the disappointing end to their season Manning showed he is as good as ever and now has an extra weapon in Wes Welker to bolster an already powerful offenses. Manning is one of the best to ever play the game and even as the favorite at 5-1, with how well he played last season I see him only improving this year. His Broncos with a great chance to get to NY and SB 48, gives Manning the best chance to win the MVP.
