FlurrySports dives into why Jaxon Smith-Njigba should be considered one of the favorites in the NFL MVP odds race.
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On Monday Night Football, we suffered through yet another performance from Sam Darnold, in which he often did not look like an NFL quarterback. The Seattle Seahawks’ offense failed to get a rhythm or find much success at all. The team was 1-of-11 on third downs, and they received six first downs due to penalties.
In the end, the Seahawks’ defense kept them in the game, but the offense failed to deliver. They have now lost three of their past four games.
While Seattle’s passing offense continues to struggle with consistency and Darnold is looking more like his New York Jets self, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is finding a way to overcome it all. On a bad night for the offense, JSN had one of the quietest games a receiver has had while still racking up over 100 yards and a touchdown. His constant success has become the norm, so most don’t bat an eye at Smith-Njigba hitting triple digits, while it is considered a milestone for most.
We are nearly halfway through the NFL season, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is putting together one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history. Yet, he does not get an ounce of respect in the NFL MVP odds.
NFL MVP Odds Race
The NFL MVP odds were taken from FanDuel Sportsbook on the morning of Nov. 3, 2026.
| NFL MVP | Odds | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Allen | +160 | Jordan Love | +4000 |
| Brock Purdy | +430 | Jahmyr Gibbs | +6000 |
| Joe Burrow | +600 | Bryce Young | +6000 |
| Caleb Williams | +600 | Dak Prescott | +7500 |
| Trevor Lawrence | +900 | Matthew Stafford | +8000 |
| Drake Maye | +1500 | Bo Nix | +8000 |
| Patrick Mahomes | +2700 | CJ Stroud | +8000 |
| Jared Goff | +3000 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | +8000 |
Currently, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is tied for 13th in the NFL MVP odds race. We’ll get more into why JSN deserves MVP below. If you want to make money on his odds to win NFL MVP from anywhere, sign up for Kalshi here! When you put $10 on him to win MVP on Kalshi, you would win $467.50.
Josh Allen tops the odds to win NFL MVP (+160), but he has been anything but perfect this season. The man who can only run a QB sneak to the left has also thrown five interceptions to his 11 touchdown passes. He is doing well on the ground as well, but he continues to make bone-headed plays that will ultimately lead to the Buffalo Bills losing when it matters.
Brock Purdy is second in the MVP odds (+430). While he has played well despite the injuries sustained by his team, is he flashy enough to win MVP? Joe Burrow, on the other hand, is flashy and playing some of the best football of his career. What could bite him is if the Bengals start losing games, since QB wins are ultimately the most important stat for NFL MVP, unfortunately.
Smith-Njigba has long odds to win NFL MVP, but he is the top non-QB option. Kenneth Walker and Bijan Robinson are not far behind, but all three are in the range of players who do not actually have a chance to win it. However, if JSN keeps playing as well as he has, then he will have a very strong case.
Has a Wide Receiver Won NFL MVP?
Let’s first set the stage for Jaxon Smith-Njigba winning NFL MVP. Consider this me throwing the ball off the glass to myself; then I’ll slam it through later.
Has a wide receiver ever won NFL MVP? The answer is no; they have not. This does make sense, though, right? As important as wide receivers are, they are a position that relies on another player to have success. Unfortunately, that other player (quarterback) is placed on the highest pedestal in sports.
If both players have great seasons, which almost always happens, then the quarterback is winning the award. After all, a wide receiver cannot catch a touchdown without the quarterback throwing it to them first.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Should Be a Favorite in NFL MVP Odds
There are so many reasons why Jaxon Smith-Njigba should be among the favorites in the NFL MVP odds. Before we get into stats, let’s talk about his situation this season. We started this article by discussing how Sam Darnold has been struggling and holding the Seattle Seahawks back. Yet, JSN has performed as the best receiver in the NFL regardless.
Aside from Darnold, the Seahawks had to start Drew Lock earlier in the season due to Darnold getting hurt. A backup quarterback is the easiest way to derail what has been a dominant season from the WR1. Yet, in Lock’s two games, Smith-Njigba totaled 17 receptions for 277 yards and four touchdowns. He is performing at the top level despite Seattle’s quarterback situation, not because of it.
But just how good are Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s stats this season? Currently, he has 64 receptions for 985 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns. Among wide receivers, JSM is first for receptions, first for yards, first for yards after the catch (324), first for touchdowns, and 58 of his 64 receptions have gone for either a first down or a touchdown (also first).
If we extrapolate his stats over a 17-game season, this is where he would rank all-time in NFL single-season records: 136 receptions (#4), 2,093 yards (#1), 19 receiving touchdowns (#3).
If Jaxon Smith-Njigba keeps up his current pace and becomes the first 2,000-yard wide receiver despite the Seahawks’ quarterback play, then he has to win NFL MVP. OJ Simpson was the first 2,000-yard running back, and he won NFL MVP. Don’t we think JSN deserves to be in a conversation with OJ?
