The 2026 NFL season could be exciting, as we’re seeing a lot of young talent begin to take over the league and usher in a new era.
Of course, the football world will wonder about the Most Valuable Player award for the next several months. Last campaign, Rams QB Matthew Stafford won his first MVP in his 17th season. After he came in as the runner-up to Stafford in the race, could this be the year for Patriots QB Drake Maye? What about an unexpected contender rising up the ranks?
Below, we'll dive into some top NFL MVP candidates for the upcoming season, including dark horse or non-QB threats who could push for the award.
Make 2026 NFL season picks and predictions on PrizePicks.
{{nfl_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
2026 NFL MVP Candidates & Sleepers to Consider
Here are three players to consider for 2026-27 NFL MVP picks. Top NFL MVP candidates are headlined by QBs Drake Maye and Trevor Lawrence, including their payouts to win the award on PrizePicks.
Payouts show potential returns on correct Team Picks predictions. A 2x payout returns $200 on a $100 entry. Lower multipliers reflect outcomes users are picking as more likely. Payouts are live as of writing and subject to change.
Patriots QB Drake Maye
Drake Maye 2026-27 NFL MVP Payouts: 9.09x Yes | 1.04x No
In the final weeks of the 2025 season, the MVP race became a two-man race between Maye and Stafford. There is an argument that Maye deserved the award when you compare their numbers, especially when factoring in Maye’s mobility.
Voters may have favored Stafford because he’s in the twilight of his career and has never won an MVP, whereas Maye’s career is just beginning.
What makes Maye a potential top-tier QB is his dual-threat ability. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he led the league in passer rating (113.5), yards per attempt (8.9), completion percentage (72.0%), and EPA per dropback (+0.25). As a rusher, he ranked third in yards among QBs (450) while being second in yards after contact (169) and sixth in yards over expected (76).
During the offseason, the Patriots acquired Eagles WR A.J. Brown, who may be the best wideout in New England since Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss.
Team record may also factor into MVP voting. Of the 23 QBs to win MVP since 2001, only Matt Ryan (2016) and Rich Gannon (2002) have had fewer than 12 wins.
Maye just led the Patriots to a 14-3 record, their best since 2016, and their first AFC East title since 2019. If Maye matches that record and wins the division again, he could once more be a leading MVP candidate.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence 2026-27 NFL MVP Payouts: 16.66x Yes | 1.01x No
Trevor Lawrence has had his share of highs and lows in his career. He didn’t have a great rookie season in 2021, during which he led the league in INTs (17). In 2022 and 2023, he threw for more than 4,000 yards and 20 TDs, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in 2022. In 2024, injuries limited him to only 10 starts and a 2-8 record.
It feels like the Jaguars are heading in the right direction, though. Last season, under first-year head coach Liam Cohen, Jacksonville posted its best record with Lawrence (13-4) and won the AFC South.
Lawrence had a slow start to the season, but after Jacksonville’s Week 8 bye, he became one of the NFL’s top QBs. Per PFF, from Weeks 9-18, he ranked second in TDs (20), fifth in EPA per dropback (0.17), and sixth in passer rating (99.9).
What could help Lawrence have an MVP-caliber season is his group of pass catchers.
During Lawrence's late-season surge, WR Parker Washington became his favorite target. In that same aforementioned span, Washington ranked 12th among wideouts in receiving yards (640), fifth in catch rate (74.5%), and fifth in yards per route run (2.5).
Lawrence also has WR Brian Thomas, who can hopefully return to his rookie-year form when he logged 1,282 receiving yards. WR Jakobi Meyers, additionally, is in his first full season with the Jags after the team acquired him midway through last year.
If Lawrence can continue to produce and earn another AFC South crown, he could get his first MVP in the process.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson 2026-27 NFL MVP Payouts: 33.33x Yes | N/A No
The MVP has essentially become a QB award. Former RBs Marshall Faulk (2000), Shaun Alexander (2005), LaDainian Tomlinson (2006), and Adrian Peterson (2012) are the only non-field generals to win it since 2000. With that said, if there’s one player who could be the catalyst for their team’s success to that extent, it’s Bijan Robinson.
The Falcons RB has established himself as one of the best at the position. In 2025, he ranked fourth in rushing yards (1,478), fifth in yards per carry (5.1), and third in rushing yards over expected (+249).
His ability to play a key role as a pass catcher also makes him very valuable. Last season, he was second among all RBs in both receiving yards (820) and in yards per catch (10.4) while leading the league in YAC with 878.
There are other excellent RBs like the 49ers' Christian McCaffrey and the Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs, so why are we highlighting Robinson as a potential MVP? For Atlanta to be a contender, its success could rest on his shoulders.
Robinson likely has the worst QB situation among top-tier halfbacks. Tua Tagovailoa has won the starting job over Michael Penix Jrl, but reports suggest neither quarterback has looked impressive, which likely explains why it took the Falcons a while to name a Week 1 starter.
Atlanta could turn to Robinson to serve as its playmaker yet again. He has the potential to lead the league in touches and could top all running backs in scrimmage yards.
The NFC South also might be open for the taking. Last season, the Falcons finished in a three-way tie with the Buccaneers and Panthers at 8-9, but Carolina won the tiebreaker. If the Falcons win the division and Robinson is clearly their best player, that may just drum up MVP buzz.
Make 2026 NFL Predictions on PrizePicks
Ahead of what's shaping up to be another action-packed NFL season, several players could be primed to contend for the MVP award. Although it normally goes to signal-callers, could a non-QB snag the prestigious honor in 2026-27?
Don’t wait until Week 1 — make your 2026 NFL picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.
Once games start, just pick NFL players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on NFL game winners, spreads, over/unders, and award futures, now available in 36 states.
Stay locked in on Playbook for NFL predictions, picks, and news every day all the way through Super Bowl LXI.
Team Picks and Culture Picks are event contracts offered by Performance Predictions II, LLC d/b/a PrizePicks Predict, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA Member. All event contract customers must be U.S. residents and 18+. Some event contracts may not be available in every state.Event contract trading carries significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. No guarantee against loss is offered. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results.Void where prohibited by law. Restrictions apply. For full terms of service see prizepicks.com/predict-regulatory. Team and Culture Pick Early Payouts subject to market liquidity. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation to trade any commodity interest.
