NFL MVP odds: Don't forget about Lamar Jackson, who is a great betting value

Lamar Jackson hasn't gone anywhere.

The same guy who set the NFL world on fire and won NFL MVP unanimously in 2019, not long after winning a Heisman Trophy, is still as good as ever. Theoretically, in his mid-20s, he should be even better. But we've moved on to the next big thing, gushing about Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert.

Whether it's short attention span or recency bias, Jackson has been forgotten a bit. And when that happens, it can lead to some betting value. And Jackson to win another MVP would pay pretty well.

Updated NFL MVP odds

There are nine quarterbacks with better NFL MVP odds than Jackson, who sits at 20-to-1 at BetMGM.

Here are the updated odds for MVP:

Josh Allen +700

Patrick Mahomes +800

Tom Brady +800

Aaron Rodgers +900

Justin Herbert +900

Joe Burrow +1200

Matthew Stafford +1400

Dak Prescott +1400

Russell Wilson +1400

Lamar Jackson +2000

Kyler Murray +2000

Every player listed ahead of Jackson is fantastic and has a great case to be the pick for 2022 NFL MVP. It's just that Jackson's odds stand out.

Baltimore's failure to make the playoffs last season was a combination of bad injury luck and a fluky stretch of close losses late in the season. Before the wheels fell off late, the Ravens looked like contenders and Jackson was just fine.

If we discount the game in which Jackson suffered a sprained ankle, an injury that would keep him out the rest of the season, here were his prorated stats for a 17-game season: 4,428 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, 1,178 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Jackson's interceptions were up (he had 13) and his rushing touchdowns were down, but both categories could easily bounce back to his career norms.

Jackson is just 25 years old. He should still be peaking. And he wasn't bad last season. We just overlook him a bit because of how the Ravens' season ended, and because it's more fun to talk about the new wave of quarterbacks than be reminded how great Jackson can be.

Lamar Jackson has a shot to win another MVP

Here's the case against Jackson: He lost his top receiver Marquise Brown, who was traded, and his set of wide receivers is among the worst in the NFL. That could affect his passing numbers. Also, the Ravens are in a competitive AFC and if the Cincinnati Bengals keep improving and win the division, the Ravens might not make the playoffs. The last time an MVP came from a non-playoff team was 1973. Also, Jackson has an MVP and perhaps voters would rather someone new win it if it's a close call.

But the Ravens are a good bet to rebound this season. They're favored to win the AFC North at +150 odds. If the Ravens win the division, it's because Jackson had another good season.

Simply put, there shouldn't be nine MVP candidates ahead of Jackson. He's still a good bet to throw for 4,000 yards, rush for 1,000 and lead his team to a division title. He'll have some games in which he's absolutely electrifying, and if they happen in the right spots it will boost his MVP profile.

Jackson already won an MVP in a historic season. It wasn't that long ago and he's well within his prime. Don't forget about him when you're making your future bets for this NFL season.