Ben Roethlisberger opens with odds of 32/1 to win NFL MVP honors in 2019

While there are very few titles and accomplishments that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has yet to achieve during his 15 years in the NFL, there is still one notable honor that alludes him. And if the latest odds for the 2019 NFL MVP crown are any indication, it would appear that Big Ben will not be adding that award to his trophy case this season.

Popular fantasy football site and sportsbook FanDuel is one of the few bookmakers to have priced up the upcoming MVP race so far this year, publishing their opening lines for the market on Thursday and placing Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the head of the betting.

Any MVP betting list that does not have Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady as the favorite is something of an anomaly compared to past years, but placing Mahomes at the top of the list seems like a reasonable response to his impressive 2018 campaign that won him the title last year.

If Roethlisberger is to win the award in 2019, he will pay off those who backed him with Fan Duel at odds of 32/1, a price that makes him 11th favorite with the bookmaker. And while those with black and gold glasses on might be tempted by prices of 100/1 for James Conner or 150/1 for JuJu Smith-Schuster, it is worth noting that only one non-quarterback has won MVP honors since 2006.

Dating back to 2000, the title has been won four times by a running back and 16 times by a quarterback, including the last six winners (2003 saw joint winners at quarterback for those wondering about total numbers).

The full list of odds from FanDuel:

Fan Duel

Christian McCaffrey is the favorite among the running backs at 34/1, with current New York Jet and possible trade candidate Le’Veon Bell sixth in the betting at his position with odds of 50/1. Antonio Brown is likely to be unhappy to note he has the same odds to win the award as Smith-Schuster does this year.

At the time of writing, Sugarhouse.com and 888.sports appear to be the only other U.S sportsbooks taking bets on the 2019 MVP Award at this stage in the offseason, both offering very similar odds for Roethlisberger at 33/1 and a shorter price on the favorite Mahomes at 5/1.