A two-horse race for NFL MVP 2017 Award Winner

Updated: February 3, 2026

The NFL Most Valuable Player award has come down to a two-horse race. The New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the front-runner for the trophy, but Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley has become a strong underdog for the NFL MVP 2017 Award Winner. Brady has been the favorite for much of the season. He has won two previous MVP awards and a third could solidify him as the greatest NFL quarterback off all-time. By Drew Farmer Brady's storied career includes leading the Patriots to multiple Super Bowl victories by 2017, which has solidified his reputation as one of the all-time greats. Throughout his career, Brady has consistently demonstrated leadership and exceptional passing abilities, contributing to New England's success. His impressive track record is a significant factor in his recurring presence in MVP discussions. After NFL week 16, NFL experts and sports books around the globe eliminated all other MVP 2017 award candidates. Philip Rivers, Drew Brees and other just didn't have the stats to stack up against Brady and Gurley. [su_spacer][su_quote]The bias of MVP voters towards quarterbacks and running backs has kept other position players out of the running this season.[/su_quote] Some NFL insiders feel that voters are beginning to lean toward Gurley. This has been due partly to Gurley being a new face in the NFL compared to the Patriots quarterback. Brady has won the award twice before, Gurley is only in his third season in the NFL. So, how should bettors decide on which player to wager on?

Tom Brady, New England Patriots (-300)

Brady's play has dipped in the last few NFL weeks. Brady has thrown six interceptions in his last five weeks. He has tossed eight touchdowns, but his picks may have swayed MVP 2017 award voters. The Patriots will most likely start Brady and play him until the win is secured against the New York Jets on Sunday. Brady has been held out of practice due to multiple injuries this week. He is suffering from an Achilles and left shoulder injury, and Bill Belichick has kept him off the practice field to avoid making the injuries worse. It isn't the first time Brady has been fighting these injuries this season. During NFL week 15, Brady's name appeared on the Patriots' injury report. Brady played through it, but his nagging injuries could be the reason he has struggled with interceptions in the last five weeks.

Impact of Injuries on MVP Races

Injuries can significantly impact an MVP candidate's chances. Past players like Carson Wentz saw promising seasons cut short, affecting their MVP prospects. For Brady, his status is particularly scrutinized, given how important his health is to both his performance and the Patriots' success. According to the Boston Herald, Brady's injuries shouldn't be too much of a concern and keeping him out of practice is more of precautionary move ahead of Sunday. He is expected to play and the MVP award could hinge on his performance. A multiple interception day could see Brady lose his MVP favorite tag. Overall this season, Brady has been efficient and consistent despite his recent rash of interceptions. If he does win, he is certainly deserving. [su_button url=”https://nflsuperbowlbetting.com/go/bovada-nfl-link/” size=”12″ wide=”yes” center=”yes”]MVP Odds[/su_button]

Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams (+200)

Gurley shined during the 2017 season with standout games, such as his performance against the Seattle Seahawks where he scored four touchdowns and gained over 150 yards in the air and on the ground. These explosive performances helped the Rams secure important wins, emphasizing his value to the team's offense during a key playoff push. The buzz around Gurley continues to build. The Rams running back has accumulated 1,305-yard rushing and 13 touchdowns. Gurley has been a threat through the air as well. The third-year man out of Georgia has scored nine more touchdowns from passes. Gurley doesn't have history on his side. Nine of the last 10 NFL MVP awards have gone to quarterbacks. The running backs who have won the award previously have done so by recording some kind of career stat or milestone. Gurley hasn't done that this season, but he is still worthy of winning the trophy. Yes, Brady has been good, but Gurley's play has completely turned around the Rams. Most people would see Gurley's play as what a “true” MVP should be. He has transformed the Rams on the field. The team hasn't been in the playoffs since 2004, and that was when the franchise was still located in St. Louis. This year behind Gurley the team has won the NFC West. The Los Angeles Rams' transformation in 2017 was remarkable, driven by new head coach Sean McVay and Gurley's resurgence. This season marked a significant shift for the franchise, both in strategy and execution. Gurley's contributions were instrumental in the team's first division title since 2003, marking a new era for the Rams. Perhaps one of the problems with Gurley's run – no pun intended – at the MVP 2017 award is many NFL insiders are using metrics most voters won't when deciding on the winner. While using metrics in deciding the MVP in baseball is more commonplace, it isn't quite that way in the NFL. While Brady should start and get substantial play on Sunday against the Jets, Gurley will probably play one or two drives before he is removed from the game. The Rams have won the NFC West, so there isn't much to play for on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. [su_button url=”https://nflsuperbowlbetting.com/go/bovada-nfl-link/” size=”12″ wide=”yes” center=”yes”]MVP Odds[/su_button]

Historical MVP Trends

Historically, the MVP trophy has favored quarterbacks, with 37 awarded to them since the honor's inception. However, running backs like Adrian Peterson have managed to break this trend, showing that exceptional seasons by non-quarterbacks can still sway voters. Peterson's win in 2012 was largely due to surpassing the 2,000-yard rushing mark.

Predicting the NFL MVP 2017 Award Winner

Brady is just slightly ahead of Gurley as the final week of the season dawns. Barring injury or a complete implosion against the Jets, and Brady should win his third MVP award. The Jets have an awful pass defense, and Brady should be able to throw all over them. Brady threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns the last time New England played the Jets. The unfortunate part about Brady winning the MVP is so many fans want Gurley to win the award. He has been great in numerous phases of the game. If Gurley wasn't up against Brady for the trophy, he would win it. But he is in a two-horse race with the greatest quarterback of all-time.