# 2026 NFL season predictions: Picks for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and six more awards

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-02 09:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Sports media outlets and betting markets release widespread predictions and odds for the 2026 NFL season awards.

## Intelligence Brief
As the upcoming professional football season approaches, sports media outlets and prediction markets have published comprehensive forecasts regarding major season-long honors, focusing heavily on Most Valuable Player and Comeback Player of the Year candidates. The New York Post, AOL.com, and The Amherst Student highlight Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens as a prominent MVP candidate, noting his value within a new-look offensive scheme. Concurrently, Sports Illustrated and Betway Insider point to other contenders in the MVP race, reporting that Josh Allen holds a slight edge over Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson according to Kalshi prediction markets, while Joe Burrow also offers notable value.


These season-ahead assessments build upon ongoing discussions of roster adjustments, player recoveries, and market odds tracked by prediction platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi. Outlets are coupling their traditional award selections with broader evaluations of team trajectories, including bold predictions about worst-to-first turnarounds and defensive achievements like surpassing Myles Garrett in total sacks. Readers and observers monitoring these markets will look to the opening weeks of regular-season play to see how early performances validate or disrupt these current award odds and expert projections.


Coverage does not yet specify how early-season injuries or team success might shift these betting favorites in the weeks following kickoff.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| nypost.com | 2026 NFL MVP prediction, odds, picks: Lamar Jackson carries value in new-look Ravens offense | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi_AFBVV95cUxOT3IzVldtODM0bUJ6UENtMTZTWUF0WVhhUDFUWE1pVnlHSXM3YmI3VGUzeHJJOHI4a3BFYV9ybi1sSERrVk9wSGc0YlA5NUlRbG43OWhEaXlpSnR6ZzhMcGVadUhTRjNvbWF5V0VfQ211Z2J5RWxqY2lkakM5bTBzd000eW1WRnoxWEdIbVJHOEdXams3bEZxZW9VU0tqVFlSNVJCNndlRzRQMlQ2TzdlUk5NaGpRbDA0M253ZFNYVWM1OE1XZHRKTUFDX3cwUVZWZF9wYjNLdWlraG9PWFdrdG1kU3NVUGdzUm0wZnBCUG5wMGJUV3dLX19JMDQ?oc=5) |
| Sports Illustrated | NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds for 2026 Season: Patrick Mahomes Favored; Aaron Donald Lurking | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxOY1Y0ZkNZbllMeHJXc2V3dVlPNjdsSWR1N0E5N2N4ZkNoVGtSVkl5cl9kZnMzczh4TV9xTWM0U0M1dXgzQ2R5M19GVy1RVDAzUXc4N19XM05hUk5uczRsQW9FX0lfcnVBUVVwb09uUnM5OGdVbkxzYVlfN2FuYndKem53UzkwS01BYlNhSGVZMXFJekxzVmNPRVhMbV9Nd2dSblJqN2RIaEd1VnBDTkFTajg2WldmMF85dk9hTHhGTUZXZw?oc=5) |
| theScore | NFL awards: Who are the favorites to earn season-long honors? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxQcmRXOHZuaVlnOXl1bncxSC1VbkNwcVNaa25uMkZ1aGJiclRvM0ZxZXpHSW5kQWQ3Z1FjS0tmRy11NTRYMUY5WDNGNHQ4T0VyM25xRmdta2VtMWZKSk5hekhjbkFWYjdlQzROLVF0eGFmc25qeW9OOGxEX2R1bDYwWUJnb1lDOXBfZjluQWFHVldGd2tlbU5pTlVIV0VBV2xzcGpB?oc=5) |
| New York Post | 2026 NFL MVP prediction, odds, picks: Lamar Jackson carries value in new-look Ravens offense | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxNVnJhVWtDelB6QmszajNvcnFjZVNFZVZGLUttSnZUQU9hR09IeVZxNTRWMG1ONlo4d3N6ZEdWZ0pkZkZ2ZDFHZF9iTkpLNk9pQkViaVo3X2Q5ajNBdEJJSXcwWHROVUdzLS1NNmIyc0Y3M0c3V2s3OExnYlJaNXhDUWJpQjNjS0l0bVk0UEQ4N0s4XzhEOVg4UTNJelBtM203MmxzX3BzdUFBMXJ2U1d5SHhtRHBtbFV4UE5KNnFibGYxOUFqZS1J?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | 2026 NFL Comeback Player of Year trends, odds: Sportsbook rooting against Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2gFBVV95cUxQOFVQVEJYZVN6MmRGcUNPbHd5Tmw0cjFsaXNFZ2FNR3JURHBJRXh6UDBGSl8wZ2RzUjFRX2NCM3lPVjY1am94VEhVX0NLSmd5SFFMb3pGTzhadkh6cFlJMS1pMzFKWTRnakRrd3JORXJpRUQ0QmlURmRNUmdPLUdXTVZYS0I5Yjk2ZVl6cmdQZVFmczZqeWRCM3BWa2c5Q3pIa1hZN1NLOThjRW5tUlBCYmVtRUtMSDRXOHRhWkVfZGlVVkVoNWpRd0U5Nmg5Y0Y0TURMLVo3eHBBUQ?oc=5) |
| The Amherst Student | A Lamar-velous Season: NFL 2026 Season Awards Predictions | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxOVkdyRjlBeTBTM255Qm55X2Y0MmNtUmxTX3FWMlNlVWdUUWc2T1R0LWlBVlVNV3Q4cWZGR2g0UGVncXRqTTlxaThwWEt6SnpwSlJVb2RTaDJveGowR09hOTI0WFp4WmNGMzV3dUlMZ2VuUm4zQ1RZQ19SUTI0V1F6ZHZhVUhjd2JtM3lyTENGQzlBLVZ3eGRB?oc=5) |
| AOL.com | Updated Lamar Jackson Fantasy Outlook 2026: Can the Ravens QB Be the MVP Again? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxPRkE3TTAxX1l2UERkcFJ2bXZFclQtM2tOazA4eXYyTWRQTU5ueXpWTlhrNUpMT0RaT19teWtFbkFKYjRQRElMMDdOdmNaSGdwNGNCcVYySi15REhQY2FIYXhudTJZb1JwYTR2UWlYZUVHQkRQUi1DUlhOaXpEbE9FQl9Ec2dveS1P?oc=5) |
| Sports Illustrated | Josh Allen Has Slight Edge to Win NFL MVP Over Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson in Kalshi Prediction Market | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi5AFBVV95cUxOb0dGd2dWbHg5bF9TOXA5ZGN5RGNmclk5OGp6eUNZVlZGMDdCWGsxa3ZSOTlsVmdoM2p5bmJQVUU0NUszbEJxMm1KaUlaeGdsOWJFN1N4RUpSNGw1UzV5Mld2bm52YXlKNUVQRlotNnd0WnBqNUVwRmJFX1JFVTBoR1c0MUhxcDMxbXpFSFV6TjVKYWt4YnpWUU85OFk3YXhJTFJyUFhJd1djaS1oOXd4a0pCVUl1cTBWM0l6eXZTbi1SOHQ2dExsZ0tXSnNfQWhiNlA5ZFQ2YS1wTFFpWmZFWGpWaFY?oc=5) |
| Betway Insider | 2026 NFL MVP Odds, Picks and Predictions: Joe Burrow offers value | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxNM2JkYWJHa19DakVGMGlQNkcxWklxYmpGSjZsbHR4YW1zTldTYVNJSHhMMWhld1E3ZGNXVDhhNUtTLTU2NmdIUklmOXVLR1A5azd6THR2ei1QRWdrLTdaRGthbjNQR3VSNnNOM2lSbE5JNS1Id3dkSDVLekpmYlBKV0xB?oc=5) |
| thekatynews.com | 12 Bold NFL Predictions: Who Wins MVP, Goes Worst To First, Tops Myles Garrett In Sacks | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxQcW9JeW9ZaEUxMnFZM29wWmZxODlpTHVITnJNYmh0Zng5Z0FXckFVVUlpU1lvTHlmVnJhUjJ3M2NNS21uZTlQWTF5bU1PMVpPU05zTjV2VEFleEEtUGtYSEkwMzFlMDh4aXZDRmFyeGtSZFREMDZ0LWZWN2FEQmtILUh4OC1GNjFPQzlmemNrN0w1Wk0teGJzMFkwSDZaSTVKbVVaM0RKMWtsajd5ZUNRcnIxNTZCcWNWdEZBNTZWMA?oc=5) |
| Chiefs Wire | Latest Polymarket NFL MVP Odds: Trade Favorites & Longshots, Get $50 Bonus | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxPZXlGVUxXNDdDTjFuUlVac2x3WGE2WWlYMzhQeUtIMmtlU0tyUnNndTUyZEVoV09MTXA3ZGtzNzRzZ3ZqSUdsOHppM3Nkb1B0UHZlXzhvMHlKMXBJODYwNWFyRWk1V2Q2dE1JTUNKeWlUTHlUOE9LX25qUDIyaGt6SHZmb21rNTNCU19rZlhxZk5RWkJsQ3BDdEtpeGl2Rld4Z2ZweU9rNGFFbDA?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-02/2026-nfl-season-predictions-picks-for-mvp-defensive-player-of-the-year-and-six*