Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) reacts to his catch during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings have the league’s eighth-best odds to win the Super Bowl, situated around a +1600 moneyline after four games and four wins.
Multiple players are also in the mix for individual awards.
So, these are the four Vikings players and coaches who could realistically take home individual award hardware at season’s end. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = likeliest to win award).
Odds to Win MVP: +1100
Odds to Win CPOY: +175
Darnold leads the NFL in touchdown passes (11) and ranks third per EPA+CPOE, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added. The guy is utterly cooking.
Therefore, he has skyrocketed the MVP odds ladder and shares frontrunner status with Aaron Rodgers to win Comeback Player of the Year. When it’s all said and done, Darnold probably has a better chance to win CPOY than MVP, but his current pace for MVP cannot be ignored.
Through four games, Darnold has performed like an elite quarterback, and there’s just no debating it.
Odds to Win DROY: +900
When Week 1 kicked off, Turner was the frontrunner to win DROY. He then notched a sack in his first career game, jumping out to a hot start.
But he was injured in Week 2, causing him to miss Week 3, and only played a handful of snaps in the win over the Packers. Turner is still in the mix to win the sweet award, but he’ll need some bounceback games before too long.
Los Angeles Rams EDGE rusher Jared Verse could be in the driver’s seat for this honor.
Odds to Win OPOY: +500
Only Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) and Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) outrank Jefferson for OPOY through four weeks.
He’s on pace for 1,521 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on one of the two unbeaten teams in the business. Of course, Jefferson has already won OPOY, so this would be his second achievement if he can oust Barkley and Henry, among others, for the trophy.
An injury is the only thing that would derail Jefferson from consideration.
Odds to Win COY: +190
Unless one loves what the Seattle Seahawks or Washington Commanders are doing this season, O’Connell is absolutely in line to win COY.
He’s helped reclaim Sam Darnold’s career and is rapidly embodying the title of “quarterback whisperer.” Meanwhile, his team was only supposed to win about six or seven games this season, and it could reach those totals by Halloween.
O’Connell has hit his groove as a head coach.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.