Don’t look now, but Sam Darnold is in the NFL MVP race. 

The Vikings quarterback is tied for the 3rd-best odds (+800) at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the award after an unbelievable start to the 2024 season.

Darnold has been red-hot through four games, throwing for 932 yards with a 68.9 percent completion rate and a league-leading 11 touchdowns with a 118.9 passer rating. 

He’s led the Vikings to a 4-0 start, joining the Chiefs as the only undefeated teams heading into Week 5. 

The Vikings’ perfect first four weeks includes upsets over the 49ers, Texans and Packers – three teams expected to be in Super Bowl contention before the season. 

Darnold trails only Patrick Mahomes (+300), who has been favored since the preseason, and Josh Allen (+350) at DraftKings. 

He’s even with C.J. Stroud and Lamar Jackson, who won the award last season. 

The ex-Jets quarterback came into the season as a massive 200/1 long shot to be the 2024 MVP at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Those odds trailed players like Bryce Young, Daniel Jones and Will Levis, among many others. 

Darnold is back as a starting NFL quarterback after spending the 2023 season as the backup to Brock Purdy on the San Francisco 49ers. 

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After being drafted No. 3 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold served three seasons as Gang Green’s starting signal-caller before spending two years in Carolina with the Panthers. 

Darnold will get a chance at revenge against his former team in Week 5 overseas.

The Vikings and Jets will face off on Sunday in London at 9:30 a.m. ET, with the Vikings favored by 2.5 points against a Jets team coming off a sloppy offensive performance in a Week 4 upset loss.

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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three – MLB, the NFL and the NBA.