The last time the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl there was a surprise MVP: linebacker Malcolm Smith. If Seattle goes on to win the big game this year, could another surprise MVP be on the docket? Or will it be a more mainstream position like quarterback?
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, it’s more likely the latter. That isn’t a surprise either, considering that is what makes those positions “mainstream.” However, who else does FanDuel like to win Super Bowl MVP if the Seahawks finish hoisting
the Lombardi?
The top (and obvious) choice is of course the quarterback, Sam Darnold. FanDuel lists Darnold’s odds at +115 (the best odds of either team). As the quarterback, Darnold is going to touch the ball every play, and would be the likely thrower of any touchdowns. However, Darnold also could run in a touchdown. If Seattle wins the game off the offense’s shoulders, there is a great chance that is because of Darnold. Darnold is also coming off arguably his best game of the season, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game.
The next two best odds for the Seahawks are wide receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba at +550 and Kenneth Walker III at +850. Although Smith-Njigba is having a career year worth of Offensive Player of the Year, the fact that his odds are better than Walker’s is a little surprising. Smith-Njigba scored in each of the last two games, and he did put up 153 yards against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. However, any ball that Smith-Njigba will catch will likely be thrown by the aforementioned Darnold. With that being said, his teammate, Cooper Kupp did win the Super Bowl MVP as a wide receiver just five years ago in 2021.
On the other hand, Kenneth Walker has been on a heater this postseason, having put up 178 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the last two games. On top of this, Walker III has touched the ball at least 22 times each of the last two games. All of this shows that Walker III may be a solid play for Super Bowl MVP odds.
Wide receiver/returner, Rashid Shaheed is the only other Seahawks with odds better than +10,000, having odds of +4500. This makes sense as well considering Shaheed’s speed makes him a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. A return touchdown could automatically catapult Shaheed to the top of this list.
Outside the top four, there are some fun options as well. The following players all have odds of +10,000:
- Edge rusher, Demarcus Lawrence;
- Wide receiver, Cooper Kupp;
- Defensive lineman, Leonard Williams;
- Safety, Nick Emmanwori;
- Kicker, Jason Myers.
Many Seahawk fans who are reminiscent of when Malcolm Smith won MVP are surely eyeing the three defenders listed here. The odds that a defensive player wins MVP are not that crazy. The formula for this would be for Seattle’s defense to take control of this game early and allow Darnold and the offense to cruise the rest of the game. The Seahawks have done this plenty of times already this season.
As for Cooper Kupp, like Smith-Njigba, he would need to have a crazy game as well. In the 2021 Superbowl he put up eight catches for 92 yards, two touchdowns (including the game winner) as well as 1 carry for seven yards. If Kupp were to repeat that same stat line, that would easily be his best game of the season.
Lastly, Jason Myers as a kicker would be the first ever to win Super Bowl MVP at that position. This seems the least likely of all these options. However, if Seattle wins the game with nothing but field goals (like they did earlier in the season against the Indianapolis Colts), then Myers may just be your MVP.
