Justin Herbert's odds continue to improve in MVP race

Nov 17, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) carries the ball on a 30-yard run against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Nov 17, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) carries the ball on a 30-yard run against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

While Oregon has two of the best rookies in the league in Bo Nix and Bucky Irving as well as arguably the best tackle in Penei Sewell, the Ducks might also have the league's top player at the end of the season.

In fact, Justin Herbert has been playing out of this world lately.

Earlier in the season, Herbert wasn't putting up eye-popping numbers, by any means, and it felt like he was still adjusting to Jim Harbaugh. He didn't pass for over 200 yards in a single game in the first month of the season. Oh, and he had just five touchdowns and one interception through the first four games. It felt like he may be trending in the wrong direction under his new staff.

And then something clicked.

Following a bye week in early October, Herbert turned up the heat. Since the calendar flipped to October, Herbert has been playing at an MVP level with eight touchdowns and no interceptions and he only had fewer than 200 yards in a game just once in six games. He has completely flipped the script.

Herbert also has over 150 yards and a touchdown in the past six games and he looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the league. And after he led the Chargers to a huge win over the Bengals on Sunday, his MVP odds have continued to improve.

In fact, according to DraftKings, Herbert is now No. 7 in terms of MVP odds behind Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Kyler Murray. He's tied for seventh with the quarterback he just bested on Sunday night in Joe Burrow.

Like Nix in Denver, Herbert's season has completely flipped for the better and he might end up taking home some major hardware in about two months.

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