NFL MVP odds have been released and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s odds range from +1200 to +1600.
Is it worth putting a future bet on Dak or is the return on investment too good to be true?
First, it’s important to note that 14 of the previous 15 MVPs went to quarterbacks. The voters clearly have a type, so if you decide to invest in a player other than Prescott, it’s wise to go with another QB.
Prescott has continued progressing in each season as a pro. Last year, he threw for 4,449 yards and 37 touchdowns. These marks ranked second and third highest respectively through his first six seasons in Dallas.
Here are the things to know about Prescott and his supporting cast before you place your way too early MVP bets:
Prescott healthier than ever
The former Mississippi State Bulldog has been dealing with injuries each of the previous two seasons.
Prescott played only five games in 2020 after an ankle injury ended his season. Dak only missed one game due to a calf injury in 2021, but he also dealt with a nagging shoulder injury throughout the year. But Mike McCarthy said the injury didn’t impact Prescott’s play and categorized the QB’s surgery as a ‘cleanup’.
Prescott recently told the media that his health is up and it’s allowing him to work on aspects of his game that he previously couldn’t because of injury:
“[This is the] healthiest I’ve been in a long, long time. So, I’m just blessed just to start there and to be able to come in healthy and just to work on myself and just overall my whole game and not just particularly getting one element of my body healthy.”
“I’m improving. It’s just about getting better in every aspect of my game and not just necessarily rehab.”
Dallas needs pass catchers to step up
With Amari Cooper being traded to the Cleveland Browns this offseason, it leaves a hole in the WR2 slot.
CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys receivers in yards and targets last year, earning his first pro bowl selection in only year two of his pro career. There’s no reason to expect Lamb’s game to regress in 2022.
Dalton Schultz played a big role in the Cowboys’ 2021 offense as Dallas has always relied on pass catching tight ends. Schultz actually matched Cooper in targets last season at 104. But Cooper tallied 57 more yards in two fewer games than Schultz.
Beyond those two, things get iffy.
Michael Gallup is a proven commodity entering year five. But he only played nine games last year and tore his ACL in week 17, leaving his status for week one of 2022 in question.
James Washington was a free agent signing from the Pittsburgh Steelers after spending the past four years buried on the WR depth chart. He’s shown flashes of greatness in his career, but hasn’t gotten the reps to prove how high his ceiling could be.
Rookie Jalen Tolbert was a third round draft pick out of South Alabama. He had the sixth-most receiving yards in the NCAA last season, but time will tell if his game translates to the NFL.
These unknowns could prevent Prescott from reaching new career highs and earning his first MVP. While the return on investment if Dak pulls it off is excellent, there are certainly safer bets on the board for Cowboys backers.
