Longshots Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa and Sam Darnold are Value Picks to Win Super Bowl MVP

Patrick Mahomes is the favorite to win Super Bowl MVP. Duh.

Brock Purdy has the second-best odds, while three other stars round out the top-5, via DraftKings on January 29th.

• Patrick Mahomes +120
• Brock Purdy +225
• Christian McCaffrey +475
• Travis Kelce +1200
• Deebo Samuel +2000

But we’re not here to take a small swing at winning this wager. It’s time to identify three longshots that can realistically claim the award.

I’ve gone with three players from the 49ers, because Mahomes is a near-shoo-in to win it if Kansas City hoists another trophy, and also because think San Francisco wins this matchup as the slightest of favorites.

Here are my favorite underdog picks to win Super Bowl MVP:

3. 49ers QB Sam Darnold

Best odds: +20000 at DraftKings

The talk all year has been about the elite supporting cast surrounding Brock Purdy, and how he doesn’t do much heavy lifting at quarterback.

So if Purdy were to suffer an early injury in the Super Bowl, like he did in the NFC Championship Game last season, the 49ers would become underdogs to win the game, but it would still be possible.

Sam Darnold never lived up to the hype as a former top draft pick, but he’s good enough to keep the ship afloat and possibly help the 49ers win the Super Bowl. If that happens, even if the numbers are just so-so, he’s going to be in the mix for the MVP.

Odds are Purdy takes every snap, but the setup is intriguing enough to take a flier at +20000.

DraftKings gives the best value for this wager, as Darnold is 125/1 at BetMGM.

2. 49ers DE Nick Bosa

Best odds: +10000 at FanDuel

A defensive player hasn’t won Super Bowl MVP since Von Miller in Super Bowl 50, but if anyone can do it, Bosa is the pick.

Patrick Mahomes hardly ever gets sacked, but Bosa is an elite pass-rusher, and if he can get two sacks and force a fumble, or make a splash play or two in a different way, he could be in the mix.

The 49ers have really good balance and if a bunch of offensive guys have really good games, but no one has a great one, Bosa could steal the spotlight and the hardware.

FanDuel has the best offering here, as DraftKings has Bosa as at 75/1 to win Super Bowl MVP.

1. 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

Best odds: +6500 at DraftKings

This is the no-brainer pick for me.

Aiyuk finished the regular season with 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 17.9 yards per catch and had that unbelievable ricochet grab against the Lions in the NFC Championship Game.

The Chiefs have stingy pass defense, but Aiyuk has the highest over/under receiving yardage total of any 49ers player at 65.5 yards.

He could very well get to 80, 90, even 100 receiving yards with a touchdown if things break right. If Purdy doesn’t totally shine, there is plenty of room for Aiyuk to slip in and win the Super Bowl MVP, as wide receivers have won it in two of the past five years.

Aiyuk is down to 47/1 at FanDuel, so this is some really good value at DraftKings that may not last long at those odds.