When will NFL MVP, other player awards be announced — and who are top candidates?

On Thursday, Associated Press pro football writer Rob Maaddi revealed the finalists for MVP and five other player awards. The winners will be announced at the NFL Honors, which will air on Feb. 6 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox/NFL Network.

With that in mind, let's assess how voting works and three candidates for each award. Odds are provided by BetMGM (h/t Vegas Insider's Michael Crosson). 

How voting works

All awards are based on regular-season performance. A nationwide panel of 50 media members votes on them. Voters submitted their ballots before the playoffs start.

As of 2022, voters could place five players on their MVP ballots. For the other awards, they can list three players. A points system determines the winners. Here's a look at each:

MVP

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen (-300)

Buffalo traded wideout Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans this offseason, but Allen thrived without the four-time Pro Bowler. In 17 starts, the QB had 41 touchdowns (28 passing, 12 rushing and one receiving) and posted a career-high 77.3 QBR. 

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (+240)

In 17 starts, Jackson had career bests in passing yards (4,172) and touchdown passes (41). If the 28-year-old captures the award, he would be the sixth player in league history to win consecutive MVPs.

Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff (+10000)

In 17 starts, Goff completed 72.4 percent of his passes, the fourth-best figure in a season in league history (min. 14 pass attempts per game). Unsurprisingly, he made his fourth Pro Bowl. 

Offensive Player of the Year 

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (-5000)

Barkley joined elite company this season. He rushed for 2,005 yards in 16 games, becoming the ninth RB to run for 2,000 or more in the regular season. He's also an MVP finalist.

Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry (+2000) 

The Tennessee Titans probably regret letting Henry sign with Baltimore in free agency. In 17 games, the 31-year-old had the league's second-most rushing yards (1,921) and tied for first in rushing TDs (16).

Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (+2500)

In 17 games, Chase finished with career highs in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and TD catches (17), earning a first-team All-Pro nod. The Bengals should give the fourth-year WR a contract extension this offseason. 

Defensive Player of the Year

Pittsburgh Steelers edge-rusher T.J. Watt (-130) 

Watt — 2021 DPOY — made his seventh straight Pro Bowl following another productive season. In 17 games, he led the league in forced fumbles (six) and tied for eighth in sacks (11.5).

Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II (+150)

Only six cornerbacks have won DPOY, but Broncos head coach Sean Payton recently said Surtain has "an easy case to make." Per Pro Football Focus, Surtain allowed one TD catch and a below-average 61.1 passer rating in 16 games.

Cleveland Browns edge-rusher Myles Garrett (+950)

The reigning DPOY didn't backslide this season. In 17 games, he had the league's second-most sacks (14) and tied for ninth in forced fumbles (three). 

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (-1000)

The 2024 No. 2 overall pick shattered expectations, going 12-5 in 17 starts and scoring 31 TDs (25 passing and six rushing). Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud — 2023 OROY — recently said Daniels has "had the best rookie season of all time."

Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers (+3000) 

Bowers had 1,194 receiving yards in 17 games, breaking Hall of Famer Mike Ditka's rookie TE record (1,076 in 14 games in 1961). Imagine what Bowers could have done if the Raiders hadn't ranked 27th in the league in passer rating (82.4).

Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix (+5000)

Nix and Co. ended the Broncos' eight-year playoff drought. In 17 starts, the Auburn/Oregon product went 10-7, finishing 12th in the league in passing yards (3,775) and sixth in TD passes (29). 

Defensive Rookie of the Year  

Los Angeles Rams edge-rusher Jared Verse (-1000)

Verse helped L.A. replace future HOF DT Aaron Donald, who retired in March 2024. PFF credited Verse with the fourth-most pressures in the league (77 in 17 games).   

Philadelphia Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell (+700)

Mitchell tied for second on the team in passes defended (12 in 16 games). More importantly, he's a key reason the Eagles allowed the fewest passing yards (174.2) in the league.

Miami Dolphins edge-rusher Chop Robinson (+3000)

ESPN analyst Ben Solak recently named Robinson to his All-Rookie team. According to PFF, the Penn State product posted an 18.8 percent pass-rush win rate in 17 games, the league's eighth-best mark (min. 176 pass-rush snaps)

Comeback Player of the Year 

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow (-4000) 

After suffering a season-ending right wrist injury in 2023, Burrow rebounded with a career year. In 17 starts, he led the league in passing yards (4,918) and TD passes (43). He's also an MVP and OPOY finalist.

Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold (+230) 

Who expected the former New York Jets bust to go 14-3 and lead the Vikings to the playoffs? In 17 starts, the 2018 No. 3 overall pick finished fifth in the league in TD passes (35) and passing yards (4,319).

Los Angeles Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins (+750)

The Chargers signed Dobbins to a one-year, $1.61M deal in free agency even though he battled knee and Achilles injuries in his first four seasons with Baltimore. L.A.'s risk paid off, as Dobbins led the team in rushing yards (905 in 13 games) and rushing TDs (nine).