The 2014 NFL season is beginning to wind down after 11 weeks of exciting action. That is no reason to frown, however, because sports bettors can finally begin talking about the MVP race in earnest. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is, at the movement, the favorite to win the award, but at certain points in the season Peyton Manning and Tom Brady were on everyone's' radar as the top choice to bring home the 2014 MVP trophy.

The Packers have been spectacular since Rodgers Week 3 "Relax" comments, yet that does not mean he is a lock for the award. Brady has New England playing like a Super Bowl contender, while JJ Watt might be considered the best player in the NFL by most experts. Let's take a closer look at the odds heading into Week 12 and figure out who's in the lead and which players have the most value to bet on in this week's MVP power rankings. All odds come from Sportsbook.ag.

No. 5: DeMarco Murray: +1000 (third-best odds): Murray has certainly been Dallas' workhorse and MVP of the season. The question of whether or not he actually wins the award will come down to Dallas' record at the end of the year. If the squad can finish off the season in an impressive manner and win the NFC East with a 13-3 or 12-4 record-which is within the realm of possibility-and Murray's production continues to be a huge part of the equation, then this wager has value.

No. 4: JJ Watt: +2000 (sixth-best odds): The Texans are sitting on a 5-5 record and a light schedule to close off the year. Watt's 2014 MVP campaign has been reminiscent of Adrian Peterson's spectacular 2012 award winning season where the running back, who was considered the best player in the league, carried a bad Minnesota team into the playoffs. Watt's credentials are certainly MVP-worthy, yet his only issue is the fact that he plays on a mediocre Houston squad. However, placing a wager on a great +2000 number and hoping that the Texas end the year strong could be a great long-shot bet. Watt is considered the best player in the league by most NFL experts, and that assessment could help his MVP campaign.

No. 3: Peyton Manning: +300 (second-best odds): Manning is always on the MVP radar because he is so consistent. Sure, he had a horrible showing against St. Louis last week, but that performance will not hurt his standing. The Denver quarterback is almost the default choice for the award, and every other player in the league has to do something spectacular in order to pry it away from Manning. One of the biggest issues against his candidacy, however, may be voter fatigue. Manning won the award last season and has taken the crown a record five times in his legendary career.

No. 2: Tom Brady: +1200 (fifth-best odds): Brady may have the most value in the MVP race at +1200. The "Golden Boy" has similar numbers compared to Rodgers and has his team in a similar situation as Green Bay. Both groups started the season slow, endured endless criticism by the media, and then led their respective teams on a tear. Rodgers and the Packers are receiving endless praise for putting up consecutive 50-point games, but Brady and New England's three straight 40-plus games is largely being ignored. Wagering on Brady at +1200 has all the value at the moment. If the Patriots can manage to get a win when they visit Green Bay during their Week 13 showdown, Brady may just take the lead in the MVP race.

No. 1 Aaron Rodgers: -110 (best odds): Rodgers has been nothing short of spectacular after Green Bay's 1-2 start that had fans and the media in a panic. The former MVP is currently in the middle of an all-time great season with a passer rating of 120.1, 2,748 yards, 28 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Make no mistake about it, Rodgers should be the MVP favorite, but with five weeks of football still left to be played, setting it at -110 may be a bit much.

Green Bay could end the year with five total losses, which would probably be enough to win the division, but if the 8-2 Patriots happen to be the overall No. 1 seed in the NFL, it would be awfully hard to ignore Brady's year. Rodgers is leading the way, but the odds are simply not right to make a bet on the quarterback enticing.

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