NFL MVP Watch: Why Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is the early frontrunner

Go ahead, put another chip on the shoulder of Patrick Mahomes as the Kansas City Chiefs look to win the Super Bowl for an unprecedented third straight time.

Mahomes has three Super Bowl MVPs to his credit, but only two league MVP awards in the regular season. 

Clearly the best player in the league over the past handful of years, Mahomes hasn't won the award nearly as much as you would imagine. He's sort of like the NFL's LeBron James, who has won just four MVP awards in 21 NBA seasons. Does that make any sense? 

Like James, Mahomes should have more MVP hardware on his mantle. 

During the Super Bowl era, Peyton Manning leads the NFL with five league MVPs. He won two titles, including one late in his career with the Denver Broncos, a team led by a dominant defense. Aaron Rodgers has four league MVP awards and one Super Bowl victory. Tom Brady has three MVPs and seven Super Bowl wins.

After leading the Chiefs to an impressive victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener, Mahomes tops our opening list of five players to watch in this year's MVP race.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Current MVP Odds: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)

Mahomes ranks second in the NFL in yards per attempt (10.4), third in the NFL in passing yards (281) and sixth in passer rating (101.9) through the first week of the season.

The addition of speedy receiver Xavier Worthy, Kansas City's first-round pick, has already paid dividends. The Texas product had three touches for 86 scrimmage yards and two scores in his NFL debut.

On Sunday, against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, Mahomes will make his 98th career NFL start. He has won 75 of his first 97 career starts and can tie Brady (76) and Roger Staubach (76) for the most wins by a quarterback