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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.

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).

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."

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).

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).

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).

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.

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.

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).

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).