By the end of the weekend, every team in the NFL will have reported to training camp. That means MyBookie.ag is rolling out more and more NFL season props daily. Today, we look at the top betting candidates for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. You are going to see mostly first-round picks win this award. However, we had a surprise winner last year in Cowboys fourth-round quarterback Dak Prescott. He would never have taken the field in the 2016 regular season for Dallas had Tony Romo not been injured in the preseason.
Fournette was the No. 4 overall pick by Jacksonville – the Cowboys took running back Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 overall in 2016 and that worked out extraordinarily well as Elliott had one of the greatest rookie seasons ever for a running back but he finished second to Prescott for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
There’s no question that the Jaguars are going to base their offense on Fournette because QB Blake Bortles has been so inconsistent in his first three years. But the better the Jags can run the ball, the better yardage situations Bortles would be put in.
As a matter of fact, Fournette weighed 240 pounds at the 2017 NFL Combine and ran the fastest 40-yard dash in combine history for anyone his size — 4.51 seconds. He then shed 12 pounds and got down to 228 at his pro day. In reality, he’s a monster.
Carolina reportedly tried to trade up to draft Fournette but wasn’t able to do so and took the multi- talented McCaffrey out of Stanford at No. 8. The Panthers were long considered a team likely to take a running back because of the reliance on the power running game and Jonathan Stewart’s age.
Panthers star QB Cam Newton campaigned pre-draft for McCaffrey over Fournette because he believed Fournette was too similar to Stewart and that McCaffrey could offer something the Panthers have never had before. Indeed, McCaffrey is a stellar receiver and could even line up in the slot at times.
McCaffrey’s 6,191 all-purpose yards since the beginning of the 2015 season are the most ever over a two-year stretch in Football Bowl Subdivision history. In three college seasons – with a limited role his first season – the 5-foot- 11, 202-pounder amassed 3,922 rushing yards, 1,206 receiving yards, 1,869 return yards and 33 total touchdowns.
Davis, out of Western Michigan, was the first receiver off the board in the 2017 draft at No. 5 overall. Davis is an imposing figure, standing nearly 6-3, at 209 pounds, with good speed. Davis caught 97 balls for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, and his 5,278 career receiving yards is an FBS record. Davis caught 331 footballs and scored 52 touchdowns in his collegiate career.
He should thrive alongside quarterback Marcus Mariota and a powerful running game. The Titans’ passing attack, which ranked 25th in the NFL last season, should only improve with the addition of Davis and former Western Kentucky star receiver Taywan Taylor, who was drafted in the third round.
But there is one negative regarding Davis: He still hasn’t signed his contract. Davis and defensive end Solomon Thomas, drafted third overall by the 49ers, both have yet to agree to terms and are represented by the same agency as Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, whose holdout last season stretched into late August. So Davis might miss the start of camp and that can set rookies back.
The Texans traded their first-round pick this year to Cleveland to move up to No. 12 in this year’s draft and take Watson, the former Clemson star quarterback and two-time Heisman finalist. I love Watson, and I think he’ll beat out Tom Savage to be Houston’s starter eventually.
However, it’s more likely than not that Savage begins the season as the main guy. Thus by the time Watson takes over, it might be tough for him to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Betting Predictions
We you, rookie!@deshaunwatson getting some reps at @houstontexans camp! #NFLTrainingCamp pic.twitter.com/K9tLK8PimM
— NFL (@NFL) July 26, 2017
Leonard Fournette (Jacksonville Jaguars)
2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds: +380Fournette was the No. 4 overall pick by Jacksonville – the Cowboys took running back Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 overall in 2016 and that worked out extraordinarily well as Elliott had one of the greatest rookie seasons ever for a running back but he finished second to Prescott for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
There’s no question that the Jaguars are going to base their offense on Fournette because QB Blake Bortles has been so inconsistent in his first three years. But the better the Jags can run the ball, the better yardage situations Bortles would be put in.
So What’s the Problem with Fournette?
My only concern is healthy as Fournette had some injury problems at LSU. In 32 career games at LSU, Fournette ran for 100 yards or more 19 times. Last season Jaguars running backs Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon combined for 904 rushing yards. The Jaguars are expecting Fournette to top that number at the least.As a matter of fact, Fournette weighed 240 pounds at the 2017 NFL Combine and ran the fastest 40-yard dash in combine history for anyone his size — 4.51 seconds. He then shed 12 pounds and got down to 228 at his pro day. In reality, he’s a monster.
Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers)
2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds: +500Carolina reportedly tried to trade up to draft Fournette but wasn’t able to do so and took the multi- talented McCaffrey out of Stanford at No. 8. The Panthers were long considered a team likely to take a running back because of the reliance on the power running game and Jonathan Stewart’s age.
Panthers star QB Cam Newton campaigned pre-draft for McCaffrey over Fournette because he believed Fournette was too similar to Stewart and that McCaffrey could offer something the Panthers have never had before. Indeed, McCaffrey is a stellar receiver and could even line up in the slot at times.
McCaffrey’s 6,191 all-purpose yards since the beginning of the 2015 season are the most ever over a two-year stretch in Football Bowl Subdivision history. In three college seasons – with a limited role his first season – the 5-foot- 11, 202-pounder amassed 3,922 rushing yards, 1,206 receiving yards, 1,869 return yards and 33 total touchdowns.
Corey Davis (Tennessee Titans)
2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds: +650Davis, out of Western Michigan, was the first receiver off the board in the 2017 draft at No. 5 overall. Davis is an imposing figure, standing nearly 6-3, at 209 pounds, with good speed. Davis caught 97 balls for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, and his 5,278 career receiving yards is an FBS record. Davis caught 331 footballs and scored 52 touchdowns in his collegiate career.
He should thrive alongside quarterback Marcus Mariota and a powerful running game. The Titans’ passing attack, which ranked 25th in the NFL last season, should only improve with the addition of Davis and former Western Kentucky star receiver Taywan Taylor, who was drafted in the third round.
But there is one negative regarding Davis: He still hasn’t signed his contract. Davis and defensive end Solomon Thomas, drafted third overall by the 49ers, both have yet to agree to terms and are represented by the same agency as Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, whose holdout last season stretched into late August. So Davis might miss the start of camp and that can set rookies back.
Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans )
2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds: +650The Texans traded their first-round pick this year to Cleveland to move up to No. 12 in this year’s draft and take Watson, the former Clemson star quarterback and two-time Heisman finalist. I love Watson, and I think he’ll beat out Tom Savage to be Houston’s starter eventually.
However, it’s more likely than not that Savage begins the season as the main guy. Thus by the time Watson takes over, it might be tough for him to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Previous NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners
- 2016 – Dak Prescott. Dallas Cowboys. Quaterback
- 2015 – Todd Gurley. St. Louis Rams. Running Back.
- 2014 – Odell Beckham Jr. New York Giants. Wide Receiver.
- 2013 – Eddie Lacy. Green Bay Packers. Running Back.
- 2012 – Robert Griffin III. Washington Redskins. Quarterback.
- 2011 – Cam Newton. Carolina Panthers. Quarterback.
- 2010 – Sam Bradford. St. Louis Rams. Quarterback.
