After becoming the NFL’s rushing leader in Week 1, with 25 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown, Kansas City Chiefs rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire has opened some eyes. Those who didn’t expect it are now beginning to realize the type of weapon he can be for the Chiefs’ offense. One area where he’s seeing a bit more respect is in the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year odds.
BetMGM has updated its odds for the winner of the 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award following the conclusion of Week 1. Edwards-Helaire originally had the fifth-best odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year following his selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. When Damien Williams opted out, Edwards-Helaire’s odds increased to the second-best. Now, after an incredible debut in Week 1, Edwards-Helaire is favored to win the annual award.
BetMGM lists Edwards-Helaire with +130 odds or 1.3/1 fractional odds. That means he has a 43.5% implied probability to win the award. If you put $100 down on Edwards-Helaire to win it and he wins, you’ll win $130. He jumps ahead of his former LSU teammate, Bengals QB Joe Burrow, who has +350 odds to win the award.
Why are the odds so great for Edwards-Helaire to win Offensive Rookie of the Year after just one week? A bit of history can tell us a lot about that.
After his 27-yard TD run, Clyde Edwards-Helaire became the first player with 100+ rush yards and a rush TD in an NFL debut since Saquon Barkley in Week 1, 2018 vs the Jaguars
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) September 11, 2020
According to NFL Research, the last player to rush for 100+ rushing yards and a rushing TD in his debut was Saquon Barkley, who went on to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2018. ESPN Stats & info took things one step further.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the 4th player in the last 30 seasons with at least 130 rush yards and a TD in his NFL debut.
Each of the previous 3 either went on to win Rookie of the Year or a rushing title that year. pic.twitter.com/VJbCwSJIVE
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 11, 2020
The previous three players with 130+ rushing yards and a touchdown in their debut went on to win either an NFL rushing title or the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. These new favorable odds suggest that the oddsmakers believe Edwards-Helaire will follow suit.
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