Raiders TE Brock Bowers moving up ranking of favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year

Brock Bowers is nipping on the heels of Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix in race for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Can you imagine a tight end winning Offensive Rookie of the Year? Well, prior to this year, few people could. In fact, no tight end has ever won it. But just like Brock Bowers changed the game in college at Georgia, he has changed the pro game as well.

Now with four games left in the season, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Month has positioned himself as a favorite to win the award.

Washington QB Jayden Daniels is still the favorite to win it. And odds are he will win the award, mostly because he plays the most important position in football. And despite Gregg Rosenthal’s opinion, Bo Nix is probably also more likely than Bowers to win the award.

But Bowers has already set a new NFL rookie record for TE receptions (87) with still four games to go and his 933 yards put him within striking distance of the rookie tight end receiving yards record as well, which has stood for over six decades. So, he deserves to be in the conversation. Perhaps even forcing the committee to step outside their box and consider positions other than QB, WR, or RB for a change.

Is Commanders QB Jayden Daniels still the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite?

Jayden Daniels remains the favorite over Bo Nix.

Is Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels still the favorite to win the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award?

After Denver’s Bo Nix completed 84.9% of his passes, throwing for 307 yards and four touchdowns in the Broncos’ 38-6 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, some believed that Nix had overtaken Daniels as the favorite for Offensive ROtY.

Not so fast. While Daniels hasn’t played as well over the last two weeks, he hasn’t been terrible, and he’s battling an injury. Nix has steadily improved after a disastrous start to his NFL career, and the Broncos are competing for an AFC wild-card spot.

The Commanders and Broncos were projected to be terrible in 2024, and each benefitted from the rookie quarterbacks. Six quarterbacks went in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, with Daniels going No. 2 and Nix landing at No. 12.

Back to the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. For weeks, it seemed like a foregone conclusion it would eventually go to Daniels. Now, Nix has narrowed the gap, but Daniels remains the overwhelming favorite, according to BetMGM.

Here are the top contenders:

  • Jayden Daniels: -600
  • Bo Nix: +400
  • Brock Bowers: +2500
  • Caleb Williams: +4000
  • Marvin Harrison Jr: +4000
  • Drake Maye: +5000

While Nix has closed the gap, Daniels remains in the driver’s seat unless his season completely goes off the rails.

 

NFL writer believes Commanders QB Jayden Daniels will win Offensive Rookie of the Year award

Can Daniels win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award?

What kind of rookie season will Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels have in 2024? Jeremy Fowler of ESPN spoke to sources around the NFL who believe the Commanders could be “scary” with Daniels under center in 2024 and beyond.

Will Daniels be as good as Caleb Williams with the Chicago Bears? The expectations are higher for Williams — the No. 1 overall pick — because Chicago’s roster looks better equipped to compete in 2024.

If Williams plays well and leads the Bears to the playoffs, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award is likely his for the taking. But what if Daniels leads the Commanders to eight wins or more with a phenomenal rookie season?

Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated recently posted his “100 bold predictions for the 2024 NFL season.” One of his predictions has Daniels winning the Rookie of the Year award.

The Washington Commanders’ quarterback has a veteran offensive line and receiving corps, plus a veteran running back to get him out of trouble. Schematically, I would hand the rookie QB advantage to Caleb Williams in Chicago, where the Shane Waldron offense will scheme up a lot of open looks for him. However, Daniels is going to make a lot of plays with his legs and fare well against a schedule that is not too difficult when it comes to defensive opponents.

The issue here is the offensive line. It’s a question mark heading into the 2024 season. Of course, if rookie Brandon Coleman wins the left tackle job in training camp and performs well, suddenly Washington’s offensive line looks much different.

The betting odds favor Williams, and understandably so, but don’t count out Daniels. What if he passes for over 3,000 yards and rushes for 800 or more?

The Commanders and Bears face one another in 2024 in what could be one of the season’s more exciting games. What a difference a year makes.

 

Projecting Commanders QB Jayden Daniels’ 2024 stats

Projecting Jayden Daniels’ stats in 2024.

Which rookie quarterback will make the most significant impact in the NFL in 2024? Considering there were six first-round quarterbacks — all among the top 12 — several rookies will be playing next season.

The no. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), is the most popular pick. The Bears added perennial Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen and top-10 pick Rome Odunze to a wide receiver room that already had D.J. Moore.

J.J. McCarthy, who went No. 10 overall to the Vikings, will be throwing to Justin Jefferson. Of course, McCarthy could sit behind Sam Darnold during his rookie season.

What about No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders?

It appears some are sleeping on Daniels, who quietly has a quality supporting cast around him, such as Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz. Washington also has a pair of rookies, Ben Sinnott and Luke McCaffrey, who will also be featured in the offense.

If everyone stays healthy, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award will likely go to Williams and Daniels.

What kind of numbers will the top two picks produce?

Mike Clay of ESPN recently projected the top five rookie leaders by stat categories.

Here’s Clay’s projections on the rookie passers:

  • Caleb Williams: 3,532 yards, 23 TDs (15 starts)
  • J.J. McCarthy: 3,527 yards, 19 TDs (14 starts)
  • Jayden Daniels: 3,457 yards, 16 TDs (15 starts)
  • Drake Maye: 3,378 yards, 17 TDs (15 starts)
  • Bo Nix: 3,165 yards, 16 TDs (14 starts)

Remember, these are Clay’s projections. If Daniels passes for 3,457 yards, he’d surpass Robert Griffin III’s rookie record of 3,200 yards in 2012. However, he’d fall short of Griffin’s 20 touchdown passes.

Let’s make our projections.

Daniels will start all 17 games and pass for 3,750 yards with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions, completing 67% of his passes. He will also rush for over 700 yards with four touchdowns.

Will that be enough to earn him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award? That’s difficult to say. But playing in a fast-paced offense led by Kliff Kingsbury, we believe Daniels will break multiple team rookie records in 2024.

What are your predictions?

Bijan Robinson among FanDuel’s best Offensive Rookie of the Year odds

Bijan Robinson leads the way with the best odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year this season.

The 2023 NFL Draft class was full of talented playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Continue reading “Bijan Robinson among FanDuel’s best Offensive Rookie of the Year odds”

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year goes to Jets’ Garrett Wilson

The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is the Jets’ Garrett Wilson

Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets caught the honor of AP Offensive Rookie of the Year at NFL Honors on Thursday in Arizona.

The Ohio State star defeated Brock Purdy of the 49ers and Kenneth Walker of the Seahawks.

Wilson played in all 17 games and made 83 catches on 147 targets. His receptions went for 1,103 yards and 4 touchdowns.

He was the 10th pick in the first round.

How Michael Thomas’ season-ending injury impacts Chris Olave’s Rookie of the Year campaign

Olave has the third-best odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The New Orleans Saints wide receiver corps had the potential to be one of the NFL’s very best coming into the season, or at least some of us thought.

But through eight weeks of the season, that has yet to transpire. And it never will thanks to injuries.

The latest news is an update on the status of former All-Pro Michael Thomas, who hasn’t played since Week 3. He’ll need surgery on his toe and is now expected to miss the remainder of the season.

The unfortunate injury is just the latest in a string of them that have limited Thomas to just 10 games in the last three years.

But while his injury is an obvious blow to the Saints who are just a game back in the wide-open NFC South, it leaves open a big role for rookie first-round pick Chris Olave who has thrived without him.

Thomas’ absence combined with that of Jarvis Landry, who hasn’t played since Week 4, catapulted Olave into No. 1 status sooner than anyone could have imagined. His 63 targets lead the team by a wide margin — 39 more than the next wide receiver — and his 37 receptions for 547 yards also lead the Saints. His two touchdown catches are second.

Olave’s stellar play through seven games has him sitting third in Offensive Rookie of the Year odds at BetMGM (+500). The only rookies with better odds are Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker at +150 and Texans running back Dameon Pierce at +325.

As lead backs, Walker and Pierce still have very good chances to win the award, but Olave currently has more receiving yards than either has rushing yards — though both pace him in touchdowns. So he’s producing enough offense to make it a contest. And his odds become all the more valuable after Thomas’ injury.

The anticipated return of both Thomas and Landry always threatened to eat into Olave’s target share. But with only Landry expected back — drawing more attention in the short to intermediate range of the field — Olave should continue thriving down the field and maybe even receive more opportunities.

That leaves a lot of value in those +500 odds.

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Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker replaces injured Breece Hall as Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite

One running back replaces another as the betting favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is favored to win the NFL Offensive Rookie if the Year award with +300 odds at Tipico Sportsbook.

He supplants New York Jets running back Breece Hall, who had the best odds before suffering a season-ending ACL tear and meniscus injury in New York’s Week 7 win over the Denver Broncos.

Hall was just beginning to separate himself from other rookies after posting 197 yards of total offense and a touchdown in Week 5 and rushing for another 116 and a touchdown in Week 6. On Sunday, he rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on just four carries before suffering the injury.

Walker also came on in Week 5 after Seattle’s starter Rashaad Penny suffered a season-ending injury. He rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown and has only increased his production each game since. On Sunday, he ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Chargers.

Walker’s odds are followed by Texans RB Dameon Pierce at +350, Saints WR Chris Olave at +600, Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. at +1000 and Patriots QB Bailey Zappe and Falcons WR Drake London at +1200 apiece.

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NFL Week 6 betting recap: There is a ton of value in the NFC field (if you believe in any of them)

Can the Vikings, 49ers or Giants come out of the NFC?

After Week 6, the Buffalo Bills are still regarded as the best team in the NFL, but it’s clear they aren’t the only power in the AFC.

Their game against the Kansas City Chiefs went right down to the wire again. And we still think of the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens as pretty good too, even if flawed. The Cincinnati Bengals are also hanging around.

In the NFC, the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles are the unquestioned favorites after knocking off the Dallas Cowboys. After them, there’s just a bunch of question marks.

My buddy Christian D’Andrea wrote about the “old” problem the NFC has at quarterback. That points right to three teams who were thought to be the conference’s best going into the season, the Bucs, Packers and Rams. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford have looked anything but elite — Brady and Rodgers suffered terrible upsets Sunday — and that’s opening the door for some dark-horse contenders to come out of the NFC.

The Eagles obviously lead the pack at +200 odds at Tipico Sportsbook, but there’s still outstanding value on teams like the Vikings (+700), 49ers (+750), Cowboys (+1000) and Giants (+2000). That is if you believe in any of them.

Here are a few more takeaways from Week 6.

Justin Fields listed among best BetMGM odds to potentially win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Do you think he has a shot? We say if he gets on the field early enough, there’s a good chance.

Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has been doing everything right off the field with the Chicago Bears. Heck, if you count minicamps and OTAs, he’s been doing things spectacularly on the field as well. Despite it all though, head coach Matt Nagy has been insistent upon the former Heisman finalist starting the year as the backup behind veteran Andy Dalton.

But that hasn’t stopped our friends at BetMGM from throwing Fields in the conversation when it comes to odds for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In fact, Fields is among the leaders in published odds, just behind a few other rookies that will likely see playing time before him.

So where does BetMGM have Fields, and who else is above and below him? Well, we’re glad you asked.

NEXT .. Fields BetMGM odds to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year