Tag: Offensive Rookie of the Year

Seahawks RB Ken Walker has best odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year

In fact, he’s leading the race.

That was fast. After just two and a half starts, Seahawks running back Ken Walker is already in the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation. In fact, he’s leading the race.

Despite having only played 175 snaps on offense, Walker has already totaled 410 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. That mark ties him with injured teammate Rashaad Penny and Travis Etienne of the Jaguars for the third-highest average in the NFL this year. Walker also has the fifth-best rushing grade among running backs, according to Pro Football Focus. He also leads his position in yards over expected per attempt.

Add it all up and Walker is at worst a very strong candidate to win the award. According to USA TODAY Sports data, Walker has the best odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Here is their complete top 10.

Seahawks RB Ken Walker ranked among top Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates

Walker was ranked No. 6 on the list at NFL.com.

The Seahawks were always going to draft a running back this year, regardless of how you feel about their value in the modern game. On the bright side, they may have picked the best one in this class.

In the second round Seattle selected Michigan State’s Ken Walker, a phenomenal athlete who is coming off an explosive 2021 season. Walker’s physical gifts combined with the team’s commitment to pounding the rock means he’s probably in for a bright future in the NFL. Some folks think he will hit the ground running and make an impact right away as a rookie.

On a list of potential Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates, Walker was ranked No. 6 on the list at NFL.com.

“Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny led the NFL in rushing yards over the final five weeks of the 2021 season, so his presence clouds Walker’s touch projections a bit. However, Penny signed a relatively modest one-year deal in the offseason and has a history of missing significant time due to injuries. Walker has true home-run speed and a chance to challenge for a starting role, at least by midseason. Whether he can prove a reliable pass protector is something to keep an eye on, though.”

The path will not be easy for Walker this year, though. First he’ll have to prove he’s a more capable rusher than Rashaad Penny, who finished the 2021 season as the best in the game in that department.

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Best odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year per Tipico Sportsbook

Check out the odds for Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. #GoBucks

The game of football is geared towards with offensive side of the ball. With the way the game is now, quarterbacks and wide receivers are the biggest benefactors.

This past NFL draft we saw just one quarterback in the first round but a total of six wide receivers take over the first 18 selections. Among the group were [autotag]Garrett Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Olave[/autotag]. Fellow Big Ten pass-catcher from Penn State, Jahan Dotson was among the group.

Buckeyes Wire breaks down the top four skill position selections through all seven rounds. Wide receivers led the way with 28 total selections.

  • Quarterbacks-9
  • Running Backs-22
  • Wide Receivers-28
  • Tight Ends-18

Based on the way-too-early odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year per Tipico Sportsbook, Buckeyes Wire lays out the top names.

2022 NFL Rookie of the Year: Kenny Pickett, Aiden Hutchinson lead early favorites

There’s plenty of value on the offensive side while the defensive odds look a lot like the draft order.

With the 2022 NFL Draft officially in the books, it’s time for bettors to take all the knowledge gained over the last few weeks and attempt to pick a Rookie of the Year winner on both offense and defense.

One is already looking like a more difficult challenge than the other.

On the defensive side of the ball, top picks Aiden Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux lead the way with +450 odds at Tipico. Offensively, quarterback Kenny Pickett (+500) and wideout Drake London (+700) lead the class. It’s certainly looking like oddsmakers care more about draft position when it comes to defense.

Here’s a look at the rest of the incredibly early odds for offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year.

All odds via Tipico

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Does Trevor Lawrence have a shot at Rookie of the Year?

Lawrence currently has the third-best odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, per Tipico Sportsbook.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence entered his career with quite a bit of hype. He was considered a generational prospect as he was the No. 1 player in his recruiting class and never lost a game during the regular season as a three-year starter at Clemson.

When Jacksonville made him the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, he immediately became the best passing prospect the franchise has ever landed, and though his rookie season has had good and bad moments, the good has vastly outweighed the bad.

He’s improving quickly, and there is a strong argument to be made that he has been the most impressive rookie quarterback so far. However, he plays on a team that’s struggling tremendously, and that could impact his chances of bringing home some hardware.

In the latest Offensive Rookie of the Year odds from Tipico Sportsbook, Lawrence has the third-best odds at +750. Only two players currently sit ahead of him: Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase (+105) and New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (+425).

While Jones has arguably been better than Lawrence this season, he’s been asked to do a lot less and is surrounded by more talent. Chase, however, has to be the early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. That pick was panned by many who thought the team should have drafted offensive tackle Penei Sewell instead, but Chase has fundamentally transformed the Cincinnati offense.

Chase already has 754 yards and six touchdowns on the season, and his reunion with quarterback Joe Burrow has gone as well as the franchise could have hoped. Chasing Chase will likely require a phenomenal close to the season for Lawrence, but given his rapid improvement, it isn’t out of the question.

Sports Illustrated writer picks Kyle Pitts to win rookie of the year

Mitch Goldich of Monday Morning Quarterback predicted that Pitts will win the offensive rookie of the year award.

Former Florida tight end Kyle Pitts is expected to take the NFL by storm. The fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft is already the highest-paid tight end in the league in terms of guaranteed money, and he hasn’t even played in his first game yet.

Pitts’ impact in the preseason was limited. He only appeared in the final game and made just one catch on a short route, which he took upfield for a solid gain. Still, his body of work at Florida was enough for Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback’s Mitch Goldich to pick Pitts to win rookie of the year on offense, alongside Kwity Paye on defense.

Offensive rookie of the year is generally an award reserved for quarterbacks and running backs. The last pass-catcher to win it was Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014, and no tight end has ever won it since the award’s inception in 1967.

Many think Pitts will join the ranks of the game’s elite tight ends sooner rather than later, and that’s certainly what Atlanta had in mind when it invested a top-five pick in him. He has a lot to prove in Year 1, especially on a Falcons offense looking for someone to replace the production of recently traded Julio Jones.

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NFL analyst compares DeVonta Smith to one of the league’s best WR’s

The similarities are there, do you think this is accurate?

Former Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith was selected No. 12 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2021 NFL draft, and while he still hasn’t taken a single NFL snap, he carries a large responsibility: help his team’s offense get to the next level.

The Eagles seemingly moved on from Carson Wentz late in the season, and confirmed it in the offseason when they traded him to the Indianapolis Colts. Now, Hurts is QB1 in Philadelphia.

So, the front office didn’t only bring him a Heisman-winning, versatile wide receiver, but they got him a friend when they drafted Smith.

The former Alabama teammates will soon be reunited on game days, except this time games will be on Sundays, and they’ll be playing in a colder climate.

Because no one can be quite sure how Smith will look at the NFL level, we must still rely on player comparisons.

NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt believes Smith is very similar to Buffalo Bills star receiver, Stefon Diggs.

Brandt cites his size, speed, route-running abilities and even hand size as his reason for the comparison.

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Kyle Pitts among top 5 Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates

CBS Sports recently ranked the top 11 candidates for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and Pitts found himself high on the list.

It is no secret that former Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts is a once-in-a-generation talent at this point, and heading into his rookie campaign with his new team, the Atlanta Falcons, expectations are sky-high. And for good reason.

While it is far too early to crown next season’s award winners — there is still a whole summer of practice and an entire 17-game schedule to play — it is never too soon for the sports media to start speculating on who might bring home some hardware. Chris Trapasso at CBS Sports recently ranked the top-11 favorites for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2022, and the erstwhile Gator found himself high up on that list.

Here is where Pitts landed and what Trapasso had to say about him.

4. Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons (+1200)

Let’s call them the Atlanta Matchup Nightmares this season. Julio Jones has been one his entire NFL career. Calvin Ridley proved himself in 2021 in the absence of Jones, and now Pitts resides at tight end.

And with Matt Ryan locked in as the starter for the next two seasons, the Falcons are going to air it out. Often. Last year, he quietly led the NFL in completions and attempts, and the Falcons didn’t draft a running back. Ryan’s going to throw it around 40 times per game — there’ll be plenty of opportunity for Pitts even on a team with two 1,000-yard receivers.

Pitts will undoubtedly be an impact player from his first professional snap. The only question that truly lingers is how much better will he be than his peers? We will find out soon enough.

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Chargers QB Justin Herbert to reach out to Drew Brees to learn about new offense

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is heading into his sophomore season set to learn his fourth offense in a matter of five years.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is heading into his sophomore season set to learn his fourth offense in a matter of five years.

The Offensive Rookie of the Year is planning to reach out to Drew Brees to pick the veteran’s brain about new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s scheme.

“Drew is definitely one of those guys I plan to reach out to,” Herbert said. “He’s been able to do it all.”

Lombardi is coming over from the Saints, where he spent 12 seasons, 10 as Brees’ quarterbacks coach.

Herbert plans to gain insight from the 42-year old, as well other quarterbacks who have had success in the league in hopes of capitalizing from his outstanding rookie season.

“I’m going to try not to bother them too much,” he said. “I’ve got a bunch of questions about how to watch film, how to prepare for defenses. There are things that I can always get better at.

“These guys have had so much success. If I didn’t ask them, that’s on me. It’s an opportunity for me to learn from them. I’ll definitely be reaching out. I’ve talked to a couple of them already.”

The plan for the offense is to try to take the pieces of last year’s success and mesh them with Lombardi’s experience in head coach Sean Payton’s offense.

“I think we’re going to take a little bit of that. They’re also going to bring in some of their stuff that has been able to work. I think it’s kind of a mix-and-match. But a lot of the stuff that we were able to do last year, I think that will carry over,” Herbert said.