It might be tough for a wide receiver to win Rookie of the Year, but KJ Hamler might do it anyway.
History shows that it ain’t easy for a wide receiver to win Rookie of the Year.
Wideouts have won the award just three times in the last 21 years, and future Hall of Famers including Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Michael Thomas do not have that particular trophy on display in their homes.
So it will be difficult for KJ Hamler of the Broncos to become the recipient of this award, which is why the oddsmakers at SportsBetting.com, an online sportsbook available to bettors in Colorado, have given the Penn State rookie 50-1 odds in this category.
KJ Hamler’s ROY betting odds
Odds: +5000
With that number, Hamler is a longshot, and it will be tough for him to post the numbers needed to win Rookie of the Year. He is expected to be the third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and fellow rookie Jerry Jeudy, and there’s only so many passes to go around.
But then again, third options sometimes become first options when opponents use their best defensive backs to key on receivers who they believe will be the primary targets. There is a ton of value here with Hamler at SportsBetting.com, so consider making a small play on him.
Hamler at Penn State
At Penn State, Hamler never had a 1,000-yard season but was the leading receiver in a run-first offense each of the past two seasons. His Penn State career totals are 98 receptions for 1,658 yards and 13 TDs, but the offense found other ways to get him involved as he ran the ball 17 times over two seasons.
Hey, Penn State liked to run. It has been that way since Joe Paterno was around, So running an end-around and giving the ball to a wideout for a running play is more common in Happy Valley that it would be just about anywhere else.
Hamler’s relatively low production in terms of numbers comes with a caveat. He shined in big games, as his first 100-yard game came in 2018 when Penn State almost upset Ohio State, and he was fantastic against Michigan and Minnesota last season.
Hamler intangibles
Hamler didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine after tweaking his hamstring, but he reportedly clocked a sub-4.3 during workouts. Not many guys can match that speed number, and anyone who watched him play last season can attest to his ability to burst off the line like a track star.
Hamler has the potential to be a Tyreek Hill type of playmaker, but at 5’9 and 178 pounds, he certainly is going to be at a disadvantage when covered by the type of physical cornerbacks who are all around the NFL. Look for the Broncos to use him in the slot due to his expected troubles with press coverage. More on that below…
Hamler expected playing time
Jeudy and Sutton will be on the outside with Hamler in the slot, creating at the line of scrimmage. The high regard opposing coaches have for those other receivers will keep defensive coordinators from turning their attention to him.
He will fill the slot role of Emmanuel Sanders, who was traded to San Francisco midway through last season. Sanders made two Pro Bowls in the Mile High City, so that slotback thing is worth considering when pondering Hamler’s chances at the award.
KJ Hamler 2020 Rookie of the Year odds prediction
While Hamler could have a very successful rookie season, it takes a lot to win Rookie of the Year. There are only so many passes to go around, and Hamler might be the fourth target behind Jeudy, Sutton and Melvin Gordon III. An injury to either Jeudy or Sutton could boost his chances, but then he might be forced out of his natural slot role.
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