NFL Futures: Best Bet for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2019)

In the last 10 years, only twice has a player other than a quarterback or running back won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year; Percy Harvin (2009) & Odell Beckham Jr. (2014). Since the first award was handed out in 1957, running backs have largely dominated the winner breakdown accounting for over 60% of past winners.

In this year’s offensive rookie group, new Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is the clear-cut favorite with odds now less than 2 to 1 in most locations. He will try to become the first quarterback to win the award since Dak Prescott in 2016, and the first Cardinal since Anquan Boldin in 2003. Let’s take a look at the best of the rest to see if we can find an edge.

Check out all the odds to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Player	BettingPros Consensus Odds
Kyler Murray	+175
Josh Jacobs	+850
Dwayne Haskins	+1000
David Montgomery	+1200
Miles Sanders	+1300
N’Keal Harry	+1800
Darrell Henderson	+1900
Marquise Brown	+2100

 

Best Bet?

Josh Jacobs +850

With the 24th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, which they acquired via the trade of Khalil Mack to Chicago, the Raiders picked up Josh Jacobs out of Alabama. At 220 pounds Jacobs immediately fits the Zeke/Saquon/Gurley mold of power backs drafted in the first round that possess the ability to separate from defenders in the open field. At Alabama, against largely future NFL competition in the SEC, Jacobs excelled both out of the backfield (5.9 YPC) and in the receiving game where he averaged 12 yards per reception in his three years in Tuscaloosa.

As is evident in his lack of face time in HBO’s Hard Knocks and history away from the field, Jacobs is by all accounts a head-down-work-hard guy who has already earned the respect of his teammates in Oakland. Having split time with Damien Harris at Alabama, Jacobs doesn’t have the wear and tear that most backs come into the league with, which I think benefits him long term and especially this season.

Jacobs also has history on his side with the coaching staff in Oakland. Head coach Jon Gruden has a track record of finding success in drafting running backs in the first round, with his last being the 2005 selection of Cadillac Williams. While Williams went on to have a largely underachieving career, Gruden got the most out of him year one when he racked up 1,259 yards from scrimmage and earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

With limited depth at the wide receiver position behind Antonio Brown, I expect Gruden and Carr to rely heavily on this rookie both in the run and receiving in the flat. If their recently bolstered offensive line can stay healthy, I expect Jacobs to be in the running come December for this award in a very light-handed 2019 offensive rookie class.

Get a risk-free bet up to $500 at FanDuel Sportsbook >>