2017 NFL Picks and Predictions: Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds, Favorites and Sleepers: The 2017 NFL Draft is in the books, and with teams revving up OTAs, it is time to turn or attention to the upcoming NFL season. I’ll start with a look at the potential contenders for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, and after a surprise run on offensive players early in the draft, there are a lot of players that are going to be asked to play big roles for their teams in their first year.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the frontrunners and other leading candidates to take home Rookie of the Year honors on the offensive side of the ball for the 2017 NFL season.
2017 NFL Picks and Predictions: Offensive Rookie of the Year Favorites, Contenders and Sleepers
The Favorites
After the Jacksonville Jaguars spent the No. 4 pick on running back Leonard Fournette, you can bet that the rookie is going to get all the carries he can handle. Even if Jacksonville’s offensive line remains mediocre, Fournette is likely to make a run at 1,000 yards based on volume alone. His combination of size and power should also allow him to do plenty of damage in the red zone. The bottom line is that Fournette is the safest bet to produce quality numbers, and that makes him one of the smartest bets to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Draft position matters, and the Carolina Panthers didn’t make Christian McCaffrey the No. 8 pick just to make him a third-down back. Expect the versatile McCaffrey to be deployed out of the backfield and as a receiver with regularity, and he should also make an impact on special teams. Explosive plays should help him catch the attention of voters, and McCaffrey could easily lead all rookies in yards from scrimmage. The do-it-all back will be a major player for top rookie honors.
The Minnesota Vikings knew they needed to add some explosiveness to their offense, and they did just that when they traded up to land running back Dalvin Cook. Yes, Latavius Murray is also in the mix, but Cook is going to split carries and handle most of the third-down duties. Cook should be among the rookie leaders in yards from scrimmage, and he could rip off enough big plays to snag Rookie of the Year honors.
The Contenders
Led by quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Tennessee Titans look like one of the up-and-coming teams in the NFL. The one thing missing was a go-to receiver, and the Titans addressed that by adding receiver Corey Davis with the No. 5 pick. Davis has size and speed, and he can run every route in the book. Tennessee’s run-heavy approach might take away from his numbers a bit, but Davis still looks like a good bet to finish among the rookie leaders in all receiving categories.
He isn’t a lock to start, but Deshaun Watson only has to beat out Tom Savage in order to be the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans. If he does win the job, Watson will have decent weapons around him, including receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and an excellent defense. His numbers might not jump off the page, but if Watson ends up having decent numbers while helping Houston reach the playoffs, Rookie of the Year honors could follow.
His off-field issues are always going to be part of the conversation, but between the lines, running back Joe Mixon has the talent to deliver, and he is in position to succeed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Current starter Jeremy Hill offers zero explosiveness, and he is likely gone after this season. Meanwhile, third-down back Giovani Bernard is coming off knee surgery. Mixon has a great chance to become the main back for this offense and end up finishing among the rookie leaders in rushing and total yards.
The Sleeper
If you have been listening to front office personnel around the league or members of Kansas City’s coaching staff, it is becoming clear the running back Kareem Hunt has a chance to be a major factor for this offense. The versatile Hunt is being tabbed as an every-down back and the potential starter for the Chiefs. If he ends up overtaking Spencer Ware for the starting job, Hunt could be the surprise winner of the Rookie of the Year Award this season.
2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year – Odds to Win
Moneyline Odds
Leonard Fournette +450
Christian McCaffrey +550
DeShaun Watson +550
Dalvin Cook +700
Corey Davis +800
Mike Williams +1200
Joe Mixon +1200
Jamaal Williams +1400
DeShone Kizer +1400
John Ross +1400
Mitch Trubisky +1600
Kareem Hunt +1600
O.J. Howard +2000
Patrick Mahomes +2000
Curtis Samuel +2500
Evan Engram +2500
Zay Jones +2500
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