Indeed, the race in the NFL Comeback Player of the Year is heating up more so as several standout players make strong cases through the progress of the season. From serious injuries in quarterbacks to those coming out of backup roles, the competition there is stiff. As of October 22, here are some surprising shifts at the top according to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.
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And while he’s struggled to get back into the groove since getting hurt last season with a torn Achilles, Kirk Cousins, of the Atlanta Falcons, stands atop the heap at this moment, even after a Week 7 setback at the hands of Seattle.The Atlanta first-year starter has produced some serious statistics: fourth in the league with 1,840 passing yards and tied for seventh with 10 touchdown passes. His odds are now +300 to win the award, meaning a $10 bet on that proposition would return $40.
Up next, the Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins, who has capitalised on missing most of last year with an Achilles injury for a breakout season. Dobbins ranks third in the NFL for rushing yards with 478 and has chalked up from +1000 on October 9 to +330. A tenner placed on Dobbins would pay £43 should he win the award, so no value to be sneezed at.
Another name to keep on your watch list is Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. He was sidelined late in last season with a wrist injury, but he has been reliving the magic for the past four games. In those four games, the Bengals have won three, and Burrow has seen his production swell to 1,759 yards (sixth in the league) with 14 touchdowns (fourth), with only two interceptions. His odds have skyrocketed from +1200 two weeks ago to +400, placing him firmly in third.
Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets and Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills each have a +550, giving two of the more intriguing narratives of their own. Rodgers is always a danger because of the miraculous mid-season comebacks. Hamlin has been a play that can be one of the most emotional of the year due to his return to the field after last season’s near-death incident.
Other notable mentions are Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns, Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals, and Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings, who form the next four candidates, but whose prices have fallen in the last few weeks. Darnold specifically fell harder after the Vikings plummeted to 5-1 after they lost to the Detroit Lions.
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