Did the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race just get interesting?
While consensus favorite Ja'Marr Chase sat idle in Week 10 with the Cincinnati Bengals on a bye, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones delivered one of his best games as a pro, completing 82.6% of his passes with three touchdowns to lead a 45-7 rout of the Cleveland Browns.
Jones continues to lead all rookie quarterbacks in virtually every statistical category, and his team is emerging as a playoff threat: The Patriots are 6-4 after winning four consecutive games.
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Curran: Mac Jones is real, and he's spectacular
So, how much did Jones' effort Sunday move the needle in the 2021 Rookie of the Year race? Is Chase still the clear favorite, or did Jones narrow the gap on the talented wideout?
Below are the five current favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year based on PointsBet odds as of Monday, and our take on where the momentum lies going forward.
Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (-160)
New England Patriots
Last week's ROY odds: -200
Week 10 stats: N/A (Bye)
Season stats through Week 10: 44 receptions, 835 yards, 7 TDs
This is still Chase's award to lose for now. He may not surpass Randy Moss' rookie record of 17 touchdown receptions, but if he catches seven in his final eight games, he'll have sole possession of second place.
Cincinnati has a Week 11 matchup against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that just got gashed by Patrick Mahomes, so expect Chase to make his rebuttal to Jones on Sunday.
Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots (+165)
Last week's odds: +450
Week 10 stats: 19 for 23, 198 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 142.1 passer rating
Season stats: 223 for 323, 69.0% completion rate, 2333 yards, 13 TD, 7 INT, 94.1 passer rating
Jones is starting to make some legitimate NFL throws, including this missile to Kendrick Bourne on Sunday that had former Patriots players and league analysts buzzing:
Jones' numbers are becoming hard to ignore, too: His 69.0% completion rate would be an NFL rookie record if the season ended today, and his 2,333 passing yards through 10 games are tied for the sixth-most ever by a rookie QB.
Perry's Report Card: Jones takes another step forward vs. Browns
His two-game "slump" in Weeks 8 and 9 (zero TDs, one interception) set him back, but if the Alabama product delivers more performances like we saw Sunday, he'll be very much a candidate to overtake Chase.
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (+1100)
Last week's odds: +1000
Week 10 stats: 26 rushes, 105 yards; 4 receptions, 28 yards
Season stats: 176 rushes, 646 yards, 4 TDs; 44 receptions, 317 yards, 2 TDs
Harris continues to thrive on volume, turning 30 total touches into 133 yards from scrimmage in the Steelers' ugly tie with the Detroit Lions.
Jones' former Alabama teammate might have had a better shot at this award in a different year, but this is a two-horse race between Chase and Jones barring an injury or dramatic drop-off.
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos (+2500)
Last week's odds: N/A
Week 10 stats: 8 rushes, 48 yards; 2 receptions, 1 yard
Season stats: 103 rushes, 514 yards, 1 TD; 24 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
Welcome to the race, Javonte! Williams' 111-yard rushing effort in Week 9 vaulted him into the Rookie of the Year conversation, although his ceiling is limited in a timeshare with starter Melvin Gordon.
Williams is averaging five yards per carry to Gordon's 4.4, so maybe he'll see more touches down the stretch.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (+4000)
Last week's odds: +1600
Week 10 stats: 16 for 35, 162 yards, 0 TD; 5 rushes, 33 yards
Season stats: 192 for 331, 59.5% completion rate, 1983 yards, 8 TD, 9 INT; 37 rushes, 169 yards, 2 TD; 72.1 passer rating
Remember when we expected Lawrence to put up big numbers by raking in garbage-time passing yards? Well, the No. 1 overall pick hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in two weeks while throwing for a total of 280 yards in that span. That Week 9 upset of the Buffalo Bills was pretty cool, though.