Who are the favorites to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year?
Quarterback Joe Burrow is the betting favorite to be selected first overall in the draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and he's also at the top of the NFL betting odds board to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020.
The Bengals were the worst team in the league last year but have three good wide receivers to help the Heisman winner as well as a productive running back in Joe Mixon. With offensive tackle Jonah Williams, their first-round draft pick from 2019, returning to the field after missing his first season with a shoulder injury, Burrow might have a better supporting cast than many think.
Running backs after often able to jump right in and produce as rookies, so it's little surprise to see the two top RB prospects so high in the NFL prop odds for this award. D'Andre Swift (+750) and Jonathan Taylor (+850) could both make an immediate impact and are expected to be late first-round or second-round selections which means they could wind up on Super Bowl contenders.
2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
| Player | Position | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | QB | +225 |
| D'Andre Swift | RB | +750 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | QB | +750 |
| Jonathan Taylor | RB | +850 |
| Jerry Jeudy | WR | +1,100 |
| CeeDee Lamb | WR | +1,200 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | +1,400 |
| J.K. Dobbins | RB | +1,600 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | RB | +1,800 |
| Henry Ruggs III | WR | +2,000 |
| Cam Akers | RB | +2,000 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | +2,200 |
| Denzel Mims | WR | +2,200 |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | +2,500 |
| Jalen Reagor | WR | +2,500 |
| Zack Moss | RB | +2,500 |
| Jordan Love | QB | +3,000 |
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Betting Trends
• Of the last 16 winners of the NFL OROY Award, 13 were drafted in the first round.
• While quarterback is an extremely difficult position to excel at as a rookie, eight of the last 16 OROY winners played the position, including four QBs that were selected first overall in the draft.
• Running backs have won four of the last seven NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Awards. However, in recent years when top rookie RBs have gone head-to-head against top QBs for OROY honors, they've often come out on the losing end. Ezekiel Elliot led the NFL in rushing in 2016 but lost the OROY to his teammate Dak Prescott, while last year Kyler Murray took home the hardware over Josh Jacobs, who rushed for 1150 yards and 4.8 YPA in 13 games.
• No offensive lineman has ever won the award despite recent linemen like Joe Thomas, Matt Kalil, Jack Conklin, Ryan Ramcyzk and Quenton Nelson all making the Pro Bowl in their first year. While this year's draft class is loaded with excellent prospects at offensive tackle don't expect them to make an impression on Rookie of the Year voters.
Who has won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year?
A quick look at the NFL OROY winners since 2004, the position they played and where they were drafted.
| Year | NFL OROY Award Winner | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Kyler Murray | QB | Round 1, pick 1 |
| 2018 | Saquon Barkey | RB | Round 1, pick 2 |
| 2017 | Alvin Kamara | RB | Round 3, pick 67 |
| 2016 | Dak Prescott | QB | Round 4, pick 135 |
| 2015 | Todd Gurley | RB | Round 1, pick 10 |
| 2014 | Odell Beckham Jr. | WR | Round 1, pick 12 |
| 2013 | Eddie Lacy | RB | Round 2, pick 61 |
| 2012 | Robert Griffin III | QB | Round 1, pick 2 |
| 2011 | Cam Newton | QB | Round 1, pick 1 |
| 2010 | Sam Bradford | QB | Round 1, pick 1 |
| 2009 | Percy Harvin | WR | Round 1, pick 22 |
| 2008 | Matt Ryan | QB | Round 1, pick 1 |
| 2007 | Adrian Peterson | WR | Round 1, pick 7 |
| 2006 | Vince Young | QB | Round 1, pick 3 |
| 2005 | Cadillac Williams | RB | Round 1, pick 5 |
| 2004 | Ben Roethlisberger | QB | Round 1, pick 11 |
