QBs Lead the Way in the NFL Comeback Player of Year Odds
The 2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds Favor QBs Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow
Can Joe Burrow Become the Second Repeat NFL Comeback Player of the Year Winner?
The stars were aligned for Aaron Rodgers to shine in his second act under the bright lights that comes with playing with the quarterback-staved New York Jets.
A season-ending torn Achilles in the 2023 season opener ended Rodgers’ debut season after he threw just one pass in a season-opening win over the Buffalo Bills.
Rodgers is back taking part in drills at OTA (option team activities) for the Jets as he leads the way at +100 in the 2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds as he looks to join Hall of Fame Joe Namath as the only quarterback to lead the Jets to the Super Bowl.
When making NFL expert picks, keep in mind that quarterbacks have dominated the Comeback Player of the Year balloting in recent years. The last six winners of the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award have been quarterbacks while quarterbacks have won the honor given out by the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers Association of America 11 times in the last 15 years.
While the NFL preseason schedule is just a couple of months away from starting up, here’s a look at the top contenders in the NFL Comeback Player of the Year race.
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Rodgers Looking To Make Up For Some Lost Time
Rodgers had a star running back in Breece Hall, a rising star at receiver in Garrett Wilson, and the chance to etch his name in New York Jets history. What he didn’t have was a full season to lead the Jets to the promised land.
Now the 2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds have the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player as the front-runner to be named the winner of one of the awards he has yet to attain.
Rodgers is ninth in NFL history in career passing yards. After throwing for more than 4000 yards a total of 10 times as a member of the Green Bay Packers, another 4000-yard season would push him past Dan Marino and Matt Ryan on the career passing yardage list.
He has +125 odds to throw at least 30 touchdown passes. If he accomplishes that, he could very well be the Comeback Player of the Year.
Not Your Average Joe
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow had 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions during a five-game winning streak as the Bengals shook off a slow start. Cincinnati was starting to surge in the Super Bowl odds, with Burrow making a move in the MVP odds.
It all ended when Burrow was lost for the season after being injured in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Burrow had thrown for more than 9000 yards in the previous two seasons with 69 touchdown passes. He seemed ready to put up some big numbers in his fourth NFL season.
Now the 2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds have Burrow second only to Rodgers at +200 to join Chad Pennington as the only two-time winner of the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award.
One Falcon Eager to Soar
There have been quarterbacks on their second, third, or even fourth teams who have been named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. However, none of them did that when changing teams in the offseason. That is a possibility for Kirk Cousins.
After being available for nearly all the games during his first five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Cousins was limited to eight games in the 2023 campaign. It was possible that Cousins would establish career-highs in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Minnesota wanted to use the money it would have required to retain Cousins to address other positions so he was able to walk. Cousins is now with the Atlanta Falcons and he has +1600 to lead the NFL in passing yards during the regular season. Those making NFL expert picks might be a little hesitant to roll with Cousins to top the NFL in passing yards.
He has the third-shortest odds of +500 to be the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Atlanta has receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts among the top receiving options. Atlanta has largely ignored defense in recent top picks so Atlanta may need to pile up the points to make a run at the NFC South title in 2024.
New Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has +1200 odds to win the award.
Unlike many of the top contenders, Wilson wasn’t slowed by injury but he clashed with Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Will the change of scenery be what Wilson needs to become an elite quarterback once again?
Richardson One Talented Colt
It would have been interesting to see if Anthony Richardson could have provided some competition for CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race had he remained healthy.
Richardson ran for four touchdowns and threw for three others in his first three NFL regular-season games.
His rookie season ended after four games. He is now at +750 in the Comeback Player of the Year odds.
There are some young receivers for Richardson to throw the ball to during what he hopes is his first full NFL season.
A Look At Other Contenders
The Cleveland Browns duo of quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Nick Chubb come in at +1500 and +1800 in the Comeback Player of the Year odds. Watson played in six games in 2023, four more than Chubb.
In what could be the last hurrah for Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback for the New York Giants, he is at +2500 to be named the Comeback Player of the Year. Fellow quarterback Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers has the same odds even though top receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are gone.
Houston’s second-year receiver Tank Dell (+2800) is another player to watch. One issue could be the number of mouths to feed in the Houston passing offense now that Stefon Diggs is a member of the Texans.
For NFL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
