Best Bets For 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year

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During the offseason, making NFL predictions helps give fans hope for their favorite teams or favorite players. Items like a team’s win-loss record, breakout candidates and stat line projections can range from spicy hot take mode to downright underwhelming. Another item that is refreshing to look towards? That would involve incoming rookie players.

No matter what sort of hype surrounds certain NFL rookie players, the learning curve is generally steep for most of them. We have seen younger players smoothly step in right away and produce more in recent history. But at the same time, any sort of expectations for rookie players must be tempered heavily.

That leads us into today’s question. Who are some of the best bets for NFL rookie of the year awards? We will be listing the most tremendous values for 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year today. Afterwards, we will do the same for 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in the coming days. Who holds the best values for OROY? Here are the top three best bets. Keep in mind, all odds are provided by Fanduel Sportsbook. Let’s kick it off.

Top Odds

Let’s quickly take a look at the top of the odds and who is on the betting leaderboard for 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Here are the players that hold the best odds:

• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett: +500
• Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London: +700
• Tennessee Titans WR Treylon Burks: +700
• New York Jets RB Breece Hall: +800
• Green Bay Packers WR Christian Watson: +800
• Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III: +1000
• New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson: +1000
• New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave: +1000
• Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams: +1000
• Kansas City Chiefs WR Skyy Moore: +1100
• Atlanta Falcons QB Desmond Ridder: +1100

The Favorite: Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett- +500 odds

There are likely a couple of reasons as to why Kenny Pickett is the current favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. First off, the quarterback position is generally where most people begin for offensive award winners, just look at the NFL MVP Award in recent years. Pickett was also the only quarterback that teams felt comfortable using a first-round pick on, to boot. Therefore, he is viewed in a completely different stratosphere than someone like Desmond Ridder.

Pickett appears to be a weaker favorite, compared to most years, however. There is no guarantee on how many starts he even makes as a rookie. Mitchell Trubisky will be given a decent chance to stake his claim in the Steelers quarterback competition. Meanwhile, Mason Rudolph still knows the Pittsburgh offense extremely well. He may not be flashy. Yet, the Steelers may be comfortable turning to him, if need be.

Where can Pickett separate himself in this race? For one, his ability to extend plays with mobility and his legs is something that the Steelers have missed from their quarterback in some time. Pickett can also hit on his deep passes due to a wicked quick release, creating velocity. That could pair very well with wide receivers who have the play style that Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool possess. Finally, his tight ball placement could also mesh well with the heavy play-action and RPO play calls of the Matt Canada offense.

Next Two Contenders: Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London and Tennessee Titans WR Treylon Burks- +700 odds

It is ironic that both Drake London and Treylon Burks are tied for the next best odds. Both wide receivers are joining offenses that are quite bare. In the case of Atlanta, their best wide receiver, Calvin Ridley, is suspended for the entire season. Whereas with the Titans, they traded away their best wide receiver, AJ Brown, after being unable to pay him. Neither player should have a difficult time accumulating targets. Yet, the expectations for each of their passing offenses is not relatively appealing.

If I had to place a bet on either of these, it would easily be London. There are a few reasons as to why that is the case. Overall, London is a perfect fit for what head coach Arthur Smith wants to do offensively. His physicality, vertical ability and ball skills allow Atlanta to push him down the field. He is not too bad of a run after catch wide receiver, given his massive size. As a result, explosive play opportunities may be more affordable for London.

Burks has a chance to create explosive plays in different ways. His versatility is a major selling point against opposing defenses. However, Tennessee is not an offense who routinely attacks vertically. Can Burks separate enough to give himself chances? If not, the potential production is rather hamstrung in that system, compared to London.

Don’t Sleep On: New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave- +1000 odds

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Out of all of the top eleven options, Chris Olave would be my pick. I believe that with an offensive rookie draft class that was perceived as weaker, a pass catcher will likely win the award. Though, it may not be who everyone thinks. Olave may appear to be in a logjam atop the wide receiver depth chart for New Orleans. But for the last two years, the Saints have largely been without Michael Thomas due to injury. There is also a recent injury history with veteran newcomer Jarvis Landry.

If all goes well for Olave, he can become a perfect pairing with quarterback Jameis Winston. This is yet another rookie pass catcher who can be so dynamic as a vertical threat. Obviously, he is one of the more technically savvy route runners of the rookie wide receivers. Creating extra time and space for himself is rather easy for Olave. Moreover, he can play bigger than his size indicates. All of these items could mesh well with the big arm of Winston.

Even with Sean Payton being out of the picture at head coach, many of his former assistants are still in place. That could bode well for Winston. It was time for the Saints to instill youth into the pass catching room. With the polish and intelligence of Olave, don’t be surprised if he immediately produces in New Orleans.

Be on the lookout for more 2022 NFL offseason articles and analysis here at Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.