posted September 10, 2009 at 15:00 EST in NFL Props
NFL Prop Betting - 2009 Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
NFL gamblers have the opportunity to cash in on a season-long NFL wager if they can correctly pick the 2009 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
First, let’s take a look back at the last five Offensive Rookie of the Year award winners, before moving forward with my expert football picks on which players will have the best opportunity to win this year’s award.
With the 2009 NFL regular season set to get underway in a matter of days, let me get busy.
Past Offensive ROY Winners
- 2003 Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals, Wide receiver, Florida State
- 2004, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, Quarterback, Miami (Ohio)
- 2005, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Running back, Auburn
- 2006, Vince Young, Tennessee Titans, Quarterback, Texas
- 2007, Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, Running back, Oklahoma
- 2008, Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, Quarterback, Boston College
Top Contenders
Matthew Stafford +800
While I think it’s a bit too early for Stafford, the Detroit Lions’ No. 1 overall draft pick, to start for a team that has so many needs on both sides of the ball, the strong-armed signal caller will start from opening day and will have a shot to win this year’s award - if he can stay upright for the majority of the season. Stafford should be able to make some big plays by connecting with game-breaking wideout Calvin Johnson.
Mark Sanchez +800
Sanchez, the fifth overall pick by the New York Jets, looks like he’s going to be this year’s Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Even for a rookie, Sanchez already looks like he knows what he’s doing better than some veteran backups and should help the Jets rebound under new head coach Rex Ryan.
Darrius Heyward-Bay +2000
Heyward-Bay, the seventh overall pick by Oakland, is absolutely lightning fast and should catch his share of deep balls that owner Al Davis has been in love with ever since wide receiver Cliff Branch played for the franchise over two decades ago. Of course, Heyward-Bay won’t catch many balls this season if strong-armed quarterback JaMarcus Russell, now entering his third season, doesn’t finally get a clue of how to become a NFL quarterback.
Knowshon Moreno +300
Moreno, the 12th overall draft pick by the Denver Broncos is as athletically gifted as they come and will have an excellent chance at winning this year’s Offensive ROY award as he can run the run and catch the ball equally well, while making would-be tacklers miss with his inherent shiftiness.
Hakeem Nicks +2000
Nicks, the 29th overall draft pick by the New York Giants should catch his share of balls from accurate quarterback Eli Manning as the Giants pray he can replace Plaxico Burress as New York’s big, go-to receiver.
Jeremy Maclin +2000
I’ve been saying Maclin, the 19th overall draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, is going to be a star since he was a freshman at the University of Missouri. If head coach Andy Reid calls Maclin’s number enough (and you just never know with his suspect play-calling) then the gifted receiver/return man, will certainly have a shot.
Percy Harvin +1200
Harvin, the 22nd overall draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings is unquestionably talented. If he doesn’t get into any off-field trouble that would keep him out of Minnesota’s lineup, Harvin could show every team in the league exactly what they missed out on.
Brandon Pettigrew +3000
Pettigrew, the Detroit Lions’ second pick in the first round (No. 20) will also have a decent chance to win this award if Matthew Stafford can find him down the middle of the field enough. But then again, if that happens, Stafford will likely get all of the credit for finding an open receiver.
Kenny Britt +2000
Britt, drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the 30th overall pick in the first round, should at least have a shot with veteran quarterback Kerry Collins at the helm. The main thing that will hinder him however, is the fact that the Titans are a run-first team with two excellent backs in Chris Johnson and LenDale White.
E.W.’s Pick: I’m going with the New York Jets’ Mark Sanchez to win this year’s award as I genuinely believe he will guide the Jets to a very solid season by making the right plays more often than not. I’ve watched Sanchez all preseason ling and watched the former USC signal caller make the right reads – and throws more often than not – a valuable commodity for an NFL quarterback no matter how many seasons he’s played in the league.
I think Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan will eventually turn the Jets into beasts on the defensive side of the ball, keeping them in games they likely shouldn’t be in – and giving Sanchez plenty of opportunities to make plays and win games. If Sanchez doesn’t self-destruct, and the Jets can somehow manage seven wins or so, he’ll have an excellent chance to win.
