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NFL Rookie of the Year Predictions & Futures Odds 2021 | Football ROY Betting Lines

Last Updated: Oct 3, 2021

Week 1 of the NFL season has already passed, and we got our first chance to look at the new rookie class. With so many first-round quarterbacks, the Offensive Rookie of the Year award should be highly contested and debated over the next few months.

To help guide you with our NFL Rookie of the Year predictions series, here are our 2022 rookie predictions and betting tips courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. All odds are current as of 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, September 17.


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NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Futures Odds

As you would expect, the quarterbacks are always going to be the favorites here. Currently, the top five players in terms of best odds to win the award are all quarterbacks.

Here are those odds, courtesy of BetMGM:

  • Patriots QB Mac Jones (+300)
  • Bears QB Justin Fields (+400)
  • Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (+750)
  • 49ers QB Trey Lance (+900)
  • Jets QB Zach Wilson (+1200)

Since 2010, six quarterbacks have won the Rookie of the Year Award. Generally, voters prefer to give the award to that position considering its importance. And with so many rookie quarterbacks starting in Week 1, it feels like a safe bet to wager on one of these five names.

However, there are a handful of positional players that should be mentioned and considered. Let’s dive into a few of those names and our favorite bets.

Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots

Despite losing to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, New England Patriots QB Mac Jones is currently the odds-on favorite to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year.


Best NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Bets

Steelers RB Najee Harris (+1400) at BetMGM

Najee Harris played every single snap for the Steelers in Week 1. That is pretty rare for any NFL running back, let alone a rookie in their first start. His production has been less than stellar so far, but it’s coming.

Harris is going to have some monster games in the upcoming weeks. With his workload and being the lead back on a (likely) playoff team, Harris is a great value at (+900) odds.

It would not be surprising if he finished the season with the most touches of any player in the NFL. The Steelers plan to lean on him heavily, starting here in Week 2 against the Raiders.

Bears QB Justin Fields (+400) at BetMGM

UPDATE 9/22, 2 p.m. ET: Fields has been named the starter for Week 3 as Andy Dalton has suffered a knee injury.

Matt Nagy insists that it’s Dalton’s job whenever he returns, but don’t expect that to be the case moving forward. Fields is a much better athlete and should be able to make enough plays to warrant keeping the job.

However, the odds have already shifted, with Fields only behind Mac Jones.

But if you were a believer in Fields before the draft, this is the time to get in. Fields should put up some big numbers in this offense for the next few weeks against a soft schedule.

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase (+1400) at BetMGM

Despite some negative preseason buzz, Ja’Marr Chase dominated in Week 1 for the Bengals. He was the team’s leading receiver and scored a long touchdown, showing exactly why the Bengals were smart to spend the No. 5 pick on the former LSU receiver.

The biggest reason why Chase’s odds sit at just (+1400) is due to the position he plays. Only four receivers have won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award since 1993: Odell Beckham Jr., Percy Harvin, Anquan Boldin and Randy Moss.

For Chase to win the award, he would likely need to go well over 1,000 yards and score double-digit touchdowns. While that doesn’t seem all that unlikely, voters love to give this award to quarterbacks and running backs.

Still, Chase is a fine bet at (+1400) considering how involved he is going to be in Cincinnati’s offense.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (+5000) at BetMGM

Just a few days ago, Elijah Mitchell wasn’t even on the board when it came to betting on the Rookie of the Year Award. Now, he sits at (+5000) after a strong Week 1.

Mitchell came in for an injured Raheem Mostert and ran for 104 yards and a touchdown for the 49ers. Mostert is now out for the season, and Trey Sermon appears to be in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse.

The 49ers are going to be highly competitive in 2021, and we know how productive their running backs are in this system.

If San Francisco stays committed to Mitchell, he could easily surpass 1,000 rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns. Mitchell is a great long-shot bet heading into Week 2.


NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Prediction 2021

Najee Harris to Win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (+1400) at BetMGM

Harris is the best bet on the board right now, as he should easily accumulate over 300 touches this season. Even if he isn’t the most efficient back in the league, his volume and production on a good team will matter to voters.

Thanks for reading our NFL Rookie of the Year Predictions & Futures Odds! For more NFL bet picks, check out our NFL gameday odds and NFL bet of the day. If you’re interested in betting on the Super Bowl, check out Marcus Mosher’s best Super Bowl 56 picks.

Author

Marcus Mosher

Marcus Mosher is an NFL analyst at The Game Day, residing in Erie, PA. He covers the NFL from a betting and fantasy perspective, producing written and video content. Marcus currently hosts multiple football-related podcasts and is a managing editor at USA Today’s Sports Media Group covering the Las Vegas Raiders. He has previously worked at The Athletic and Bleacher Report.

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