2017 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds
Why even write this article when we know Johnny Manziel is a shoo-in? Wait…he’s not even listed?!?!
The Comeback Player of the Year is awarded to the “player who has shown perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor performance.” In recent years, it has primarily gone to players who have come back from injury. After missing the 2015 due to a torn ACL, Jordy Nelson took home the award last year. He was the preseason co-favorite at +600 along with Le’Veon Bell and Jamaal Charles.
This season, however, there are some decent candidates that fit the bill from each of the three qualifications listed in the award’s description. Keep an eye out for any odds updates throughout the offseason because they may greatly differ depending on how other sportsbooks assess the situation.
| Player | 7/24 (Ladbrokes) |
|---|---|
| JJ Watt | +450 |
| Derek Carr | +550 |
| Justin Houston | +800 |
| Marshawn Lynch | +800 |
| Earl Thomas | +1000 |
| Marcus Mariota | +1200 |
| Desmond Trufant | +1600 |
| Navarro Bowman | +1600 |
| Keenan Allen | +1600 |
| Tyrann Mathieu | +1600 |
| Luke Kuechly | +1600 |
| Adrian Peterson | +1600 |
| Rob Gronkowski | +2000 |
| Carson Palmer | +2000 |
| Eric Decker | +2500 |
| Eddie Lacy | +2500 |
| Jamaal Charles | +2500 |
| Cam Newton | +2500 |
| Brandon Marshall | +3300 |
| Jeremy Maclin | +4000 |
| Blake Bortles | +4000 |
| Todd Gurley | +4000 |
| Junior Galette | +4000 |
| DeShaun Jackson | +4000 |
| Robert Quinn | +5000 |
| Martavis Bryant | +6600 |
| Clay Matthews | +6600 |
| Colin Kaepernick | +6600 |
| Jay Cutler | +6600 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | +8000 |
| Randall Cobb | +8000 |
| Robert Griffin III | +8000 |
| Brock Osweiler | +8000 |
| Teddy Bridgewater | +10000 |
| Tony Romo | +10000 |
At the top of the list is JJ Watt. Watt only played in three games last year before suffering a herniated disc. If he returns to top form, the award may be difficult to give to someone else.
Derek Carr having the second shortest odds on the list surprises me. Carr only missed one regular season game last year and had a great season beforehand. Would the voters really give him that much consideration or will they not even consider this a true “comeback”?
One player that is certainly coming back is Marshawn Lynch. After stepping away from the sport for a year, Lynch will be back helping take some of the load off of his new QB, the aforementioned Carr. Another star running back in a new uniform is Adrian Peterson. Though you may feel voters could shy away from him due to his personal history, you may recall that Michael Vick won this award back in 2010.
Some notable players hoping to bounce back from terrible years are Carson Palmer (+2000), Cam Newton (+2500), Blake Bortles (+4000) and Todd Gurley (+4000).
If you scroll to the bottom of the list, one name you may get a kick out of is none other than Tony Romo. He may have a better shot at coming back as a professional golfer than a professional quarterback.
Who is primed for a comeback in your eyes?
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