NFL OROY odds & best bet after Week 8: Walker, Pierce lead Olave
Oct 20, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
With the second half of the NFL season still to play, the NFL OROY betting odds for 2022 are utterly fascinating.
This was always going to be an interesting year for NFL Rookie of the Year betting because the first seven players drafted were either defensive players or offensive linemen. That is reflected in the NFL OROY odds at the midway point in the season.
NFL OROY betting odds 2022
The current NFL OROY betting odds for 2022 don’t exactly look the way most people would have anticipated heading into the season. There are a few surprising names in the running who might be worth considering for anyone who likes to bet on NFL awards futures.
But whether you need football betting explained or you want to find the most value in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race, let’s break down the NFL OROY betting odds for 2022 at the midway point of the season.
Kenneth Walker, +155
Kenneth Walker was one of the best running backs in college football last year, so it shouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him excel as a rookie. He actually caught a break because Rashaad Penny suffered a season-ending injury, leaving the door open for Walker to become Seattle’s workhorse back.
But credit to Walker because he’s taken that opportunity and literally run with it. Through seven games, he’s averaging 5.4 yards per carry while scoring a touchdown in every game since the one in which Penny was hurt. Walker’s become a huge catalyst for Seattle’s surprise season, and as long as he remains productive and the Seahawks remain in playoff contention, Walker will be on the shortlist of OROY candidates.
Since he plays for the Texans, who are among the worst offensive teams in the NFL, Dameon Pierce has flown under the radar thus far. But he’s become the focal point of Houston’s offense, gaining 77 yards per game and averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Nobody else on the Texans even has 100 rushing yards after seven weeks, so Pierce is a true workhorse back. Playing on a bad team will make it a little hard for Pierce to win postseason hardware. But at the end of the year, his numbers figure to be good enough to warrant serious Rookie of the Year consideration.
Chris Olave, +700
Of the six wide receivers selected in the first round of this year’s draft, Chris Olave has jumped to the top of the class. Given all of the injuries the New Orleans offense has suffered this year, Olave has become an invaluable piece for the Saints.
In seven games, he’s averaging 14.8 yards per catch and over 78 receiving yards per game. The Saints would be utterly lost offensively if he hadn’t entered the league ready to contribute. It’ll be interesting to see how Olave’s production is affected if the Saints get Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry back healthy at the same time. However, Olave has made a great first impression during the first half of the season.
Brian Robinson, +1200
Brian Robinson got off to a little bit of a late start, but he’s starting to make up for lost time. The problem is he may not be able to consistently get carries over Antonio Gibson all season.
Robinson put together a few promising games but hit a roadblock in Week 8, earning just eight touches. Also, he’s not the type of running back who’s going to do a lot of damage as a receiver, which will hurt his OROY candidacy.
Bailey Zappe, +1500
Bailey Zappe was largely overlooked among the other quarterbacks in this year’s class, but he’s off to a better rookie season than the rest of them.
Frankly, it was shocking to see him run the New England offense the way he did after Mac Jones got hurt, leading the Pats to wins over the Lions and Browns. Of course, if Jones is able to hold onto the starting job, Zappe will have good value as a Rookie of the Year candidate despite the promising start to his career.
Much like Olave, his teammate at Ohio State, Garrett Wilson has made a relatively smooth transition to the NFL. He’s had two different starting quarterbacks during the first half of the season, which hasn’t made things easy for him.
But after eight games, Wilson is leading the Jets in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. His consistency from week to week still isn’t there. However, Wilson has done enough to make him a dark horse to watch in the Rookie of the Year race.
Wan’Dale Robinson, +1800
Wan’Dale Robinson was only the eighth wide receiver selected in the draft, but he has the third-shorted OROY odds among rookie wide receivers. Keep in mind that he missed four games due to injury, so his numbers aren’t that impressive.
But he’s started to make up for lost time, even on a team with subpar quarterback play. Obviously, those are working against Robinson being Offensive Rookie of the Year. However, as long as he stays healthy, he’ll be a rookie worth watching down the stretch.
Best bet for 2022 NFL OROY
As mentioned, there were no quarterbacks or offensive skill players selected in the first seven picks of the draft and no running backs selected in the first round. That has helped to create a wide-open race for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
At the moment, Walker and Pierce are the runaway favorites because both have been productive and will likely remain the clear starter for the rest of the season barring an injury. With the other candidates mentioned, especially the wide receivers, getting targets and regular touches is far from a guarantee.
If it comes down to Walker and Pierce, the smart money is on Walker, who is playing for a playoff contender and has already looked the part of a top-flight NFL running back.
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