2023 NFL futures, odds: Offensive Rookie of the Year betting strategy includes best bets, key longshot values

Our 2023 NFL futures series continues today with our look at the Offensive Rookie of the Year race, where Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is the favorite at +300. Next up are quarterbacks Bryce Young (+400) and C.J. Stroud (+650), followed by another running back in Jahmyr Gibbs (+700). That puts four players with shorter odds than any receiver, a position that has won the award in each of the last two years.

The 2022 season was a fascinating one for this award with one of the lowest-regarded quarterback draft classes in recent memory. That left bettors choosing between the one first-round quarterback that was drafted (Kenny Pickett), a Day 2 running back like Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker, one of the six receivers that went in the first 18 picks, or someone completely off the board. In the end, we had one of those Day 2 running backs (Walker) and one top-tier receiver (Garrett Wilson) duking it out in the voting, with an off-the-radar player (Brock Purdy) on the fringe of the race. While Walker got one more first-place vote than Wilson, the Jets receiver did well enough down-ballot to take home the award.

Wilson's win marks just the second time ever and the first time since 1984-85 that a receiver has won Rookie of the Year in back-to-back seasons, with Ja'Marr Chase earning the award the previous year. Prior to Chase, a receiver hadn't won the award since 2014 (Odell Beckham Jr.). While the running back position has dominated Rookie of the Year winners long term, we haven't seen one earn this award since Saquon Barkley in 2018.

I'll dig more into what recent history regarding award winners means for our strategy, break down the field for Offensive Rookie of the Year below and identify who I think makes the most sense to back, including some longshots I think could be worth small-sized plays. But first, let's look at the full list of odds.

2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year odds

Which favorites are worth playing to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and which should be faded? And which candidates make for the best values to take home the award? ... Join SportsLine right now to see NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year futures betting strategy from SportsLine's No. 1 NFL expert!