NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds

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Tony Peoples, Reporter

With the NFL season opener around the corner, we predict which player will have the best odds at winning their respective award based on last season and what they built off of coming into next season.

Offensive Player Of The Year Rankings

Jonathan Taylor – Indianapolis Colts

1.  Jonathan Taylor

Taylor was the focal point of Indianapolis’ offense throughout the season. He led the NFL in rushing attempts (332), rushing yards (1,811), rushing touchdowns (18), yards from scrimmage (2,171) and total touchdowns (20). Taylor logged nine 100 rushing-yard performances in the final 12 games, and Indianapolis went 8-4.Entering just his third NFL season, Taylor is young, fresh, and talented enough to be able to handle a massive workload. He’s going to get so many touches that even in forgettable performances, he’ll still likely exceed double-digit yards. Backed by one of the best offensive lines in football, the explosive back has the makeup to reach incredibly new heights under a head coach that embraces the “establish the run” policy.

Cooper Kupp – Los Angeles Rams

 

2.   Cooper Kupp

Kupp is just the third wide receiver to win the OPOY award and the first Los Angeles Rams player to capture the honor since Todd Gurley in 2017 (Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk are the only other Rams players to win the award). An All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, Kupp finished the regular season with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns — one of the greatest seasons for a wide receiver in NFL history. Kupp is just the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to capture the triple crown for wide receivers, joining Jerry Rice (1990), Sterling Sharpe (1992), and Steve Smith (2005). He’s the first player to win the triple crown outright since Sharpe (Smith was tied for first in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2005). With Matt stafford throwing his way and being the main target in the offense, cant see why he wouldn’t be in the running for this award a second time.

3. Derrick Henry 

Derrick Henry – Tennessee Titans

Henry was the favorite to win a year ago before breaking his foot in week 8. finishing in the top 10 in rushing yards (937) and touchdowns (10) in just a half-season of work. That came on the heels of leading the league in both rushing yards and touchdowns each of the previous two seasons – including a 2,000-yard campaign in 2020 to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors.  This Titans offense will once again run through him, perhaps more than ever before with A.J. Brown jettisoned. If he’s healthy for 17 games, Henry could legitimately threaten the NFL single-season rushing record, which would make him a shoo-in for this award.

Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings

4. Justin Jefferson 

Jefferson hit the ground running as a rookie and was even better last year. That could mean his third season is the charm as far as making it clear that he’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Jefferson clearly has good chemistry with Kirk Cousins in addition to being immensely talented. While he’ll have to share targets with Thielen, the presence of Thielen will make it harder for teams to give Jefferson too much attention, opening the door for him to have another monster season and perhaps make a run at the Triple Crown for receivers. Etching his name in the record books with the most receiving yards in a player’s first two seasons (3,016).  It’s also the most receiving yards league-wide since 2020.

Davante Adams – Las Vegas Raiders

5. Davante Adams 

Last season with the Packers, Adams set franchise single-season records with 123 receptions and 1,553 receiving yards, while adding 11 TDs. The five-time Pro Bowler is the only player in NFL history with three seasons (2018, 2020-21) of 110-plus catches, 1,350-plus receiving yards and 11-plus receiving TDs. Coming into a new offense with college teammate Derek Carr, pro bowl pass catchers Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, and Josh Jacobs in the backfield. Although the offense is going to have many mouths to feed Adams is the forsure main target.