Baker Mayfield, Saquon Barkley, Calvin Ridley Lead Updated 2018 NFL ROY Odds
October 3, 2018
Quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Cleveland Browns to their first win since the 2016 season during Week 3 against the New York Jets, and he is the odds-on favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year heading into Week 5.
OddsShark shared the updated odds to capture the trophy from Bovada, and Mayfield tops the list at +155 (bet $100 to win $155). He is closely followed by New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (+275), with Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (+550) and New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (+700) rounding out the top four.
It isn't particularly surprising to see a quarterback atop this early list considering there were so many first-round signal-callers in this year's rookie class. Mayfield went No. 1, Darnold went No. 3, Josh Allen went No. 7 to the Buffalo Bills, Josh Rosen went No. 10 to the Arizona Cardinals and Lamar Jackson went No. 32 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Rosen is sixth on the list (+1,500) and Allen is tied for seventh (+1,800) as two quarterbacks who have already seized the starting job, but Jackson is not included in the update considering he is behind Joe Flacco and largely being used in a gimmicky wildcat role.
For as much love and headlines as quarterbacks receive, this award has actually been dominated by non-quarterbacks of late. Dak Prescott is the only quarterback to win it in the last five seasons, and an argument can be made his Dallas Cowboys teammate Ezekiel Elliott was more deserving in 2016.
Alvin Kamara, Todd Gurley, Odell Beckham Jr. and Eddie Lacy provide hope for Barkley and Ridley in the battle with the signal-callers.
Barkley has 260 rushing yards, 193 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while Ridley has been a touchdown machine for the Falcons with six through four games. Julio Jones will cut into Ridley's targets and opportunities, but he will be impossible to ignore if he sustains those touchdown numbers.
For now, though, the top pick in the draft is pacing the Offensive Rookie of the Year field as the season approaches its second quarter.