Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the runaway favorite: After breaking Seattle's single-season receiving record with 1,428 yards, the wideout is now the heavy betting favorite to win the award
Jonathan Taylor's campaign is fading: Despite leading the league in rushing yards (1,443) and touchdowns (16), Taylor’s odds have plummeted as the Colts' offense has struggled following a season-ending injury to QB Daniel Jones
Jahmyr Gibbs remains the top challenger: Gibbs has climbed to the second-favorite spot, positioned as the primary alternative to Smith-Njigba thanks to his dual-threat production for the Lions
Offensive Player of the Year is one of the most unique awards in the NFL. In theory, it should go to a quarterback virtually every year, much like the NFL MVP award does. However, more often than not, Offensive Player of the Year goes to the best non-quarterback offensive player. This often leads to a hotly contested battle between the NFL’s top wide receivers and running backs to be named Offensive Player of the Year. That makes the award difficult to handicap, requiring a close examination of who the favorites and best candidates are to win the award.
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Place your bets at FanDuel today and claim the welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.
| Player | Position | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | Seattle Seahawks | -550 BET HERE |
| Jonathan Taylor | RB | Indianapolis Colts | +850 BET HERE |
| Puka Nacua | WR | Los Angeles Rams | +1600 BET HERE |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | Detroit Lions | +2200 BET HERE |
| Christian McCaffrey | RB | San Francisco 49ers | +4000 BET HERE |
| George Pickens | WR | Dallas Cowboys | +10000 BET HERE |
Rest of the candidates listed at +15000 odds and higher.
Jonathan Taylor is a premier OPOY candidate because he leads the NFL in both rushing yards (1,443) and total touchdowns (18), serving as the workhorse engine for the Colts' offense. While his odds have recently lengthened to around +900 due to a surge from receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Taylor remains the statistical gold standard for running backs, highlighted by a historic 244-yard, 3-TD performance earlier this season.
Historically, voters favor high-volume playmakers who dominate their position when the MVP award is reserved for quarterbacks, making Taylor’s league-leading production a compelling "best-in-class" case for the honor.
Until the late stages of the season, it’s usually tough to decipher who will win Offensive Player of the Year. Even late in the season, there are often going to be several deserving candidates. Most of the time, unless there is a quarterback who has gone above and beyond, it’s a safe bet that either a wide receiver or running back will win the award. Of course, that doesn’t always narrow down the list of serious candidates much.
While it sounds simple, Offensive Player of the Year often comes down to pure numbers. More often than not, the winner is either the NFL leader in rushing or receiving yards. Typically, it helps if that player is far ahead of the pack in that category. While scoring touchdowns and playing for a winning team can matter, total yards is usually the best indicator of who will win Offensive Player of the Year. The catch is predicting which running back or wide receiver has the supporting cast around him and the opportunity to blow away the competition when it comes to statistics. If you can spot that player, you can predict who will be the Offensive Player of the Year.
With no shortage of candidates, most contenders for Offensive Player of the Year will have plus (+) odds listed next to their name. This means the potential to make a big profit with an accurate bet. For example, a player with +800 will give you a profit of $800 if you bet $100. Just keep in mind that odds for the top favorites tend to shrink later in the season. If there is a heavy favorite, they may have negative (-) odds, which will reduce the potential profit. For example, for a player with -400 odds, you will have to bet $400 to make a profit of $100.
Most reputable online sportsbooks will keep close tabs on Offensive Player of the Year odds throughout the season, as well as during the offseason. FanDuel Sportsbook is among the best options for betting on OPOTY and other NFL awards. For starters, FanDuel is one of the NFL’s official betting partners. It also has a lot of NFL betting markets with competitive odds.
FanDuel is also a great sportsbook for first-time users. New customers who sign up for a FanDuel account are eligible for a lucrative welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins. There is no promo code necessary; just sign up, bet $5, and collect your bonus bets if your first wager wins.
The first AP Offensive Player of the Year honor was awarded in 1972 to running back Larry Brown of the team now known as the Washington Commanders. The only positions to win the Offensive Player of the Year award are quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends.
| Past Offensive Player of the Year Winner | Year |
|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | 2024 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 2023 |
| Justin Jefferson | 2022 |
| Cooper Kupp | 2021 |
| Derrick Henry | 2020 |
| Michael Thomas | 2019 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 2018 |
| Todd Gurley | 2017 |
| Matt Ryan | 2016 |
| Cam Newton | 2015 |
| DeMarco Murray | 2014 |
| Peyton Manning | 2013 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2012 |
| Drew Brees | 2011 |
| Tom Brady | 2010 |
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