What are the odds Odell Beckham Jr. wins NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year? Well, they are actually pretty good, according to Bovada, which has listed the sensational New York Giants wide receiver as the 4/7 favorite to win the award.
Offensive Rookie of the Year - Odds to Win | |
---|---|
Odell Beckham | 4/7 |
Mike Evans | 2/1 |
Kelvin Benjamin | 5/1 |
Jeremy Hill | 25/1 |
Beckham is tied for the lead among rookie receivers in receptions with 71, and leads in receiving yards among rookies with 972. Beckham is averaging 97.2 yards receiving per game, by far the most of any rookie since AFL-NFL merger in 1970. He is also fourth in punt return yardage with 164. The 12th overall pick from LSU admits it is impossible not to think about the Rookie of the Year award.
"It is always in the back of your mind, but right now, honestly, just finish out the last couple of games and whatever happens, happens," Beckham said. "You can only control what you can control. I am just, whatever happens, happens."
Beckham said he would vote Jarvis Landry (Miami Dolphins) or Jeremy Hill (Cincinnati Bengals) if he could. Both are former LSU teammates. He would not vote for himself.
"That is not up to me. If they vote for me and I win it, I win it. It's in the back of your mind, but at the same time you've still got two games left and you just have to finish strong, really," Beckham said.
No Giants offensive player has ever been named Rookie of the Year, an award that has existed since 1957. Lawrence Taylor won the award in 1981.
Antrel Rolle, for one, would be surprised if Beckham does not win the award.
"There is no doubt about it, no doubt about it. There have been some rookies out there obviously making some splash. Mike Evans, a couple other names, but what Odell Beckham Jr. has done in the short period of time that he has been out there because he battled from injuries at the beginning of the year. The sky is the limit for this guy man," Rolle said. "I think what he has done for this team and just for the league itself has been phenomenal. I am not just saying that just because he is my teammate, I am saying it because outside looking in, I am sure everyone else sees it the same way. Absolutely, there is no doubt about it. Rookie of the year, Pro Bowl, you name it, I definitely put him up there right now with the elite receivers in this league."
Giants fans can only hope that Beckham can carry the Giants a Taylor-esque run of success.