Quarterbacks Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) and Justin Herbert (LA Chargers) are co-favorites to win the 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year at +100 odds, according to a recent update by DraftKings.
Burrow has been the Bengals’ starter since Week 1. The #1 pick in the NFL Draft out of LSU is also the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Burrow was one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year coming into the season.
| NFL 2020 OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF YEAR |
- Joe Burrow +100
- Justin Herbert +100
- Tua Tagovailoa +1000
- Justin Jefferson +2000
- James Robinson +2000
- Chase Claypool +3000
- Tee Higgins +6000
Herbert took over signal calling duties for the Chargers in Week 2 when he got called into action less than five minutes before kickoff. Starting QB Tyrod Taylor had a bad reaction to a painkiller injection when the team doctor accidentally punctured his lung. Herbert got the starting nod and held his own against the Kansas City Chiefs. The first-year QB from Oregon hasn’t relinquished the starting job and is currently +100 odds to win Rookie of Year.
Burrow and Herbert Co-Faves
Burrow has added pressure to win the Rookie of the Year because he has a target on his back as the #1 draft pick. In just eight games with the Bengals (2-5-1), Burrow threw 11 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He’s completing 67% of his passes. He also added three rushing scores.
Ex-Bengals quarterback Boomer Esaison tagged Burrow as a “can’t miss” prospect, but he also has lots of love for Herbert.
“There’s nothing better than seeing a young quarterback, actually these two kids, how they have done it,” said Esaison. “The way that you’re supposed to do it. In the pocket, throwing the ball down field and, yeah, they run around because they probably miss a read here and there, then they let their athleticism take over. I mean there’s not anything Burrow can’t do on the field.”
Herbert flew under the radar in the offseason even though the Chargers selected him with the #6 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Don’t forget, Herbert was projected as the #1 quarterback selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he decided to stay in school another season and play his senior year at Oregon. He didn’t exactly crush it, so his stock slipped a bit, and he had tougher competition in a QB-heavy draft class with Burrow and Tagovailoa. But, he’s still the same guy that scouts projected would thrive in the modern NFL.
In seven games thus far, Herbert threw 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He’s also completing 67.3% of his passes. Herbert, not exactly known for his mobility, added two rushing touchdowns.
Tua Time?
Tua Tagovailoa improved to 2-0 as a starter with the Miami Dolphins. He looked good in a surprise victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9 in a shootout against Kyler Murray. The ex-Bama quarterback saw his Rookie of the Year odds jump in the past couple of weeks since he was named the starter over veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Miami Dolphins are now 5-3 and have a legit shot at winning the AFC East if the first-place Buffalo Bills falter in the second half.
Oddsmakers listed Tagovailoa as the third-highest on the board at +1000 odds to win Rookie of the Year.
