NFL Coach of the Year Futures: Who's The Best Bet Heading Into Week 18?

We are approaching Week 18, and the NFL Coach of the Year futures market is heading towards a close. Several sportsbooks list Matt Lafleur and Zac Taylor as co-favorites, but we have our eye on a different Head Coach.

Are the voters truly looking at Lafleur as the reason for all of Green Bay's success? Or will Aaron Rodgers undermine this notion?

The Coach of the Year award is traditionally awarded to the coach whose team overachieved the most. The Bengals were predicted to finish last in the AFC North. Several analysts expected their win total to be less than 6.5 games.

Mike Vrabel should begin drafting his acceptance speech if the purpose of this award is to recognize the top two teams in the NFL. No one from the Tennessee Titans organization is in the running for any other awards.

We look at the favorites in the NFL Coach of the Year futures market as we enter the final week of the regular season.

Matt Lafleur (+175 FanDuel Sportsbook)

I don't want any part of Lafleur in this market at his current price of +175. Due to the success of the Packers, he has been touted as one of the favorites. But I believe the credit belongs to Rodgers.

The Packers also run the risk of suffering a significant injury as a result of Lafleur's choice to not rest any players. Green Bay could suffer a notable injury in the final week of the season. That would sabotage his NFL Coach of the Year campaign.

Zac Taylor (+175 FanDuel Sportsbook)

For an offensive-minded coach, Taylor doesn't really get the credit he deserves. Joe Mixon and Tee Higgins are both having stellar years. In his first season under Taylor, Ja'Marr Chase has broken rookie receiving records and Joe Burrow looks like one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL.

While Taylor has a high chance of cashing this ticket, I'm not buying him at +175. It would only make sense for me to invest in Taylor at this price if I already own big tickets on Lafleur and Vrabel.

Mike Vrabel (+350 BetMGM)

The Titans are 10.5-point favorites to beat the Texans in Week 18. A win would propel them to the top of the AFC.

In my opinion, the Titans season doesn't support the notion that this was a player-driven record. That makes Vrabel the strongest candidate for this award. In spite of key injuries to Derrick Henry, Julio Jones, and AJ Brown, the Titans are still in contention for the top seed in the AFC.

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In the event that the Titans beat the Texans on Sunday, Vrabel should be the new betting favorite for NFL Coach of the Year after Week 18. His campaign is dependent on the Titans earning the top seed in the conference.

At this point of the season, the only coach I would consider purchasing as a solo bet is Vrabel. He has the strongest argument for winning this award, and +350 at BetMGM is a favorable number for someone who should be the favorite.

SEE ALSO: Who Will Be the Next Head Coach in Jacksonville?

NFL Coach of the Year Odds

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