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NFL Futures Market: 2 Bengals in Line for Major Awards

Jon Metler

Last Updated: January 4, 2022 5:57 AM EST • 2 min 6 sec read.

Joe Mixon and Joe Burrow celebrate with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals after Chase scored a second-half touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Joe Mixon and Joe Burrow celebrate with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals after Chase scored a second-half touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images via AFP.

The Cincinnati Bengals are AFC North Champions and several of their key players are making noise in the NFL futures markets. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase have teamed up to make a dynamic duo and should be considered for two different NFL awards. First, we discuss our Offensive Rookie of the Year picks.

As we head into the final week of the NFL season, I wanted to update some previous articles I have written on SBR. I have been adamant that New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones shouldn't be a -500 favorite for the Rookie of the Year award.

I have also been pushing for Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow to be the favorite in the NFL Comeback Player of the Year futures market.

Both markets adjusted their odds after dominant performances by Burrow and Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase in Week 17.

We take a deeper look at the Rookie of the Year and the Comeback Player of the Year futures markets.

Offensive Rookie of the Year Picks: Ja'Marr Chase vs. Mac Jones

The tides have finally turned and Chase is now a -250 favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Jones has seen his odds adjusted from -500 to +195 because of the Chase movement.

https://twitter.com/JonMetler/status/1478039636651958273

This is what dreams are made of when it comes to futures betting. The opportunity to lock in multiple players at a plus price is the goal in any market. Especially a market that is determined through a vote.

I was pushing for people to bet Chase and Miami Dolphins wideout Jaylen Waddle because I didn't believe Jones should be a -500 favorite. This is much different than claiming Jones hasn't been good enough to win the award. I still believe Jones has an opportunity to win the Rookie of the Year award. If you don't already have a plus price on Jones, I would use this opportunity to grab him at +195.

Another idea I mentioned in a previous article was cashing Jones out at his -500 price. If you believe he can still win the award, you could now wager the amount you cashed out on his updated price of +195. This strategy would allow you to win even more on your initial investment on Jones than if you just left the bet when he was -500.

None of this was about who would win the award, it was about maximizing the numbers provided to us in the Rookie of the Year market.

Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow

Two weeks ago, I wrote about Joe Burrow and his +750 price to win the Comeback Player of the Year award. I thought it was tremendous value compared to Dak Prescott who was a -650 favorite at the time.

This is no longer about value with Burrow! He is coming off a torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus. He suffered his injury later in the season than Prescott and has returned in MVP form. This should be his award and he should be the favorite on the odds board.

If you missed out on the +750 and then the +500 last week, this is most likely your last chance to grab Burrow at a plus price in this futures market.

Burrow's odds are currently at +105 at FanDuel.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1477782199445307395

SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Written By:
Jon Metler
Jon Metler is a Sports Betting Analyst at SportsbookReview.com. Having played, coached, and officiated basketball, he immediately turned his attention to the NBA and College Basketball when he entered the sports betting space. Sports betting has been a part of his life for over 13 years, and he specializes in futures markets and player props, particularly in the NBA. In pursuit of value, he keeps a close eye on movements in the betting markets. He believes strongly in analytics and staying ahead of the curve; let the numbers do the talking. A graduate of the University of Windsor with a degree in Sports Studies, Jon enjoys spending time with his dogs when he isn't watching basketball.