NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds: Henry, Winston, Godwin as top contenders

There are still two months until the start of the NFL season, but it’s still not too early to start speculating about the most unpredictable award in professional football, the Comeback Player of the Year, along with the odds.

The award given to a player who has overcome a significant injury is not clear-cut. For instance, players often returned from their injuries and performed better than the previous season. In 2010, Michael Vick won the award after he was released from prison following his sentence.

One of the most important factors voters consider when choosing the award is the player’s overall performance. In 2020, for instance, Alex Smith was able to win it despite throwing more interceptions than he did touchdown passes after he battled a gruesome leg injury.

Last year, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott returned from a devastating injury, but Joe Burrow put up impressive numbers after tearing an ACL and eventually received the award.

The Comeback Player of the Year award is a fun and unpredictable game to play. Many players can be considered for the award, but some stand out early in the market.

Titans RB Derrick Henry leads (+300)

It’s been almost two decades since a running back won the award and five years since a non-quarterback was given the award. With that in mind, it’s still not too early to start making predictions about the winner.

Coming into the season, the Tennessee Titans’ star running back was on track to have another impressive year. However, he suffered a broken bone in his foot during the middle of the campaign and could not play for the rest of the season. Despite his injury, Henry finished the season with 937 yards and 10 rushing scores in only eight games.

Henry has a legitimate chance to repeat as the Comeback Player of the Year if he can stay healthy throughout the rest of the season. He also has a chance to reach the 2,000-yard mark for the second year.

Jameis Winston as perfect archetype (+500)

Since quarterbacks have won the award for 15 of the last 25 years, it’s no surprise that Winston is a strong candidate. He’s been able to come back from a major injury and regain his starting position following his injury last year.

The New Orleans Saints have added plenty of talent to their offense through the free agency and the draft, and they should be able to provide Winston with plenty of opportunities to improve his game. In addition to Jarvis Landry, the team has Michael Thomas, an All-Pro receiver, to help Winston move the ball through the air.

Chris Godwin (+3300)

It’s hard for a wide receiver to win the award since it’s been given twice in the last 14 years, but Godwin is a talented player who should be priced high.

Last year, Godwin had 98 catches for 1,103 yards before he suffered a major injury during the middle of the season. He was able to return to play in the final two games of the season, but he could not put up another 1,000-yard campaign. If he can recover in time for the start of the season, he should be able to become one of Tom Brady’s top targets once again.