Rob Gronkowski Favored to Win 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year After Joining Bucs
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Published:
- Coming out of retirement to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rob Gronkowski is the +350 favorite to win the 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award
- Are quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger or Matthew Stafford better bets to win CPOY?
- See the full odds board within the story below
Rob Gronkowski has been an active player for less than a week, and he’s already being touted as the NFL’s comeback player of the year.
Gronkowski was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week after announcing he was ending his one-year retirement from the NFL. Bookmakers responded quickly and established the veteran tight end as the +350 chalk to win the 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rob Gronkowski | +350 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | +400 |
| Matthew Stafford | +625 |
| JJ Watt | +700 |
| Cam Newton | +750 |
| AJ Green | +800 |
| Nick Foles | +1000 |
| Antonio Brown | +1200 |
| Myles Garrett | +2400 |
| Bradley Chubb | +3300 |
| DeSean Jackson | +4000 |
| Andy Dalton | +5000 |
| CJ Mosley | +5000 |
| Joe Flacco | +5000 |
| TY Hilton | +6000 |
| Alex Smith | +6600 |
| Jordan Reed | +6600 |
| Keanu Neal | +6600 |
| Kwon Alexander | +6600 |
| Malcolm Butler | +6600 |
| Akiem Hicks | +7500 |
| Alshon Jeffrey | +7500 |
| Stephen Gostkowski | +7500 |
| Josh Rosen | +10000 |
| Trent Williams | +10000 |
| Xavien Howard | +10000 |
| Eli Manning | +12500 |
| Lamar Miller | +12500 |
Odds taken April 28th
Gronkowski previously was NFL CPOY in 2014. He wasn’t even on the board when odds opened for this award last month.
Gronkowski Has Been There and Come Back
Gronkowski became, and remains the only tight end to win the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year Award when he earned it in 2014. The previous season, ACL and MCL tears ended his season after seven games.
Gronkowski caught 72 passes for 1,167 yards and 11 touchdowns and was a unanimous first team All-Pro. He snared six passes for 68 yards and a TD as New England beat Seattle in the Super Bowl.
New #Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski sends out a statement on Instagram thanking New England and saying, “And now my fire is back.” 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/jkro4eFPil
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 23, 2020
On March 24, 2019, after nine NFL seasons, Gronk announced his retirement. He stated at the time that the number of injuries he’d endured over the years had sapped the joy he gained from football out of him.
After joining the Bucs and his old pal Tom Brady, Gronk took time to thank Patriots fans via an Instagram post. He also noted that his fire is back.
If Gronkowski were to win, he’d join Chad Pennington (2006, 2008) as two-time NFL CPOY recipients.
QB Always a Good Comeback Story
Quarterbacks are the players in charge of the show. It’s only natural that when they put on a big show after missing some time, they’re going to get extra notice.
It should come as no surprise then that since 2008, eight QBs have been recognized as the NFL CPOY. The last two winners – Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts (2018) and Ryan Tannehill of the Tennessee Titans (2019) – were both QBs.
Chase Claypool: 6-4, 238
Eric Ebron: 6-4, 253
Vance McDonald: 6-4, 267Several big-bodied targets for Ben Roethlisberger this year.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 25, 2020
Luck came back following a season-long absence due to shoulder surgery. That certainly makes Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger an intriguing play.
Big Ben missed all but two games last season after suffering a season-ending elbow injury. In 2018, he passed for an NFL-leading 5,129 yards.
https://twitter.com/Lions_Clips/status/1250990552163680256?s=20
When the betting line for 2020 NFL CPOY first opened, Roethlisberger was the +225 chalk. He’s now at +400.
Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions (+625) is another QB returning from a season-ending injury. Stafford has always put up the stats.
The Lions were 3-4-1 when Stafford was injured. They finished the season 3-12-1.
Foles a Great Value Bet
Tannehill, last season’s NFL CPOY, came out of nowhere. Odds weren’t even offered on him when the season got underway. Tannehill replaced Marcus Mariota as the Titans’ starter and led Tennessee to the AFC Championship Game.
Nick Foles knows what that’s like. Three years ago, he subbed for an injured Carson Wentz and quarterbacked the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title.
Traded by the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Chicago Bears, Foles is positioned to engineer another miracle. In 2018, Chicago were NFC North champions. Last season, the Bears were a disappointing 8-8.
ALL ABOARD THE NICK FOLES TRAIN!!! IF HE DOESNT PLAY WELL EVERYONE GETS FIRED!!! pic.twitter.com/Q3OEJb7ff8
— Ray (@RayHayBay) April 25, 2020
Foles and Bears coach Matt Nagy have a history together in both Philly and Kansas City. Chicago possesses a fierce defense. If Foles can get enough out of the offense to put the Bears back into the postseason, the NFL CPOY is his for the taking.
He opened at odds of +600. Today, you can get Foles for the value price of +1000.
Take it before the offer expires.
Pick: Nick Foles (+1000)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
