Ja’Marr Chase Becomes New Favorite in NFL OROY Odds After Week 3
- Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is the +400 favorite to be NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Cinci’s first-round pick from LSU set a franchise rookie record with four touchdown receptions in his first three games
- Only one wide receiver has won NFL OROY over the previous 11 seasons
The Chase in on for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award … in more ways than one.
Three weeks into the season, while many other top rookies are struggling to find their footing, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is opening at a record pace. And now Chase turn into to the one being pursued. He’s become the +400 favorite in the 2021 NFL OROY odds.
NFL OROY Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals) | +400 |
| Mac Jones (Patriots) | +450 |
| Trey Lance (49ers) | +750 |
| Justin Fields (Bears) | +900 |
| Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) | +900 |
| Najee Harris (Steelers) | +1000 |
| DeVonta Smith (Eagles) | +1400 |
| Rondale Moore (Cardinals) | +1400 |
| Kyle Pitts (Falcons) | +2000 |
| Zach Wilson (Jets) | +2000 |
| Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins) | +2000 |
| Javonte Williams (Broncos) | +2500 |
| Trey Sermon (49ers) | +2500 |
| Elijah Mitchell (49ers) | +2500 |
| Elijah Moore (Jets) | +6000 |
| Pat Freiermuth (Steelers) | +6000 |
| Davis Mills (Texans) | +6000 |
| Kadarius Toney (Giants) | +10000 |
| Michael Carter (Jets) | +10000 |
| Terrace Marshall Jr (Panthers) | +10000 |
| Anthony Schwartz (Browns) | +10000 |
| Jamie Newman (Free Agent) | +10000 |
| Penei Sewell (Lions) | +10000 |
| Rashawn Slater (Chargers) | +10000 |
| Amon-Ra St Brown (Lions) | +10000 |
Odds as of September 27th at FanDuel.
Chase’s opening NFL OROY odds were +1400. As recently as six days ago, you could still get action on him in this betting market at +1100. DraftKings still lists New England QB Mac Jones as the chalk.
Record-Setting Chase
Isaac Curtis didn’t do it. Neither did Cris Collinsworth or AJ Green.
Considering all the great receivers who’ve worn the Bengals jersey over the years, the fact that Chase is the only one with four touchdown receptions in his first three games throughout the history of the franchise has to turn heads.
Ja’Marr Chase: 4 TD Receptions this season
All other rookie WRs combined: 3
(📸 @Bengals) pic.twitter.com/MuyjeRWI6z
— PFF (@PFF) September 27, 2021
Prior to Chase, no rookie receiver had ever caught more than two TD passes over their first three games for Cincinnati. He’s also the youngest receiver to do so in NFL history. Chase bumped Randy Moss from the record book in that category.
Chase doesn’t just lead all NFL rookies in TD receptions. He’s tied for second overall in the league.
Like Old Times
In Cincinnati, Chase has been reunited with Joe Burrow, his quarterback in college at LSU, and being reunited feels so good.
In their last game together at LSU, the Tigers beat Clemson 42-25 to win the NCAA national championship. Chase caught nine passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns in that game.
Joe Burrow said Ja'Marr Chase came up to him before the big 34-yard TD and called his shot. "Just throw it up to me, just throw it." This Bayou Bengal connection is electric already. #Bengals #LSU pic.twitter.com/NEQwgAU768
— Brandon Saho (@BrandonSaho) September 26, 2021
Perhaps the most amazing stat in regards to Chase is his TD rate. He’s caught just 11 balls and taken four of them to the house. That’s a 36.3% chance that when you put the ball in his hands, he’s going to find the end zone.
Chase has a TD reception of at least 30 yards in each of his first three NFL games. He’s the only player to do his during the Super Bowl era.
QBs Are Flailing
This was to be the year of the quarterback. However, just like bad internet service, all of the hyped QBs are finding it difficult to make a connection. NFL rookie QBs are a combined 1-10 this season.
Well, at least a connection with their own team. Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Zach Wilson of the New York Jets are tied for the league lead in interceptions. Each has been picked off seven times in three games.
Trevor Lawrence gives up the pick six 😯
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/Bx6wmd7lcy— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 26, 2021
Lawrence has a passer rating of 60.3. Wilson is at 51.6. Mac Jones of the New England Patriots is at 79.1 but shows two TD passes against three interceptions.
Justin Fields got his first start on Sunday for the Chicago Bears. He was 14-for-35 through the air for 139 yards, no TDs, one interception, and a passer rating of 39.1.
It’s Still Early
A word of caution to all of those our there ready to chase Ja’Marr. He’s going to have a hard time maintaining that pace.
Only one WR has won NFL OROY over the past 11 seasons. That’s because the ball just doesn’t get into their hands as much as it does an RB or QB.
Ja'Marr Chase has a 30-yard rec TD in each of his first 3 career games.
He is the ONLY player to do this in the Super Bowl Era. pic.twitter.com/4Cj8Nkentk
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 26, 2021
Can Chase keep scoring at his current rate? Probably not. Just ask Chase Claypool.
Will one of these QBs begin to figure it out. Probably.
Remember, at this stage last season, no one was talking about Justin Herbert as NFL OROY.
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.
