Josh Jacobs’ NFL OROY Odds Still Listed at +550; Is the Raiders RB a Good Bet?

• Three of the last four OROY recipients have been running backs
• Josh Jacobs first player since 2001 to record 100 yards from scrimmage and score 2 TDs in debut
• David Montgomery worth a serious OROY look at +1600

Josh Jacobs eased some of the pain Oakland Raiders fans may have felt last week when the team released star wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Just two days after releasing AB, the rookie running back had 23 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over the Denver Broncos.

113 yards, 2 TDs and a #MNF win.@iAM_JoshJacobs was looking GOOD in his debut. 👀@Raiders | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/C4f2spXWgL

— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2019

Jacobs also left an early mark on the NFL OROY odds, opening with an average +580 across all sportsbooks before moving to +530 following his Week 1 performance.

The latest odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year have listed Jacobs among the favorites at +550.

2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Odds take September 09/11/19

Jacobs’ debut also included 113 all-purpose yards. According to ESPN Stats and Information, Jacobs became the first player since LaDanian Tomlinson in 2001 to record 100 yards from scrimmage and score two touchdowns in an NFL debut.

This is just the start of good things to come this season for Jacobs, whose workload will increase significantly as the primary back in Oakland.

Josh Jacobs becomes 1st RB since LT with 100 yards from scrimmage and 2 rushing TDs in NFL debut 🔥 pic.twitter.com/W83XPabjg3

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 10, 2019

Especially with AB out of the picture, Jacobs becomes a key figure in head coach Jon Gruden’s offense. The question will be whether Jacobs can sustain an increased workload that he never saw in college as a rotational running back at Alabama.

Despite a stellar Week 1 performance, Jacobs said he still felt disappointed in himself because “there were a lot of big runs and a lot of yards left on the table.”

Odds Improve On Jacobs

When the NFL OROY betting lines opened in April, Jacobs was as long as +900 but his odds shortened over time. By mid-August, Jacobs moved to +650 before shortening to +530 on average across all sportsboooks following a near-perfect opening week against the Broncos.

Who will be Jacobs’ biggest challenger for NFL OROY this season? There are a handful of legitimate contenders and Jacobs is one of them.

Kyler Murray, the 2019 first overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals, remains the favorite at +210. Murray also opened the season throwing for 308 yards and two TD passes against the Detroit Lions.

Other OROY Candidates To Keep An Eye On

However, three of the last four OROY winners have been running backs with Saquon Barkley taking the honors in 2018. With a strong crop of rushers in the 2019-20 class, that will likely be the case once again.

Jacobs at +550 is a value pick, but also consider David Montgomery of the Chicago Bears.

Have yourself a game young fella 👏

Josh Jacobs is the first player since Isaiah Crowell in 2014 to score multiple rushing TD's in his first career game. pic.twitter.com/ZIsMp8U3GB

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 10, 2019

Despite a quiet NFL debut, there is still high expectations on Montgomery to carry the offensive load for the Bears this season.

Last week, Montgomery was listed at +860 on average but his odds slipped after having only six carries for 18 rushing yards against the Packers.

Montgomery is hopefully going to have a bigger role as the season progresses so getting in at +1600 could pay nice dividends.