Post-Week 12 NFL OROY Odds: Too Little, Too Late for Lamar Jackson?

• What would the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race look like today had the Baltimore Ravens handed the ball to Lamar Jackson earlier in the season?
• Jackson is 2-0 as a starter since taking the quarterbacking reigns in Week 11
• But he still doesn’t have odds to win the OROY award

Lamar Jackson is that guy who arrives late to the party, but instantly livens up the room and leaves you wondering how things would have gone had he been there from the outset.

Odds To Win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Jackson Not Receiving Odds

You won’t find Jackson’s name anywhere in the 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a player.

1st career start: W
2nd career start: W

The Lamar Jackson era is off to a good start in Baltimore! #RavensFlock #OAKvsBAL pic.twitter.com/YLmOooxn8u

— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 25, 2018

Since taking over for Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11, not only has Jackson engineered Baltimore’s first back-to-back wins since Weeks 3-4, he has ignited the Baltimore offense.

The Ravens averaged 29 points per game in those two victories. In the five previous games, the Ravens scored an average of 18 points per game.

You Can Call Him Action Jackson

Just as he proved to be in college while winning the Heisman Trophy at Louisville in 2016, Jackson is as much a threat with his feet as he is with his arm.

I'd say Lamar Jackson has Michael Crabtree's endorsement:

"It’s the Lamar show. You just have to sit back and watch, because he’s electrifying. … Just his attitude. He’s got a winning spirit. Everything he does, he does well. I’m just a witness and a receiver at his disposal.”

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) November 25, 2018

In a 24-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson threw for 150 yards and ran for 119. In last week’s 34-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders, Jackson produced 178 yards through the air and 71 on the ground.  

He had 37 carries in those two games and has lugged the ball 65 times for 329 yards and two touchdowns.

That’s 34 more carries than Michael Vick, the NFL’s all-time rushing leader among quarterbacks with 6,109 yards, had during his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons.

Lamar Jackson has 190 rushing yards in his last 2 games, the most through a quarterback's first 2 starts in the Super Bowl Era. pic.twitter.com/KZV59HKSxt

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 25, 2018

Jackson carried the ball 26 times against the Bengals. The Ravens have most certainly adjusted their offensive scheme to play to Jackson’s strengths.

With Flacco under center, they averaged 92.7 yards rushing per game. In Jackson’s two starts, they’ve rushed for an average of 254.5 yards per game.

Jackson vs Mayfield

Flacco (hip injury) is out again this week, meaning Jackson gets the nod to face the Atlanta Falcons. Will the Ravens stay with him once Flacco is healthy? Let’s hope so.

The following week Baltimore clashes with the Chiefs, but it’s their season finale against the Browns and Cleveland rookie QB and 2017 Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield that is most intriguing.

Who doesn’t want to see Jackson and Mayfield go head to head?

These are two quarterbacks with uniquely different approaches, but there is one stat in which Jackson holds a decisive edge.

The #footballcognoscenti quotes stats all day long, but in terms of winning percentage (what really matters), here is how the @NFL Rookie QBs stack up:

1. Lamar Jackson #RavensFlock 2-0
2. Josh Allen #GoBills 3-3
3. Baker Mayfield #Browns 3-5
4. Sam Darnold #Jets 3-6

— ADAM NANNINI (@adamnannini) November 29, 2018

Still, when it comes to the NFL OROY, the man to beat is neither of these fellows. This award remains New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley’s to lose.