Raiders RB Josh Jacobs Now the Odds-On Favorite to Win NFL OROY
- Sportsbooks are listing Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs as the odds-on -125 favorite to be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Last week, Jacobs moved into the favorite’s role for the first time this season at odds of +140
- The last Raider to win NFL OROY was running back Marcus Allen in 1982
Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs just keeps on running to daylight. In the process, he’s beginning to run away from the pack in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
This week, sportsbooks moved Jacobs to a position as odds-on -125 favorite in the NFL OROY odds.
2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Josh Jacobs (Raiders) | -125 |
| Kyler Murray (Cardinals) | +160 |
| Gardner Minshew (Jaguars) | +900 |
| Marquise Brown (Ravens) | +2000 |
| Daniel Jones (Giants) | +2500 |
| Terry McLaurin (Redskins) | +3300 |
Odds taken on November 5, 2019.
Last week, Jacobs took the lead in the odds for the first time when he moved past Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray into top spot in the NFL OROY chase with odds of +140.
Jacobs Sets Raiders Record
Jacobs is clearly making his move. The rookie runner from Alabama turned in another stellar performance in Sunday’s 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions. He rambled for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. Of those gains, 88 yards came in the first half.
The @Raiders rookie @iAM_JoshJacobs continues to impress. #HaveADay#RaiderNation | #DETvsOAK pic.twitter.com/1x1cjdMOf1
— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2019
With 740 yards on 152 carries, Jacobs has already shattered the Raiders’ rookie rushing mark of 697 yards set by Hall-of-Famer Marcus Allen in 1982. He’s seventh in the NFL in rushing. Jacobs has gone over 120 yards on the ground in three of his last four games. As well, he’s caught 11 passes this season for 102 yards.
Josh Jacobs is the first RB with at least 3 games of multiple Rush TD in his first season since Ezekiel Elliott had 5 in 2016.
Bo Jackson had just 2 for the Raiders, while Marcus Allen has the franchise record with 4 such games in his 1982 Rookie of the Year season. pic.twitter.com/EOmCLsPd8F
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 3, 2019
With six touchdowns, he’s also got a realistic shot at Allen’s club rookie record of 11 rushing TDs. Sunday marked the third time this season Jacobs ran for multiple TDs. He’s the first player in Raiders history with more than five rushing TDs in his first eight NFL games. Jacobs is also the first NFL rookie with three multiple-TD rushing games over a span of eight games since Cincinnati’s Ickey Woods in 1988.
Is It QB or RB?
For the second year in a row, the NFL OROY debate has narrowed down to two players – a quarterback and a running back.
Last season, it was a toss-up between Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. In the end, the decision went Barkley’s way. It was the second season in a row and the third time in four years that the award was won by a running back.
Pride and poise.
The rookie class went out and scored four touchdowns today.@IAM_JoshJacobs | @fhmoreau | @renfrowhunter pic.twitter.com/RVn3dMhoxX
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 4, 2019
At midseason, the race is now between Jacobs and Murray. Jacksonville QB Gardner Minshew is the only other player offered at odds of under +1000. But Minshew is not only on the outs as a rookie hopeful, with Nick Foles is healthy, he has been shifted back to a bench role.
Raiders Giving Jacobs Massive Advantage
The 4-4 Raiders are winning and Jacobs is playing a significant role in that success. If Oakland stays in the hunt for an AFC playoff positon, it will only serve to boost his candidacy for NFL OROY. Two of the last three NFL OROY were on playoff teams – Dak Prescott in 2016 and Alvin Kamara in 2017.
.@Raiders @iAM_JoshJacobs got busy behind a bruising cast and finished where all great #Raiders wanna go….into the #BlackHole. It’s like end zone heaven. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/qcfoNW7hIS
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 4, 2019
Murray’s Cardinals have dropped two in a row and sit at 3-5-1. He’s playing well but the difference between the two is that Jacobs is trending upward and picking up steam. As recently as Oct. 2, Jacobs was listed at average odds of +1500 to win NFL OROY.
He’s currently on pace for 1,400 yards and 12 TDs. By comparison, Barkley ran for 1,307 yards and scored 11 TDs on the ground during his NFL OROY campaign last season.
Pick: Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders (-125).
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.
