Comeback Player of the Year odds tend to favor guys coming back from injuries. Why? They are easy candidates to identify. They got hurt but worked their way back onto the field and played well. But in recent years, other players have taken home the award. By ‘other,’ I’m talking about guys not trying to come back from an injury. These guys had different obstacles to overcome, i.e., their shortcomings and faults.
There are a few guys that fit that description this season. One, Russell Wilson, just began his ascent back to relevancy last week on Sunday Night Football vs. the Jets.
Comeback Player of the Year Odds: Laying the Groundwork for Russell Wilson
When Russell Wilson joined the Denver Broncos, he was supposed to be the missing link. He was the one thing Denver needed to turn into a Super Bowl contender. But during his time with the team, the Broncos were far from making the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl. So, they let him go in the offseason-and his career appeared to be done.
What coach in his right mind would sign Wilson after the debacle that was his time in Denver? As it turns out, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Wilson was supposed to start the season as QB1. But a calf injury sidelined him for a few weeks. In the meantime, Justin Fields took over and led the team to a 4-2 record. Fields needed a lot of work, but they were winning games.
But Mike Tomlin gave the offense back to Russell Wilson heading into Week 7.
The move received a ton of criticism. Yeah, Fields wasn't doing great, but the Steelers could afford to give him some time to grow into the role.
For much of Sunday’s game against the Jets, it looked like Tomlin may have made the wrong decision. But then something clicked, and Wilson got the passing game on track. The Steelers went on to win 37-15. As for Wilson, he went 16-29 for 264 yards and two touchdowns for a QBR of 66.4 and a rating of 109.
Other than a few games last season (via Mason Rudolph), a Steelers quarterback has not earned a higher quarterback rating since Ben Roethlisberger’s days.
Making the Case for Russell Wilson to Win CPOY
Russell Wilson was as good as done. With how poorly his time in Denver went and his age, the window to Wilson's time as a QB1 appeared to have shut. But then Mike Tomlin gave him a shot. Like Joe Flacco in Cleveland, Geno Smith in Seattle, and Ryan Tannehill with the Titans, he was getting one more shot.
Last week on Sunday Night Football, he had a chance to step up and play a good game. But it was just one game. As his last couple of seasons have shown, he could struggle the rest of the way. Or he could play a second good game and a third, maybe even beat the Commanders and/or Ravens in the coming weeks. At that point, his odds of winning CPOY will get shorter, and the payout will be smaller.
But if he can keep playing well with help from a solid offensive line and a great group of skill position players, he could win.
Our Pick: With his odds at DraftKings sitting at +10000, it could be worth taking a flyer on Wilson. After all, a $10 bet will win you $1,000 at those odds.
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