NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds: Henry, Watson Primed for Bounceback Seasons

Odds for some of the NFL's marquee awards have started to hit the board for 2022. As such, we now have odds for the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year award, a board that features the likes of Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Baker Mayfield, and many more. 

Check out the full odds board below as well as a breakdown of some of the notable favorites in our updated NFL betting odds for the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Award.

NFL Comeback Player of the Year betting odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook, as of May 11, 2022.

Favorites to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year

Derrick Henry (+300)

This should come as a shock to no one but sitting atop the CPOY board is King Derrick Henry at +300.

After leading the league in rushing in 2019 and 2020, Henry compiled 937 yards and 10 touchdowns through just eight games to start 2021 before suffering a broken bone in his foot in Week 8. He returned for Tennessee's divisional game against Cincinnatti but rushed for just 62 yards on 20 carries in the 19-16 loss. 

Henry will be fully recovered come training camp and should pick up right where he left off in Week 8.

Deshaun Watson (+400)

After months of discussion surrounding Deshaun Watson's next destination, the star quarterback finally got dealt to the Cleveland Browns. He's been off the field since 2020, when he threw for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.

Standing in Watson's way for this award — besides, you would hope, the moral compass of voters — is the potential suspension looming over him. Despite Watson's civil case being behind him, commissioner Roger Goodell can still suspend Watson under the personal conduct policy, with the NFL's investigation ongoing. 

Jameis Winston (+550)

Another QB hoping for a bounceback campaign in 2022 is New Orleans' Jameis Winston. 

All things considered, he was surpassing the admittedly very low expectations as the Saints' signal-caller in 2021. New Orleans was 5-2 through seven games and Winston had thrown for 1,170 yards, 14 scores, and just three picks across that span. 

However, he tore his MCL in Week 8 against Tom Brady's Buccaneers, bringing his season to rest. He's back for 2022 and all signs point to him keeping that starting spot.  

Michael Thomas (+600)

One of Winston's targets, Michael Thomas, is also near the top of the board at +600.

The star wideout has played just seven games over the past two seasons thanks in large part to a setback in his injury rehab (ankle, hamstring) in addition to some ongoing tensions between him and the Saints organization. 

If he does indeed suit up in 2022, he could get back to being one of the league's top receivers, making him a formidable candidate in this race. 

NFL Comeback Player of the Year Betting Trends

• Over the last 20 years, the NFL CPOY Award has been handed out to quarterbacks on 14 occasions. 

• Although Ryan Tannehill won the award in 2019 after bouncing back from a poor 2018 season, in recent years the NFL CPOY Award has been handed out to players coming off significant injuries. Over a five-year period from 2014 to 2018, every Comeback Player of the Year had suffered a season-ending injury during the previous year — and Alex Smith won in 2020 after recovering from a devastating leg injury that almost required amputation. 

• Only one player has ever won this award more than once (Chad Pennington in 2006 and 2008). 

Who are previous NFL Comeback Player of the Year award winners? 

How to bet on NFL awards odds?

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when wagering on NFL awards betting odds.  

Change your strategy at different points in the season

NFL awards odds will be adjusted by sportsbooks as the season goes on. In the preseason and the early weeks of the regular season, betting on dark horses can prove very profitable. As the season continues, expect to see odds tighten around the favorites. At that point, it becomes wise to focus on the players near the top of the odds board and betting big underdogs is unwise.

Look for value with underdogs

Live long shots can provide tremendous value. Look at younger players on the verge of breaking out, or guys that have already been playing at a high level but could take the next step now that they are in an ideal situation with a new team, coach or system. Other players that can give a great payout are established stars coming off under-performing seasons due to injuries or other factors.  

Follow the narrative

When placing futures bets on individual awards, keep in mind that voters, not a scoreboard, are often the deciding factor. Voters can be influenced by a variety of factors, including media coverage and public opinion. Consider what the media narrative is for a particular season and which players they seem to be rooting for and against. 

Research historical trends

Historical trends, especially recent ones, can give you a good idea of which way voters tend to lean. For example, the NFL MVP has been handed out to a quarterback in 12 of the last 13 seasons. Identifying those trends is a good way to separate the true contenders from the pretenders. 

Comeback Player of the Year Odds FAQs