We're entering Week 4 of the NFL season, and we have updated odds for the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year award — a board that is now headlined by three running backs, including two who have dealt with major injuries in the past, and one who has yet to play a single snap in the regular season.
Check out the full odds board below as well as a breakdown of some of the notable favorites in our updated NFL betting odds.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year betting odds
| Player | Odds |
| Saquon Barkley | +350 |
| Christian McCaffrey | +600 |
| Brian Robinson Jr. | +700 |
| Derrick Henry | +1,000 |
| Michael Thomas | +1,600 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | +1,600 |
| Jameis Winston | +1,600 |
| Julio Jones | +2,000 |
| Allen Robinson III | +3,000 |
| Baker Mayfield | +3,000 |
| Marcus Mariota | +3,000 |
| Jeffrey Okudah | +3,000 |
| Daniel Jones | +4,000 |
| Chris Godwin | +4,000 |
| J.K. Dobbins | +4,000 |
| Travis Etienne | +5,000 |
| Chase Young | +5,000 |
| Danielle Hunter | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, as of September 28, 2022.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2022 NFL season, here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet of up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
B) New users at DraftKings can get a deposit bonus up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of NFL promo codes for 2022.
Favorites to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Saquon Barkley (+350)
After being named Offensive Rookie of the Year with the New York Giants in 2018, Saquon Barkley has dealt with numerous injuries. Among them was a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 of the 2020 season.
Great news for Giants fans going forward, however, as Barkley looked like his old self against Tennessee in Week 1. The 25-year-old rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown in New York's upset win over the Titans.
Although Barkley didn't surpass 100 yards on the ground in Week 2 or 3, he still ranks second in the league in rushing yards and will remain the Giants' X-Factor on offense going forward.
Christian McCaffrey (+600)
After only appearing in 10 games in the last two seasons due to injury, Christian McCaffrey hopes to put the league back on notice and make fans remember just how dominant he can be when healthy.
McCaffery's 2022 campaign has gotten off to a solid start. The former Stanford Cardinal is averaging 4.9 yards a carry through three games and is coming off a 108-yard rushing performance in Carolina's first win of the season against New Orleans.
Brian Robinson Jr. (+700)
Brian Robinson Jr. hasn't appeared in a regular season game for the Washington Commanders, but his current situation will garner Comeback Player of the Year attention.
The rookie RB out of Alabama was a victim of an attempted carjacking before the season began and ended up being shot in the leg as a result. Robinson Jr. is currently on the non-football injury list and can be activated once Week 5 rolls around.
Robinson was named first-team SEC last year with the Crimson Tide and could form a nice 1-2 punch alongside RB Antonio Gibson. Voters will absolutely take notice of the hill he had to climb if he's able to produce when he returns to the field.
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, the NFL CPOY Award has been handed out to players coming off significant injuries in recent years. 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?
| Year | NFL CPOY winner |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Joe Burrow |
| 2020 | Alex Smith |
| 2019 | Ryan Tannehill |
| 2018 | Andrew Luck |
| 2017 | Keenan Allen |
| 2016 | Jordy Nelson |
| 2015 | Eric Berry |
| 2014 | Rob Gronkowski |
| 2013 | Philip Rivers |
| 2012 | Peyton Manning |
| 2011 | Matthew Stafford |
| 2010 | Michael Vick |
| 2009 | Tom Brady |
| 2008 | Chad Pennington |
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
New York's Saquon Barkley is the solo betting favorite to win Comeback Player of the Year in 2022 at +350.
Cincinatti's Joe Burrow won Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 after tearing his ACL in Week 11 of the 2020 season.
Quarterbacks have won CPOY in 14 of the last 20 years, including each of the last four. Jameis Winston has the best odds among quarterbacks at +500.
