Rookie running back for the Kansas City Chiefs Kareem Hunt has, as far as NFL wagering goes, the best odds of winning the National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, which would make him, were he to win it, the first KC player to be awarded the honor. Hunt fumbled his first-ever carry, but that was the full extent of his first-time jitters. He finished with, among NFL debuts, the most total yards from scrimmage (148 rushing, 98 receiving, 246 overall). Andy Reid’s offensive system is running back-friendly and Spencer Ware is out for the season, making hunt the best current NFL gambling bet for the OROY.
Kareem Hunt tastes the sweet nectar of the end zone for the first time in his career. pic.twitter.com/TymMGpYGCp
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 8, 2017
Other contenders are…
Leonard Fournette
Fournette may not have, as Hunt did, set a new league record, but he did have, among Jaguars running backs, the best debut in the history of the franchise, posting 100 yards on 26 attempts. Fournette managed, almost like osmosis, squeeze through small openings and evaded potential tacklers near the line of scrimmage. Those who were under the impression that he was little more than a lower-the-shoulder runner must have not expected the nimbleness of his feet or the jump cuts he used to turn no gain into positive yardage.
Dalvin Cook
Cook broke, with the Vikings, against the Saints, former Viking-turned-Saint Adrian Peterson’s – who, coincidentally, was the 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year – Minnesota rookie debut rushing record, with 127 yards on 22 attempts. Cooks’s pass-the-torch performance certainly caught the eye of NFL wagering experts. And to think that last season the Vikes had just one 100-yard rushing game.
Christian McCaffrey
The only blemish in McCaffrey’s maiden performance was, like Hunt above, a fumble, only it was in the second half. The Stanford product was, other than that, flawless. He was, moreover, almost innumerable. McCaffrey appeared, like the ghost of Tom Joad, anywhere and everywhere he was needed. Lining up in the backfield with fellow running back Jonathan Stewart, by himself in the I-formation, at fullback, in the slot and out wide, as a decoy going in motion, selling hot dogs in the stands, you name it.
Deshaun Watson
Watson started the season as Tom Savage’s backup, and two quarters later, and perhaps for good, he had already taken over. He led the Texans down the field for the first time on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that resulted his first professional TD pass. Watson went at half-speed following that score, but nonetheless displayed good mobility.
Corey Davis
Davis was, despite missing the preseason and playing behind Rishard Matthews and Eric Decker as a rotational receiver, targeted on 10 occasions by Titans QB Marcus Mariota. His first catch was a tough diving completion off a back-shoulder fade down the right sideline that showed off his hands and jump-ball mad skills.
Kenny Golladay
The Lions receiver had, in addition to the go-ahead score, the game-clinching touchdown as well in Detroit’s win over the Cardinals. The rookie is, according to Golden Tate “is a boss. Kenny did what he’s been doing all camp.” And his NFL wagering stock can, if he keeps doing it, only go up.