Derrick Henry Opens as 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Favorite

The most dominant running back in the NFL is the favorite to be named the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Derrick Henry was the best running back in the league by a mile in 2019 and 2020. Henry led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in both years, and he was well on his way to leading the NFL in rushing for the third straight year before suffering a season-ending injury. The King is looking to be the first running back to win this award since Willis McGahee did it in 2004.

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NFL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR ODDS

• DERRICK HENRY +250
• DESHAUN WATSON +400
• JAMEIS WINSTON +550
• MICHAEL THOMAS +600
• DANIEL JONES +800
• CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY +800
• TRAVIS ETIENNE +1000
• CAM AKERS +1000
• MITCHELL TRUBISKY +1000
• J.K. DOBBINS +1100

As is the case with most awards in the modern NFL, quarterbacks have dominated the list of recent winners. The last four NFL Comeback Player of the Year winners have been quarterbacks, and 10 of the last 14 players that have won this award have been QBs.

It should come as no surprise then that two of the three favorites to be named Comeback Player of the Year are quarterbacks, but it’s going to be hard for Deshaun Watson or Jameis Winston to win this award. Watson might have a great season with Cleveland, yet a number of writers simply won’t vote for him due to his recent legal issues. Meanwhile, Winston had a great touchdown-to-interception ratio last year, but he has a checkered past of his own and will likely struggle in New Orleans without Sean Payton as his coach.

All of the best bets to win Comeback Player of the Year are running backs although it’s been 18 years since a running back has won the award. In addition to Henry, Christian McCaffrey and Cam Akers have value at their current prices to win this award.

McCaffrey has been hurt for the last two years, but he was a First Team All-Pro in 2019 and will be the focal point of Carolina’s offense. McCaffrey can be a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver if he stays healthy, and he will likely win the award if he puts up those numbers.

Akers has dealt with injuries in his first two seasons, but he is the top running back for the defending Super Bowl champions. The former five-star recruit was excellent at Florida State despite poor offensive line play, and people rave about what they have seen from Akers in practice.

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