Justin Jefferson still not the favorite to win Rookie of the Year
By Adam Patrick
The Minnesota Vikings rookie has been putting up amazing numbers this season.
After finishing with 121 receiving yards in Week 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings rookie pass-catcher Justin Jefferson has now ended five of his last 10 matchups with at least 100 receiving yards.
It was just the latest performance in a magical first year in the NFL for the Vikings rookie receiver. Jefferson has quickly emerged as one of the top pass-catchers in the entire league and it’s scary to think that he hasn’t even reached his full potential yet.
Due to Jefferson’s success, more and more people have been calling for him to be the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year. However, the latest odds still don’t indicate this is something that will end up happening.
What will it take for the Minnesota Vikings receiver to become the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year?
FanDuel’s most recent odds for Offensive Rookie of Year certainly have Jefferson as a top contender, but he’s still not at the top of the list.
Instead, Los Angeles Chargers first-year quarterback Justin Herbert is the current favorite to win the award at -450 with Jefferson coming in second with +450 odds. This basically means that FanDuel believes Herbert has about an 80 percent chance of being named this season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year while the chance for Minnesota’s young receiver is only around 18 percent.
Behind Herbert and Jefferson in FanDuel’s latest odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year are Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (+1500), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (+2600), and Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson (+3200).
It’s unclear what else Jefferson has to do in order to emerge as the favorite for the annual award. The Vikings rookie has played a big part in his team winning five of their last six games while the Chargers have managed to earn five losses in their last six matchups with Herbert starting under center.
If Jefferson is actually able to be named this season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, he will be the seventh player in Minnesota’s history to win the award. The last time a member of the Vikings roster ended up being the top rookie was back in 2009 when Percy Harvin was given the honor.