2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award: Bills Hamlin Heavy Favorite to win Award

Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin is a -700 favorite to win the award. Still, others like Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller Baker Mayfield, and possibly Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco could edge out the betting favorite.

Join me as I look at the DraftKings New Jersey odds for the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award winner.

Criteria for NFL Comeback Player of the Year

A select group of media members is tasked with voting for a player who “shows perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor performance.”

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is definitely the betting favorite and a feel-good story. Returning from a cardiac arrest to making the Buffalo Bills’ 53-man roster was genuinely inspiring. Hamlin has overcome adversity and made two solo tackles on special teams but has been inactive for all but two of the Bills games this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller Baker Mayfield shot up the DraftKings board after slinging four touchdown passes Sunday at Green Bay. Mayfield is on pace to set career marks in passing yards, completion percentage, and scoring strikes. If he does set new career highs, then +1000 will feel like a steal.

I have nothing against any of the others on the board, but Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa should win this award. Tagovailoa suffered two concussions, causing him to miss four games last season while also leaving his career in jeopardy. Tagovailoa hasn’t missed a game yet this season while enjoying a career-high 71% completion rate and a career-best 3921 passing yards through 14 games.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford missed a large chunk of last season due to a concussion and spinal contusion, causing him to miss eight games. Stafford has bounced back nicely from the injuries, but his numbers aren’t nearly as impressive as Tagovailoa’s are.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco was brought out of retirement by Cleveland after a dozen largely unsuccessful games over the past three seasons with the New York Jets. Flacco has thrown more TD passes this season than in any of his previous four, and the Browns are 2-1 since starting for concussed rookie Dorian-Thompson Robinson.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles during Week 1 but could be cleared to play sometime this week. That would be a miracle, and if you believe he will suit up this season, +2500 is an excellent price because he will win the award if he does play.

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