2023 NFL Season Awards Favorites and Best Bets Predictions

Article ByKyle Garlett

August 4, 2023

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Posted in: US Sports Betting News, US Gambling News

The NFL preseason kicked off on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio at the Hall of Fame Game. The Cleveland Browns came from behind to beat the New York Jets, 21-16, with rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson leading the comeback. The former UCLA Bruin had 82 yards passing, 36 yards rushing, and he threw the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Before you start sinking all of your NFL futures bets into Thompson-Robinson to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, remember that he is squarely behind Deshaun Watson on the depth chart. DTR is an exciting player, but his highlights this season are going to come on the practice field — and only on Sunday if there is an injury to Watson.

As for Watson and his prospects to win the MVP award this season, BetUS.com has him as the 11th betting favorite, paying +3000.

Favorite to Win NFL Regular Season MVP

Patrick Mahomes (+650)

Josh Allen (+800)

Joe Burrow (+800)

Jalen Hurts (+800)

Justin Herbert (+1200)

Lamar Jackson (+1200)

The Kansas City Chiefs downgraded the weapons last year for Patrick Mahomes, and he won his second MVP award anyway. It’s hard to not favor him as long as he is healthy and he has Andy Reid calling plays.

It’s a three-way tie for the second betting favorite between three quarterbacks who have all looked like future MVPs at various points in their young careers. Had Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts not been injured at the end of last season, he might be the defending MVP. His performance in the Super Bowl was certainly MVP-worthy, had the Eagles won the game.

The two newly extended quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson at $260 million over five years, and Justin Herbert at $262 million over five years, are tied for fifth at +1200.

Favorite to Win Defensive Player of the Year

Micah Parsons (+600)

T.J. Watt (+700)

Myles Garrett (+700)

Nick Bosa (+1000)

Maxx Crosby (+1400)

NFL awards voters love sacks, and the top five favorites to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year will be defined by how many sacks they record in 2023. Of the five players, Micah Parsons is the most versatile, and he’s used in many different ways in the Dallas Cowboys defense. Last year, he had 13.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa led the NFL in sacks in 2022 with 18.5, and he won DPOY last year with 46 of the 50 first place votes.

Three-time DPOY Aaron Donald, preparing for his 10th season with the Los Angeles Rams, is the seventh betting favorite at +2000, as listed at BetUS.com.

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Bijan Robinson (+275)

Bryce Young (+450)

Anthony Richardson (+600)

C.J. Stroud (+700)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+700)

Jahmyr Gibbs (+800)

Quarterback is easily the most important position in the NFL, but it is easily the most difficult position to learn. This is underscored by the positional difference in the MVP award vs. Offensive Rookie of the Year. The last 10 MVPs have all been quarterbacks, while over the same 10 years, just three quarterbacks have won OROY.

This is why bets on the MVP should almost exclusively be placed on quarterbacks. But a bet on Atlanta Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson has value, as do bets on wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

But if a rookie quarterback does have a good season, he will almost always win the award. That’s why Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is the second betting favorite.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Will Anderson (+375)

Jalen Carter (+650)

Tyree Wilson (+700)

Devon Witherspoon (+800)

Christian Gonzalez (+1000)

As with the Defensive Player of the Year award, sacks will dominate the Defensive Rookie of the Year discussion when it comes time to vote. Will Anderson was the third overall pick by the Houston Texans, and he finished his three years at Alabama with 34.5 sacks. The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Tyree Wilson with the seventh overall pick, and he is expected to be a great pass-rushing complement to Maxx Crosby. 

Last year’s winner of the award was New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, so there is room for a good defensive back to win. The two best cornerbacks from this draft class are Devon Witherspoon, drafted by the Seahawks, and Christian Gonzalez, now with the New England Patriots.