2023 NFL Rookie of the Year odds: Puka Nacua, C.J. Stroud in two-man race
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud is having himself a season — but so is a certain rookie receiver in Tinseltown.
Which means the road to winning NFL Rookie of the Year is now officially a two-man race on the oddsboard.
First to Stroud.
In Week 9, he broke the single-game rookie record with 470 passing yards and five touchdowns in the Texans' 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After that record-setting performance against the Bucs, his odds shortened to -500 from -150 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Just a few weeks ago, Stroud had passed for a league-best 3,631 yards and his odds of being named Rookie of the Year shortened all the way to -2000.
However, Stroud exited Houston's Week 14 matchup against the New York Jets and entered the concussion protocol. Despite the injury, he still maintained pole position as the Rookie of the Year odds-on favorite.
Stroud then returned to action in Week 17 and helped lead his Texans over the Titans, 26-3.
But Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua is not going down without a fight.
On the season, Nacua has been absolutely electric. He has racked up 1,445 receiving yards, good for fourth-most in the league entering Week 18. He also has 101 receptions and five touchdowns in 16 games.
But the race between these two has tightened ahead of Week 18. Stroud was -1000 a week ago, and Nacua was +500.
Let's see where they stand now.
NFL OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ODDS: *
C.J. Stroud, Texans: -850 (bet $10 to win $11.18 total)
Puka Nacua, Rams: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
*odds as of 1/3/2024
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After Stroud broke the single-game passing record for a rookie, FOX Sports AFC South reporter Ben Arthur said that Stroud should no longer be compared to just other rookie QBs.
"We're definitely beyond analyzing C.J. in terms of rookie quarterbacks. He's legitimately been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season. ... He's checking every box."
Is it possible that playoff positioning could play a role in the race?
Houston sits at 9-7, third in the AFC South, and is on the postseason bubble. The Texans' Week 18 contest against the Colts is win or go home for Stroud & Co.
The 9-7 Rams, however, have clinched their wild-card spot in the playoffs.
Could the Rams use Nacua less this weekend since their playoff hopes are secure? If that's the case and Stroud has another outstanding performance in the last week of the NFL regular season, will the award be his?
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