New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the preseason betting favorite in the 2024-2025 NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds. The 40-year-old quarterback played just four snaps last season before tearing his Achilles tendon.
Rodgers must hold off Father Time for another year to win the award. He also has plenty of competition, including Anthony Richardson, Kirk Cousins, and Joe Burrow. Keep reading to see the latest NFL COTY odds from the best NFL betting sites, my analysis of the most likely winners, and my prediction.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds for 2024-25
The following odds were provided by Bovada Sportsbook.
| Player | NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds | Team | Returning From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | +175 | New York Jets | Achilles Tear |
| Kirk Cousins | +200 | Atlanta Falcons | Achilles Tear |
| Joe Burrow | +325 | Cincinnati Bengals | Wrist Surgery |
| Nick Chubb | +550 | Cleveland Browns | Torn MCL |
| Anthony Richardson | +650 | Indianapolis Colts | AC joint sprain |
| Sam Darnold | +1000 | Minnesota Vikings | Being a backup |
| Russell Wilson | +1200 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Poor Performance |
| Daniel Jones | +1400 | New York Giants | ACL Tear |
| J.K. Dobbins | +2500 | LA Chargers | Achilles Tear |
| Kyler Murray | +3000 | Arizona Cardinals | ACL Tear |
Joe Flacco and Geno Smith are the most recent Comeback Player of the Year winners. Both quarterbacks “came back” from being backups to play essential roles in getting their teams to the playoffs. However, new CPOY criteria that emphasize returning from injury or illness could prevent players with stories like Smith or Flacco from winning the award moving forward.
Most of the players at the top odds for Comeback Player of the Year this year are returning from injury. For instance, the two favorites, Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins, are both returning from Achilles tears, which ended their 2023 seasons prematurely.
The last six CPOY winners have been quarterbacks, and the 2024-2025 CPOY odds favor QBs to win the award this year. Only two players in the top, Nick Chubb (+550) and J.K. Dobbins (+2500), are not quarterbacks.
Note that the 2024-25 Comeback Player of the Year hasn’t fluctuated much at all over the last two weeks. Rodgers remains the betting favorite at +175. The only movement since our last update is on Sam Darnold from +1200 to +1000.
You can find more options at Bovada, so feel free to check the bookmaker if you have someone else in mind. The Comeback Player of the Year betting odds are available when you visit Sports > Football > NFL Awards and League Leaders.
Comeback Player of the Year 2024-25 Top Favorites
Rodgers is the favorite, but plenty of other qualified candidates are hot on his heels. Let’s take a closer look at the leaders at the 2024-2025 NFL CPOY betting odds.
Aaron Rodgers (+175)
Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets following the 2022-2023 season. The team was also the subject of Hard Knocks ahead of the 2023-2024 season, so there was plenty of hype surrounding Rodgers’ first season in the Big Apple. Sadly, for the Jets fans, the veteran tore his Achilles on the first drive in the team’s season opener against the Bills.
“I want to go out on my feet.”
Aaron Rodgers talks to @AlbertBreer about why he had to come back for 2024 … and much more https://t.co/FBkIyjDhhD pic.twitter.com/LJDxvdCjrb
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) August 26, 2024
The Jets quarterback is the favorite in the current NFL Comeback Player of the Year betting odds. If Rodgers can return to form and play at anywhere close to an MVP level, the Jets will end their playoff drought, and Rodgers will win CPOY.
However, he is also 40 years old (turning 41 on December 2), did not play in the preseason, and any setback could be career-threatening for Rodgers. Backing him when the price is so short is not a smart move. It’s a risky bet that doesn’t offer the best value given his situation!
Kirk Cousins (+200)
The player with the best odds to upset Rodgers for CPOY is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. He joined the Falcons as a free agent this offseason and is listed at +200 odds for Comeback Player of the Year in his first season with the team.
The former Michigan State product inked a four-year, $180 million contract to play in Atlanta. Team owner Arthur Blank isn’t in the top 10 of richest NFL owners, but he certainly has enough coin to pay Cousins!
Like Rodgers, Cousins is recovering from an Achilles tear. However, the QB tore his Achilles in Week 8, so he has had less time to recover than Rodgers.
The good news for Cousins is that many players on his new team, including wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts, are great playmakers who have been waiting for a solid quarterback. Additionally, Bijan Robinson’s presence in the backfield will allow Cousins to get the ball downfield over the top. Currently, Robinson is a top pick to consider for NFL Offensive Player of the Year!
If Cousins can take advantage of the weapons around him, he can rack up enough stats to be a serious CPOY candidate.
Joe Burrow (+325)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow won the CPOY award after the 2021 season. He suffered a torn ACL in his rookie season the year prior and led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his return season. Burrow suffered another season-ending injury last year and is a leading CPOY candidate again this year.
Joe Burrow in his first game back from his season-ending wrist injury:
🐅 5-7
🐅 51 yards
🐅 1 TD
🐅 131.5 passer rating pic.twitter.com/gPxVqlvQUU
— PFF (@PFF) August 10, 2024
Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are staying with the team for at least one more year, giving Burrow plenty of firepower to work with.
However, recovering from a relatively rare wrist injury, especially on his throwing hand, will be tough. He tore the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, and any flare-ups throughout the season could severely hinder Burrow’s ability to throw the ball.
Burrow looked sharp in his lone preseason appearance. There haven’t been any setbacks, so all systems are a go for “Joe Cool” to open the 2024-25 season! Are you confident in making the Bengals one of your top selections for The Sports Geek’s free NFL pick’em contest?
Nick Chubb (+550)
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb was on the losing side of a gruesome hit in the team’s Week 2 matchup against Pittsburgh. The team announced Chubb will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and miss at least the first four weeks of the season.
Despite the shortened season, Chubb (+550) has the best Comeback Player of the Year NFL odds for any non-quarterback at most NFL football betting sites.
If he can return to form, Chubb could be a top-10 running back in the NFL following his return. However, most running backs decline after 28 (his current age), and there is no telling what Chubb has left in the tank after his injury. Add the shortened season to the mix, and it’s hard to justify a bet on him.
Anthony Richardson (+650)
The player with the fifth-best NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (+650). He was exciting in limited action last year but suffered several injuries, including a concussion in Week 2 and a season-ending AC joint sprain in Week 5.
The @Colts opening drive 🔥
Anthony Richardson goes 7/8 for 65 yards and finds rookie WR Adonai Mitchell for the TD! pic.twitter.com/Bp3IvzZEX1
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2024
If Richardson can make it through most of the season without being injured, he could cement himself as one of the top young quarterbacks in the league. The Colts have plenty of weapons to work with and a great offensive-minded head coach in Shane Steichen.
However, Richardson’s playing style causes him to endure a lot of hits and increases his injury risk, so banking on him to stay healthy is a huge risk.
Also, he was up and down in the preseason. I expect some big moments for Richardson, but also some iffy performances. I’d look elsewhere for your NFL Comeback Player of the Year pick!
Best Sleepers for NFL CPOY 2024-25
Joe Flacco was not on a roster, let alone the CPOY radar, at this time last year. Picking the right sleeper can lead to huge wins in this NFL futures market. Here are three sleepers to keep an eye on in the latest NFL CPOY betting odds:
-
Dobbins had a great rookie year in 2020 but has missed the better part of the last three seasons with injuries. Now a member of the Chargers, Dobbins has a chance for a fresh start in a run-heavy system if he can stay healthy.
-
Murray returned in Week 10 last season after suffering an ACL tear in the 2022 season. He played well in the limited action he saw last year and should be even better this year with more time to heal from the injury.
-
Jameis Winston has never quite lived up to his draft stocks as the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. However, he could follow Joe Flacco’s footsteps this year and CPOY as Deshaun Watson’s replacement in Cleveland if Watson misses time again this season.
2024-25 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Prediction and Betting Pick
Comeback Player of the Year is one of the most exciting NFL awards to bet on every year, and there are plenty of great nominees this season. In the end, though, only one player can win the award this season.
Kirk Cousins is my NFL Comeback Player of the Year prediction. He is listed at +200 in the latest odds for the Comeback Player of the Year in the 2024-2025 season, which is good enough for me, considering the other candidates.
Cousins has plenty of weapons to work with on offense, and the Falcons play in a dome. Atlanta also has an easier division than other top contenders like Aaron Rodgers (+175) or Joe Burrow (+325).
