It’s not too often that we have an overwhelming favorite for the Comeback Player of the Year award. But that is the case going into the 2023 season. On most sportsbooks, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is the favorite going into the year, and for good reason.
But is there any other player that is worth betting on at this point? Let’s look at the odds and best bets for this award going into the 2023 NFL season.
NFL Comeback Player Of The Year Odds
Odds Courtesy of Bovada:
| BET | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Damar Hamlin | -350 |
| The Field | +225 |
Buffalo Bills FS Damar Hamlin (-350)
Damar Hamlin is a huge favorite to win the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Before the Week 17 incident, Hamlin was a starting safety on the Bills, who were on their way to the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
But in their Monday Night Football matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle on WR Tee Higgins in Week 17. He collapsed on the field, and his heart stopped, but he was revived by the medical teams of the Bills after 19 minutes of CPR. The game was eventually suspended and canceled entirely.
However, Hamlin has made a full recovery and has participated in nearly every offseason practice with the Bills. He played in the preseason games and did make the 53-man roster for the Bills. Hamlin isn’t expected to start for the Bills, but he will be a key contributor on their defense in specific packages.
But Hamlin doesn’t need to play much to win this award. The fact that he is playing football again is likely enough for him to win Comeback Player of the Year. His story is one of the best in the NFL, and once he plays in Week 1, he’ll lock up this award.
The Field (+225)
If you are going to bet on the field to win Comeback Player of the Year award, you should at least know the “other” favorites to take home the award. One of the leaders in the clubhouse is Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, who missed four regular season starts and the playoff game against the Bills due to concussions.
If Tagovailoa can start and finish 15+ games in 2023, the Dolphins will have an excellent chance of stealing the AFC East. If that happens, Tagovailoa will undoubtedly be in the conversation for the COPY award.
Another player to watch here is Houston Texans WR John Metchie III
Metchie was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Metchie was expected to miss some of the 2022 season due to an ACL injury, but his season ended in July when it was announced that he would sit out the year after being diagnosed with leukemia.
He has recovered well from the ACL injury and leukemia, and will play in Week 1 for the Texans. He is expected to have a significant role for Houston, likely starting in the slot.
One more player to monitor is WR Calvin Ridley, who was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year. Ridley served a one-year suspension for betting on the NFL but is now eligible to play in the 2023 season.
It’s also worth mentioning that Ridley played just five games in the 2021 season after suffering a season-ending foot injury. He last played in an NFL regular season game on October 24, 2021. If Ridley can have a 1,000-yard season with the Jaguars, he’ll have an excellent chance of stealing the award away from Hamlin this year.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Prediction
There are a ton of quality candidates to win the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023, including Breece Hall, Matthew Stafford, and Cooper Kupp, who were not mentioned above. However, it’s unlikely that anyone can beat out Damar Hamlin for this award, especially now that he’s made the 53-man roster for the Bills.
But you should still bet on something other than Hamlin to win this award. At -350, the odds aren’t enticing enough to bet on the Bills’ safety, but there isn’t enough value on the field. Stay away from this 2023-2024 award, as there are better football bets on other NFL Awards like the NFL MVP or Offensive Player of the Year.
