NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds 2026

The 2026 NFL Offensive Player of the Year race has already changed considerably since the preseason. Jahmyr Gibbs remains at the top of the betting market, defending…

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Brent BooherSenior Writer
Will Armitage
Fact Checker

The table below shows the latest available NFL OPOY prices across the current market. Odds move throughout the season and can differ between sportsbooks, so the prices displayed by an individual operator should always be checked before placing a wager.

2026 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds

Player Team Position Current OPOY Range
Jahmyr Gibbs Detroit Lions RB +300 to +330
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seattle Seahawks WR +470 to +550
Kenneth Walker III Kansas City Chiefs RB +650 to +900
Bijan Robinson Atlanta Falcons RB +1100 to +1500
Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati Bengals WR +1500
Derrick Henry Baltimore Ravens RB +1500 to +1700
Chris Olave New Orleans Saints WR +2400 to +2800
Amon-Ra St. Brown Detroit Lions WR +2500
CeeDee Lamb Dallas Cowboys WR +2500 to +3000
Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis Colts RB +2600 to +3000
James Cook Buffalo Bills RB +2700 to +3500
Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers RB +3000 to +3500

Odds checked October 2, 2026. The ranges above reflect currently available prices across major sportsbooks and are subject to change.

NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds

2026 NFL OPOY Race: Where It Stands

The first three games have already separated several candidates from the preseason field. Gibbs remains the market leader, but Smith-Njigba’s start has substantially shortened the defending winner’s price. Walker has been another major mover after immediately becoming a high-volume runner for Kansas City.

Player 2026 Production Through Three Games Early OPOY Context
Jaxon Smith-Njigba 27 receptions, 405 receiving yards, 6 receiving TDs Defending winner has opened 2026 with league-leading receiving production
Kenneth Walker III 360 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 82 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs Immediate high-volume role for an unbeaten Kansas City team
Bijan Robinson 349 rushing yards, 118 receiving yards, 3 total TDs 467 scrimmage yards despite Atlanta’s uneven opening
Ja’Marr Chase 18 receptions, 185 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs Remains prominent in the market despite a quieter statistical start
Jonathan Taylor 258 rushing yards, 67 receiving yards, 5 total TDs Strong touchdown production keeps him within the wider contender group

Three games remain a small sample within a 17-game regular season. OPOY prices can move sharply following injuries, changes in workload, breakout performances and changes in team results. The current board should therefore be read as a snapshot of the race rather than a prediction of the final vote.

Current NFL Offensive Player of the Year Favorites

Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions

For all the hoopla behind the star quarterback and the flashy wide receiver, the running back remains one of football's most essential and most entertaining positions. When a great one gets rolling, the energy inside a stadium shifts. Crowds lean forward. Defenses tighten. Games change. Introduction The 2025 NFL season produced one of the deepest and most entertaining running back races in recent memory, with the league's rushing title decided by the slimmest of margins. James Cook of the Buffalo Bills crossed the finish line first with 1,621 rushing yards, edging Baltimore's Derrick Henry by just 26 yards and Indianapolis's Jonathan Taylor by 36 in the closest three-way battle for the rushing crown the league has seen in decades. The gap between the top three was smaller than the spread between first and third in any year since 2017. That narrow margin tells its own story about the depth at the position right now. Cook, Henry, and Taylor are three completely different backs in terms of age, style, and team context, yet they produced nearly identical volume over 17 games. Behind them, a generation of elite young runners including Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, De'Von Achane, and Kyren Williams is pushing the position toward a level of talent density it has not seen since the early 2000s. Jonathan Taylor led the league in rushing touchdowns with 18 and rushing attempts with 323, and was the undisputed MVP of the position through the first half of the season before a quarterbacks injury in Indianapolis derailed the Colts down the stretch. Derrick Henry, now 32 years old, continued to defy the conventional wisdom about running back aging curves by posting his second consecutive 1,500-yard season in Baltimore. And Gibbs finished the year as arguably the most complete back in the league, combining 1,223 rushing yards and 616 receiving yards for 1,839 total yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns, while setting a career high in catches with 77. Heading into 2026, the conversation at the position is genuinely wide open. Gibbs enters as the betting favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year after David Montgomery was traded to Houston, essentially handing Gibbs the full backfield and a workload that could push into historic territory. Robinson, who led the NFL in scrimmage yards in 2025, is right behind him. McCaffrey, always a threat when healthy, returns to San Francisco. And the veterans Henry, Taylor, and Cook each have compelling cases for continued elite production.

Gibbs entered the season near the top of the OPOY market and remains the shortest-priced candidate. His position reflects both his established production and his central role within Detroit’s offense.

He opened the season with 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns against New Orleans while adding another 30 yards as a receiver. Buffalo contained his rushing production in Detroit’s second game, but Gibbs still contributed 61 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.

That dual rushing and receiving role is particularly relevant to an award based on offensive production. Gibbs does not need to rely exclusively on rushing volume to accumulate yards and touchdowns, which gives him several statistical routes into the OPOY conversation.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Seattle Seahawks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Smith-Njigba is attempting something that has not been accomplished since Marshall Faulk won three consecutive Offensive Player of the Year awards from 1999 through 2001: successfully defending the award.

His opening three games have provided a statistical basis for considering that possibility. Smith-Njigba has recorded 27 receptions for 405 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 135 receiving yards per game.

The start follows a 2025 season in which he led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards on 119 receptions and won OPOY. Rather than beginning 2026 with the statistical regression that can follow a career season, he has initially increased his per-game receiving production.

The historical difficulty of winning consecutive awards remains relevant, but the early production explains why Smith-Njigba has moved from approximately +2000 in the September market to around +500.

Kenneth Walker III – Kansas City Chiefs

kenneth walker - image

Walker has produced one of the largest early movements in the OPOY market. Through three games with Kansas City, he has carried 65 times for 360 yards, an average of 5.5 yards per attempt.

His contribution extends beyond rushing production. Walker has added 82 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, giving him 442 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns through three games.

He opened his Kansas City regular season with 173 rushing yards against Denver, followed with 178 yards from scrimmage against Indianapolis and scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown against Miami. Kansas City has started 3-0, giving Walker both individual production and early team success.

That combination has moved Walker from outside the leading preseason group into the first tier of the current market.

Bijan Robinson – Atlanta Falcons

robinson - image

Robinson entered 2026 after leading the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage in 2025, yet finishing fourth in OPOY voting. His individual production has remained substantial through the first three games.

Robinson has rushed 66 times for 349 yards while adding 118 receiving yards, taking him to 467 yards from scrimmage. His strongest performance came against Green Bay, when he rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries and added 19 receiving yards.

The early complication is Atlanta’s 1-2 record. Robinson demonstrated in 2025 that exceptional individual volume does not necessarily translate directly into first-place OPOY votes when the player’s team is outside the leading group.

Ja’Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals

chase - image

Chase remains among the shorter-priced wide receivers despite beginning the season below Smith-Njigba’s receiving pace. Through three games, he has 18 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns.

His season began with two receptions for 12 yards against Tampa Bay before he responded with seven receptions, 75 yards and two touchdowns against Houston. He then recorded 98 receiving yards and another touchdown against Pittsburgh.

Chase’s established ceiling keeps him prominent in a season-long market, but the current race illustrates how quickly OPOY pricing responds to production. Smith-Njigba’s explosive opening and Walker’s emergence have both pushed ahead of him on the board.

Other 2026 OPOY Contenders

Derrick Henry – Baltimore Ravens

Henry remains within the leading group of OPOY candidates because few running backs offer the same combination of rushing volume and touchdown potential. His route to the award is comparatively straightforward: remain among the league leaders in rushing yards and touchdowns while Baltimore remains competitive.

derrich henry - image

Chris Olave – New Orleans Saints

Olave has emerged as one of the notable receiver movers in the early market. Through three games he has 27 receptions for 375 yards, putting him among the NFL’s leading receivers by both catches and yardage.

The principal difference between Olave and Smith-Njigba so far has been touchdown production. Sustaining his yardage pace while increasing his scoring output would strengthen his statistical profile as the season develops.

chris olave - image

Amon-Ra St. Brown – Detroit Lions

St. Brown remains an important part of the wider OPOY market and has opened the season with substantial scoring production. His candidacy is also directly connected to Gibbs because two leading offensive candidates on the same team can divide attention if both sustain elite production.

amon ra st brown - image

Jonathan Taylor – Indianapolis Colts

Taylor has 258 rushing yards through three games and has already scored four rushing touchdowns, with another touchdown as a receiver. His 325 yards from scrimmage do not currently match Walker, Robinson or Smith-Njigba, but his touchdown production keeps him relevant to the broader race.

Indianapolis faces Washington next, giving Taylor another opportunity to change his position in a market that can move considerably from one week to the next.

jonathan taylor - image

What Matters in the NFL OPOY Race?

The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year award is determined by voting rather than by a fixed statistical formula. No single yardage, touchdown or team-win threshold guarantees the award.

Recent results nevertheless provide useful context for understanding the profiles that have received the most support.

Elite Individual Production

Recent winners have generally produced seasons that place them at or near the top of a major offensive category. Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards in 2025. Saquon Barkley produced a dominant rushing season in 2024. Christian McCaffrey accumulated elite rushing and receiving production in 2023, while Justin Jefferson led the NFL in both receptions and receiving yards in 2022.

For the 2026 field, that makes the league leaderboards particularly relevant. A strong September can establish a candidate, but maintaining that production across the full regular season is considerably more difficult.

Team Performance

Individual statistics remain the foundation of an OPOY case, but recent voting also shows that team context can matter. Players producing elite numbers for successful teams have repeatedly featured prominently in the final vote.

This should not be treated as a formal qualification. There is no minimum number of team wins required to receive the award. It is instead one piece of historical context when comparing players with similar individual production.

Running Backs and Wide Receivers Have Dominated Recent Voting

Patrick Mahomes in 2018 remains the most recent quarterback to win Offensive Player of the Year. Every winner from 2019 through 2025 was either a running back or wide receiver.

That does not prevent a quarterback from winning in 2026, but it explains why the current betting market is concentrated around running backs and receivers while quarterbacks generally have longer prices.

How Is the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Decided?

The Associated Press presents the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award annually. It is separate from the NFL Most Valuable Player award and is intended to recognize outstanding offensive performance.

The modern voting process uses ranked ballots. That distinction matters when reading final results because a player can accumulate support across different positions on voters’ ballots rather than simply winning through a single count of first-place votes.

The award has existed since 1972. Running backs historically account for the largest share of winners, while wide receivers have become increasingly prominent during the modern passing era.

2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Voting

Jaxon Smith-Njigba won the 2025 award after leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards. Christian McCaffrey finished second following a season with 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns, while Puka Nacua and Bijan Robinson were also prominent in the final voting.

Rank Player Team Position Voting Points First-Place Votes
1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seattle Seahawks WR 272 14
2 Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers RB 223 12
3 Puka Nacua Los Angeles Rams WR 170 8
4 Bijan Robinson Atlanta Falcons RB 168 6
5 Drake Maye New England Patriots QB 58 5

2025 OPOY Finalist Statistics

Player Position Key Production Additional Production TDs
Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR 1,793 receiving yards 119 receptions 10 receiving
Christian McCaffrey RB 2,126 scrimmage yards 1,202 rushing yards 17 total
Puka Nacua WR 1,715 receiving yards 129 receptions 10 receiving
Bijan Robinson RB 2,298 scrimmage yards 1,478 rushing yards 13 total
Drake Maye QB 4,394 passing yards 31 passing TDs 31 passing

The 2025 result demonstrates why the OPOY race cannot be reduced to one statistic. Robinson led the league in yards from scrimmage, Nacua led in receptions and McCaffrey exceeded 2,000 yards from scrimmage, yet Smith-Njigba’s league-leading receiving season ultimately received the most voting support.

NFL Offensive Player of the Year Winners

Season Winner Team Position
2025 Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seattle Seahawks WR
2024 Saquon Barkley Philadelphia Eagles RB
2023 Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers RB
2022 Justin Jefferson Minnesota Vikings WR
2021 Cooper Kupp Los Angeles Rams WR
2020 Derrick Henry Tennessee Titans RB
2019 Michael Thomas New Orleans Saints WR
2018 Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs QB
2017 Todd Gurley Los Angeles Rams RB
2016 Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons QB

The recent history is notable for the absence of quarterbacks. Running backs or wide receivers have won each of the seven awards since Mahomes won in 2018.

Smith-Njigba is also attempting to become the first repeat winner since Marshall Faulk, who won the award in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

How NFL OPOY Odds Work

NFL Offensive Player of the Year is a futures market. Sportsbooks publish odds on potential winners before and during the season, with prices changing as new information becomes available.

Positive American odds show the potential profit on a $100 winning wager. For example, +500 represents $500 in potential profit on a $100 stake, plus the original stake returned if the wager wins. A $10 winning wager at the same price would return $60 in total: $50 profit plus the $10 stake.

The price also represents the sportsbook’s market assessment rather than a guaranteed probability. Different sportsbooks can publish different prices for the same player, which is why comparing OPOY odds before placing a wager can matter.

How to Bet on NFL Offensive Player of the Year

  1. Open an account with a regulated sportsbook available in the relevant jurisdiction.
  2. Navigate to the NFL futures or awards section.
  3. Find the NFL Offensive Player of the Year market.
  4. Review the available candidates and current prices.
  5. Compare the same player across sportsbooks where possible.
  6. Select the player to add the wager to the bet slip.
  7. Enter the intended stake and review the odds and potential return.
  8. Confirm the wager only after checking the final details displayed by the sportsbook.

OPOY futures can remain open for much of the regular season, although individual sportsbooks can suspend the market temporarily or change the available selections. Prices generally react to weekly performance, injuries, team results and changes in player workload.

Best Sportsbooks for NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds

NFL award markets are available at a number of regulated sportsbooks. Availability depends on jurisdiction, and individual operators can display different OPOY prices or temporarily remove a market.

The sportsbook sections below provide access to operator information and current offers. When comparing OPOY markets, the relevant consideration is the price available for the same player at the time the wager is being considered.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook lists NFL futures and award markets, including Offensive Player of the Year when available in the customer’s jurisdiction. Prices can move throughout the regular season as the award race develops.

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook offers NFL futures and player-award markets in eligible jurisdictions. Its OPOY price for an individual player can differ from competing sportsbooks as the season progresses.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook provides NFL futures markets in supported states, including player awards when listed. Customers can compare its current OPOY prices with those offered elsewhere before selecting a market.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook lists a range of NFL futures in eligible jurisdictions. OPOY markets can be compared alongside other season-long player and team markets.

bet365 Sportsbook

bet365 Sportsbook provides NFL futures and award markets where permitted. Its current price can be checked against other sportsbooks when comparing OPOY candidates.

BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers Sportsbook offers NFL futures in supported jurisdictions. Market availability and OPOY prices can change during the season.

Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock Bet provides NFL futures and player-award markets where available. Customers should check the Sportsbook directly for the current OPOY selections and prices available in their jurisdiction.

2026 NFL OPOY FAQs

Who is the favorite to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2026?

Jahmyr Gibbs is the current betting favorite, with prices around +300 to +330 across the market as of October 2, 2026. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is immediately behind him after recording 405 receiving yards and six touchdowns through Seattle’s first three games.

Who won NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2025?

Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba won the 2025 Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. He finished the regular season with 119 receptions for an NFL-leading 1,793 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.

Can Jaxon Smith-Njigba win OPOY in consecutive seasons?

Yes. There is no rule preventing consecutive awards. It is historically uncommon, however. Marshall Faulk was the most recent player to win consecutive OPOY awards, taking the honor three straight times from 1999 through 2001.

What does OPOY mean in the NFL?

OPOY means Offensive Player of the Year. The Associated Press award recognizes outstanding offensive performance during the NFL season.

Is NFL OPOY the same as NFL MVP?

No. Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player are separate Associated Press awards. A player can receive votes for both, but the awards are decided independently.

When is NFL Offensive Player of the Year announced?

The award is announced after the regular season as part of the NFL’s annual awards presentation. Sportsbooks can continue adjusting OPOY futures throughout the regular season before closing the market.

Can a quarterback win Offensive Player of the Year?

Yes. Quarterbacks are eligible to win OPOY. Patrick Mahomes was the most recent quarterback winner in 2018. Running backs and wide receivers have won every edition since then.

Do NFL OPOY odds change during the season?

Yes. OPOY odds can change substantially as player statistics, injuries, workload and team results develop. Smith-Njigba provides an early 2026 example: his price shortened considerably after producing 405 receiving yards and six touchdowns through three games.

Why are NFL OPOY odds different between sportsbooks?

Each sportsbook sets and adjusts its own market. The same player can therefore have different odds at different operators at the same time. Comparing available prices allows the bettor to see those differences before placing a wager.

What positions usually win NFL Offensive Player of the Year?

Running backs have won the award most frequently over its history, while wide receivers have become increasingly prominent. Every winner from 2019 through 2025 was either a running back or wide receiver.

Is NFL Offensive Player of the Year a futures bet?

Yes. OPOY is a season-long futures market. A wager is settled according to the eventual award result under the sportsbook’s applicable market rules.

Odds and markets are subject to change. Sports betting is only available where legal and to customers who meet the applicable age and location requirements. Review the terms displayed by the sportsbook before placing a wager and gamble responsibly.

About the Author: Brent Booher

Die-hard sports fan and overall lover of everything sports betting. Best bet ever placed was a $20 wager on Manchester United to win by the exact score of 3-1 in the 2019 Champions League at 80:1.

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