Now that we’re one-third of the way into the 2025 NFL regular season, there are three topics everyone’s bringing up around the water cooler:
- K-balls
- The new kick-off rules
- Injured quarterbacks
That last topic is nothing new for this time of year, but how often do people get this passionate about kicking?
Between all those 60-yard field goals and plentiful kick-off returns, special teams are suddenly back in vogue. The kickers and returners don’t qualify for the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award, but they’ll have an outsized role in determining this year’s winner – especially now that injured QBs like Lamar Jackson are off the NFL 2025-26 Offensive Player of the Year odds board at most sportsbooks.
2025-26 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Players to Watch
Granted, quarterbacks tend to be de-emphasized for this particular award; they’re usually named Most Valuable Player instead, leaving running backs and wide receivers as the most likely OPOY winners. But just by looking at the NFL Offensive Player of the Year betting odds, you can see how running backs have taken over the conversation – none more so than our top favorite heading into Week 7.
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts | +210 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle Seahawks | +500 |
| Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons | +600 |
Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (+210)
It certainly helps his cause that the Colts (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) have gotten off to this hot start behind new QB Daniel Jones, but yes, Taylor is the engine driving this offense.
He leads the NFL at press time in carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and TDs from scrimmage – just like Taylor did in 2021 when he finished second for Offensive POY behind then-Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp.
Here’s the thing: Taylor has fattened up this year on some poor rush defenses. And he’s got some more feeding to do, with the Atlanta Falcons coming up in Week 10 and Kansas City in Week 11.
Life gets tougher after that, but Taylor may have already run away with this award by then, at least in the minds of the voters.
Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+500)
Or will that same Taylor/Kupp dynamic play out four years later?
The voters in question are the Associated Press, specifically a nationwide panel of NFL reporters; they never gave credit to wide receivers, Jerry Rice (1987,1993) being the lone exception – until New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas broke the dam in 2019, followed by Kupp in 2021 and Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson in 2022.
Kupp is now a distant second to Smith-Njigba on Seattle’s WR chart, but the allure will be the same with JSN.
At press time, Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 116.0 receiving yards per game and 12.4 yards per target. Everyone digs the long ball. However, the Seahawks have some difficult pass defenses coming up with the Texans this Monday night and the Vikings in Week 13.
It’ll take a lot for Smith-Njigba to beat those coverages and the national media’s inherent East Coast bias.
Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson (+600)
It’s a logjam for third place on the NFL Awards odds board.
Depending on where you shop, you might see Rams WR Puka Nacua or San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey at +600, but we’re elevating Robinson above both at this price. The Falcons are leaning more and more on Robinson in his third year as a pro – especially in the flat, where he’s racked up an eye-popping 15.0 yards per catch.
If only Robinson didn’t play for the Falcons (2-2 SU and ATS). It’s possible they’ll get their act together and make some noise in the NFC South, but Tampa Bay (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) seems to have a lock on that division. Maybe a big game against the Dolphins in Week 8 will help Robinson’s cause.
What We’ve Covered, and Next Steps
There’s a big drop from the players we’ve just mentioned to guys like Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown at +2200, so chances are you’ll see the media conversation grow even tighter around the top favorites.
Smith-Njigba might have the most betting value within the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds, before the larger national media catches on; make sure you sign up for multiple sports betting accounts so you can grab JSN while he’s still available at a bargain price.
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*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-GAMBLER*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
