2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds Favor Derrick Henry to Bounce Back

With Week 1 of the NFL preseason officially kicking off this week, football fans are thrilled knowing that the 2022 regular season is about a month away. One aspect of the year that a portion of fans is looking forward to is seeing who is named this campaign’s NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

It’s an award that’s tough to predict considering that there aren’t exact criteria for how it’s handed out. Nevertheless, it’s usually given to a player who suffered a major injury in the previous year, only to bounce back to prominence.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow took home the honors last year after tearing his MCL and ACL as a rookie. The injury didn’t limit his upside as a sophomore, though, as he threw for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in 16 games.

Thankfully, BetOnline Sportsbook’s Comeback Player of the Year betting odds help to identify some of the major players in the race. Here’s a look at the latest odds, as well as some players who stand out above the rest.

2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds

All odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 10:11 a.m. ET.

• Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans (+400)
• Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints (+500)
• Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (+800)
• Baker Mayfield, Carolina Panthers (+1000)
• Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints (+1600)
• Chase Young, Washington Commanders (+1600)
• Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (+1600)
• JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs (+2000)
• Daniel Jones, New York Giants (+2000)
• Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (+2000)
• Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons (+2000)
• Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams (+2500)
• J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens (+2500)
• Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars (+3000)
• Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3000)
• Drew Lock, Seattle Seahawks (+4000)
• Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams (+4000)

2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Candidates

Derrick Henry (+400)

Leading the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year race is none other than Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. The former Crimson Tide product was on pace for another historic year in 2021 before a foot fracture prematurely ended his regular season.

Fortunately, Henry seems to be fully recovered and poised to pick up from where he left off. Before his injury, he was actually leading the NFL with 937 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 219 carries over eight games. Had he stayed healthy, he would’ve come close to passing the 2,000-yard mark for the second straight year.

Henry is the centerpiece of the Titans’ offense and they’ll give him every opportunity to bounce back this year. They may lower his carries to avoid another significant injury, but Henry is an absolute beast that can make the most of any number of carries that he’s given.

As long as the run game is still Tennessee’s No. 1 priority, there’s a very good chance that Henry will bounce back and steal the Comeback Player honors.

Jameis Winston (+500)

Jameis Winston joined the New Orleans Saints a few years ago, hoping that they could help turn around his career. When he was finally handed the starting quarterback role last year, he was playing quite well until a torn ACL cut his season short.

Fast forward to 2022 and now Winston owns the second-best NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds. The good news for him is that the Saints have provided him with a pass-catching group that should help him rebound.

Superstar wideout Michael Thomas — who missed the entire 2021 campaign with an ankle injury — is back and ready to be one of the best weapons that Winston has played with. Furthermore, the Saints signed veteran WR Jarvis Landry in free agency while also using a first-round pick on former Ohio State wideout Chris Olave.

Throw RB Alvin Kamara into the mix and there really isn’t any excuse for Winston not to succeed. He had 1,170 passing yards and 14 TDs to just three INTs in seven games last year. If he can pick up from where he left off, Winston should remain at the forefront of this award conversation.

Christian McCaffrey (+800)

Christian McCaffrey is easily one of the top dual-threat RBs in the league — if not the very best. The only issue is that health has been a major problem for him over the last two seasons, playing just 10 games over that stretch.

Between ankle and hamstring injuries, McCaffrey played just seven games in 2021. Having said that, he recorded 785 total yards from scrimmage and two TDs on 136 opportunities (99 carries, 37 receptions), putting him on pace for just over 1,900 yards on a 17-game schedule.

While the Panthers have solid offensive contributors like DJ Moore and Robbie Anderson, McCaffrey is the straw that stirs the drink. He also gets to work with Baker Mayfield, who should be an upgrade over the QBs that Carolina has fielded in recent years.

If McCaffrey can stay healthy and pull off the type of performances that he’s none for, a 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year campaign is within the realm of possibility.

Michael Thomas (+1600)

Winston isn’t the only NFL Comeback Player of the Year candidate on the Saints’ roster. The aforementioned Thomas also has some of the better odds, clocking in at +1600.

It’s been quite some time since fans have seen the veteran WR playing meaningful football. The former NFL Offensive Player of the Year’s 2020 came to an early end due to an ankle injury before an offseason setback last year kept him out of the entire 2021 campaign.

Fortunately, there’s a sense of positivity in New Orleans. While Thomas isn’t a full training camp participant just yet, the Saints expect him to be a full-go for Week 1. If he can even come somewhat close to the player we last saw, he should be in the thick of this award race.

Thomas paced the NFL in receptions (149) and receiving yards (1,725) the last time we saw him. That sort of production will be tough to replicate, but he should finish well over the 1,000-yard mark as long as he stays healthy and has chemistry with Winston.

A healthy Thomas is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Only time will tell if he can get back to that level this fall.

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