After being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 1 pick in this year's NFL Draft, quarterback Jameis Winston has emerged as a 4/1 favorite to claim 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in NFL player props betting at the online sportsbooks.
The 21 year-old native of Hueytown, Alabama was a standout with the Florida State Seminoles, leading them to 29 straight wins during his two-year tenure as the school's starter, including a national championship victory in 2014. Winston also took home Heisman Trophy honors in 2013.
But despite his outstanding performance on the field, Winston has been involved in a number of off-field incidents during his time in Tallahassee which have brought his character and ability to succeed in the NFL into question.
Winston is closely trailed in Rookie of the Year props betting by San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, who owns strong 7/1 odds.
Taken 15th overall in this year's Draft, Gordon led the nation with an impressive 2587 rushing yards, to go along with 29 TD's last season, his senior year with the Wisconsin Badgers.
After recently signing a four-year contract wiith the Chargers worth a guaranteed $10.67 million, Gordon can now focus on lifting San Diego to just their second playoff berth in the last six years.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper rounds out the NFL player props betting favorites, at 15/2.
Selected fourth overall by the struggling Oakland Raiders, Cooper is coming off an impressive junior campaign with the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he tallied 1727 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 124 catches.
However, much of Cooper's success in his rookie NFL campaign will depend on who is throwing him the ball. QB Derek Carr was a revelation for the Raiders last season, but is currently sidelined with a hand injury that could be a cause for concern if it lingers into the summer.
Five players follow at 10/1, most notably Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota.
Winner of the 2014 Heisman Trophy, Mariota was dominant in leading the Oregon Ducks to this year's national championship game, where they fell 42-20 to the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Honolulu native threw for an eye-popping 4454 yards and 42 TD's while rushing for an additional 15 TD's last season, and now holds the future of the Titans franchise in his grasp.
Mariota is joined at 10/1 by Baltimore Ravens WR Breshad Perriman, Chicago Bears WR Kevin White, Philadelphia Eagles WR Nelson Agholor, and Jacksonville Jaguars RB TJ Yeldon, while St. Louis Rams RB Todd Gurley follows at an intriguing 12/1.
Gurley was pegged as a clear Heisman Trophy favorite with the Georgia Bulldogs in 2014 before seeing his junior season end prematurely as the result of a torn ACL.
