Browns' Shedeur Sanders Preseason Performance Triggers Increase in Betting Odds
Shedeur Sanders Makes a Splash in NFL Preseason Debut, Yet OROY Odds Remain Long
Shedeur Sanders, the fifth-round pick for the Cleveland Browns, made his NFL debut in the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, and his performance did not disappoint. The young quarterback completed 14 out of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, contributing to a 30-10 victory for the Browns.
Despite this promising start, Sanders' betting odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY) remain long. Before his debut, Sanders was already the most-bet player to win OROY on FanDuel, with odds ranging around +1800 to +4000 depending on the sportsbook.
Initially, Caesars Sportsbook listed him with the eighth-shortest odds at +1800, better than some other rookie QBs like Jaxson Dart (+1800) and behind higher favorites like Cam Ward (+300). However, after an oblique injury and Joe Flacco being named the Browns' Week 1 starting quarterback, Sanders' odds dropped significantly to +4000 at DraftKings.
At FanDuel, Sanders was +1100 to be the Browns' Week 1 starter but was a longer shot compared to veterans. The surge in betting interest for Sanders to win OROY was reported by Covers on Monday, with DraftKings, ESPN Bet, and BetMGM also reporting an increase in bets on Sanders. FanDuel reported that Sanders received 15% of the bets and 20% of the handle for OROY before and after his debut game.
Kenny Pickett and rookie Dillon Gabriel, who are nursing bruises, also block Sanders' path to offensive rookie glory. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com stated that Sanders' debut was "exciting and promising," but he is still considered a long shot to beat out Joe Flacco and win the starting job less than a month away.
The surge in betting interest indicates that many fans believe Sanders will become a regular starter and play a starring role for the Cleveland Browns this season. In fact, Nike used Sanders' debut performance to create a viral marketing post. Sanders still has a long way to go before he can go head-to-head with Burrow in the opener and then venture into M&T Bank Stadium against the Ravens' vaunted defense.
Sanders, the son of a former NFL great, has a lot to prove in the coming weeks. Only time will tell if he can rise through the ranks and become a serious contender for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Sports bettors continue to show faith in Shedeur Sanders' potential, despite his long Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY) odds, as he has been the most-bet player on FanDuel for the award. Despite a promising preseason debut, Sanders must work his way up the depth chart, possibly competing against Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Joe Flacco, to prove his worth and contend for the OROY award.
