NFL Football Betting Feature - Rookie of the Year Futures
by BetUS Staff
With NFL training camps set to open in the coming weeks it’s time for football betting favorite win again, or will an underdog step up in his first season in the pro ranks?
The current Oakland Raiders, should get the chance to make his mark right away for the awful Raiders. One important thing to note about McFadden is that he’s already been signed. Oakland learned their lesson from JaMarcus Russell’s long holdout last season and signed McFadden not long after the draft. McFadden may start the season sharing carries with Justin Fargas, but it’s unlikely things will stay that way. Remember, Peterson began last season as Chester Taylor’s backup before he forced the Vikings to make him the starter by outplaying the veteran.
Following McFadden is another rookie running back, Felix Jones, at +450 on the NFL odds. The Cowboys took Jones 22nd overall in the draft and it looks like he’ll be Marion Barber’s backup this season. However, this will be Barber’s first season as the Cowboys’ true starting back, as he had been sharing carries with the departed Julius Jones. If the heavier workload gets to Barber, Jones could see a fair share of the work and get a real shot at the ROTY award.
A pair of defensive rookies share the next spot on the NFL sportsbook odds, with Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey both coming in at +500. Long, the second overall pick by St. Louis, should get the chance to make a name for himself right away in the Rams’ awful defense, while Dorsey could be a great fit on the Chiefs’ defensive line. It isn’t always easy for a defensive player to stand out over a high-performance rookie on the other side of the ball, but it has been done. In fact, Shawne Merriman took home ROTY honors in 2005. In other words, don’t count out Long or Dorsey just because they play defense.
One darkhorse pick NFL football betting faithful may want to think about is Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall. There’s a good chance Mendenhall could be a touchdown machine for the Steelers, while occupying a similar role to that of Jerome Bettis during his final season in Steeltown. Willie Parker will remain the No. 1 back in Pittsburgh, but last season that meant only two TDs in 15 games. If Mendenhall can make the most of his carries and put up big TD numbers he could steal ROTY honors this season.
The 2008 Super Bowl XLII and beyond!
