NFL OPOY Predictions

<p>At the conclusion of the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/nfl">NFL</a> season, the Associated Press (AP) takes it upon themselves to award the league’s most skilled attacking player with the Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) award.</p> <p>With so much elite offensive talent spread across the 32 NFL franchises, this has always been a tricky market to navigate. Luckily for all you Sportsbet punters out there, we’ve created a detailed OPOY prediction guide to help you get more bang for your buck on one of the NFL’s most captivating markets.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>What Is The Offensive Player Of The Year Award?</h3> <p>Since 1972 the Associated Press have awarded the Offensive Player of the Year award to the player they deemed to have had the most outstanding attacking output that season.</p> <p>Voted for by a nationwide panel of sports writers this individual award is considered to be one of the most prestigious in the game. Every winner of OPOY has either been a running back or a quarterback, except on three occasions where it was awarded to wide receivers. That should give punters a good indication of where to lay their bets with this trend expected to continue for the 2022 edition of the trophy.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Who Won Offensive Player Of The Year Last Season?</h3> <p><strong><em>Cooper Kupp</em></strong></p> <p>The winner of the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year was Cooper Kupp who plays for the Los Angeles Rams.&nbsp;</p> <p>Surprisingly Kupp plays as a wide receiver, therefore bucking the running back/quarterback OPOY trend and becoming just the third wide receiver in history to claim the award.&nbsp;</p> <p>As with most recipients of OPOY, Kupp was instrumental in helping his team win the Super Bowl. On the way to Super Bowl glory Kupp topped the league in four key offensive categories: receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), receiving touchdowns (16), and receiving yards per game (114.5). A truly incredible individual season caped off with one of the most coveted individual prizes in the NFL.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Offensive Player Of The Year Predictions</h3> <p><strong><em>Tyreek Hill</em></strong></p> <p>Considered by many as one the favourite for OPOY, Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill will be looking to become just the fourth wide receiver in history to win the award.&nbsp;</p> <p>If he does win it will mark the first time in history that OPOY has gone to a wide receiver in consecutive seasons. Hill has slowed down a little after a blistering start to the season, but still finds himself at the right end of the charts in both receiving yards and touchdowns.</p> <p><em><strong>Justin Jefferson</strong></em></p> <p>The OPOY narrative may well and truly be shifting away from QBs and RBs with another wide receiver staking his claim for the coveted trophy.&nbsp;</p> <p>Justin Jefferson has been in scintillating form with the ball in hand this season for the Minnesota Vikings and currently leads the league in receiving yards.&nbsp;</p> <p>His biggest detractor in his OPOY pursuit is the fact he is not as prolific in the end zone as some of his competitors. Jefferson has scored eight touchdowns in 2022 a fine effort but one that finds ten other players ahead of him.</p> <p><em><strong>Jalen Hurts</strong></em></p> <p>The centrepiece of the Philadelphia Eagles offence, quarterback Jalen Hurts has been in commanding form to lead his team to the top of the National Football Conference East.&nbsp;</p> <p>His game has become much more balanced and well-rounded this season and seems to be doing a bit of everything for the Eagles.&nbsp;</p> <p>While he does not stand alone at the top of a specific offensive metric, his strong showing across the board has put his name well and truly in the OPOY conversation - a jack of all trades instead of a master of one.</p> <p><em><strong>Patrick Mahomes</strong></em></p> <p>As a man who needs little introduction and is widely considered to be the best quarterback in the NFL at the moment, Patrick Mahomes was always going to feature on this list.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mahomes already has a OPOY title to his name, taking home the award in 2018. Don’t be surprised to see the Kansas City man double down come season’s end, his output so far this season has been truly mind-blowing.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mahomes currently leads the NFL in a host of categories including yards and touchdowns thrown. While he has thrown 12 interceptions, this one negative is thoroughly outweighed by the numerous positive attacking stats attached to his name.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Under The Radar Option</h3> <p><em><strong>Josh Allen</strong></em></p> <p>A one man show at times this season, quarterback Josh Allen has been at the forefront of the Buffalo Bill’s remarkable season.&nbsp;</p> <p>Allen has thrown an impressive 35 touchdowns (the second most in the NFL) to fire the Bills to the top of the American Football Conference East. While he may not get the same plaudits as other glamour QBs like Mahomes and Brady, Allen has proved this season he is up there with the very best and if he can lead his team all the way to the Super Bowl, there is no reason why he can’t be crowned Offensive Player of the Year.</p>