Why Clyde Edwards-Helaire Could Win the 2020 NFL Offensive ROY

The race for the 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is on. Kyler Murray won the award last year but will be passing the torch with a new first-year player ready to impress in 2020.

Bettors should be getting excited about the possibilities, too. The 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds  are out, which means you can actively bet on who will win.

Bengals franchise passer Joe Burrow is the early favorite at BetOnline (+250), but bettors seeking a little more value may want to stretch their neck.

That could lead them to one of Burrow’s former LSU teammates in Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who holds the second-best odds at +400.

Burrow makes perfect sense as the favorite, but could Edwards-Helaire have a strong case to be his main competition? Logic suggests yes, and here are three reasons why he just might stage the upset.

The main thing going for CEH is that he’ll be rolling onto the field with the NFL’s best quarterback in 2020.

The reigning Super Bowl MVP and 2018 league MVP, Patrick Mahomes is easily the most talented passer in the NFL these days, and he’ll be primed for another amazing year.

If Mahomes is to succeed — and Edwards-Helaire has a big role — it only makes sense that the former LSU star will benefit from it.

Mahomes put up 50 touchdowns two seasons ago. Whoever is on the field at the same time as him is a threat to do serious damage. If that’s CEH, he could be in for quite the rookie year.

Unsure of the impact Edwards-Helaire can make in 2020? Look no further than what Damien Williams accomplished with the Chiefs last year.

Williams got off to a slow start and battled injuries, but he also had a touchdown in eight games on the year, including an elite run during the playoffs.

He also totaled 80+ yards six different times, putting on display the impact a versatile running back can have in this system. And while Williams is a solid player with nice speed, he was undrafted coming out of Oklahoma.

Edwards-Helaire has a better pedigree, and KC went out of their way, trading back into round one, to draft him.

Damien Williams is far from the first running back to thrive in an Andy Reid-led offense. The reality is, Williams was never a feature back, and at 28, he probably isn’t now, either.

But what about the stars that came before him in this system? Remember the days of Brian Westbrook dominating in Philadelphia? How about LeSean McCoy? Jamaal Charles was a monster under Reid’s watch, too.

Reid has always run running back-friendly offensive systems, taking advantage of speed, open space, and versatility. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a potential feature back that proved in 2016 that he can get it done as both a runner and receiver.

In this system, Edwards-Helaire may do more than just “get it done.”

Banking on Edwards-Helaire blowing up in year one still isn’t easy to go all-in on, of course. Damien Williams is still there, while Darwin Thompson flashed ability as a rookie last year and could also vie for a role.

That said, the Chiefs traded up and got their guy when they snatched Edwards-Helaire with the last pick of round one. They didn’t do that to have him sit, so whether his role is massive or complementary, bettors can probably assume he has a shot to make some noise this season.

Not sure about betting on Clyde Edwards-Helaire? Totally understandable. Consider all options, the latest odds, and our final NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year predictions by bookmarking our NFL betting blog.