Ja'Marr Chase Deserves to Be Outright Favorite in Rookie of the Year Odds

Remember when we were all worried about Ja’Marr Chase dropping passes in the preseason? 

That seems like ages ago, as the rookie wideout has been the best offensive player in his class so far this year, and it’s not even that close. 

Chase has either caught a touchdown or gone over 77 receiving yards in every game this season, and he was the favorite in the last edition of WynnBET’s Offensive Rookie of the Year odds at +350. 

With rookie quarterbacks struggling to win and put up numbers this season, I’m starting to think that Chase should be the outright favorite to win the award until proven otherwise. 

The last wideout to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award was Odell Beckham Jr. in the 2014 season. Here’s how Chase’s numbers compare to Bekcham’s through the first six games of their respective careers.

Ja’Marr Chase vs. Odell Beckham Jr. Rookie Seasons (First Six Games)

Catches: 

• Chase: 27
• Beckham Jr.: 31

Receiving Yards: 

• Chase: 553
• Beckham Jr.: 463

Touchdowns: 

• Chase: 5
• Beckham Jr.: 3

Yeah, Chase has been that good. 

The Cincinnati Bengals are 4-2 this season and Joe Burrow has already thrown more touchdowns this year than he did all of last season. It’s hard not to attribute a bunch of that success to Chase, and he’s quickly established himself as one of the game’s best young wideouts. 

Unless one of these rookie quarterbacks, or maybe Najee Harris, goes on a tear the rest of the season, this is Chase’s award to lose until further notice.