Broncos’ Phillip Lindsay a Top Contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year

• Denver RB Phillip Lindsay is the first undrafted player to log 100-plus scrimmage yards in each of his first two NFL games
• No undrafted player has ever been named NFL OROY
• RBs have won the award in three of the last five seasons

Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay wasn’t one of the 256 players who heard their name called during the 2018 NFL draft. 

Yet two weeks into the season, just two players are being given a better chance at winning the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year award than Lindsay in the future book wager.

Average 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Last week it was Broncos’ rookie running back Royce Freeman making his way up the board of top contenders for the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but he’s become a bit of an afterthought after Phillip Lindsay put forth another exciting performance in Week 2.

It may be the first time Lindsay is receiving odds to win the award, but certainly doubt it’ll be the last.

Odds to Win NFL OROY in 2018

*Follow the link in the table for more options

Does Lindsay Have A Chance?

Despite a Week 2 loss to Miami, New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold remains the chalk at +125, followed by New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley at +175.

It might seem a tall order to expect Lindsay to outshine the second (Barkley) and third (Darnold) picks of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Denver back does have some interesting trends in his corner, though.

For starters, running backs have won the award in three of the past five seasons. There were five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the draft.  The last time that happened in 1999, a running back – Edgerrin James –  won OROY.

These factoids could just as easily leave you leaning toward Barkley, so here’s a couple more tidbits to throw shade on that notion. 

Since 2006, only one RB drafted in the top seven picks has won OROY – Adrian Peterson in 2007. And neither of the last two OROY selections – Alvin Kamara (third round) and Dak Prescott (fourth round)  – were highly thought of on draft day.

Denver Has Done It Before

Granted, neither of those guys went undrafted like Lindsay – in fact no OROY in the history of the award was an undrafted player.

But here’s one last nugget of knowledge to chew on that falls somewhat into Lindsay’s corner. In 2000, Denver running back Mike Anderson, the 189th pick in the draft, won the OROY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTBnm05y37U

He’s the latest-drafted player to earn the honor. Three of the four players chosen the latest in their draft year to win the NFL OROY also played RB – Washington’s Mike Thomas (108th overall) in 1975 and San Diego’s Don Woods  (134th overall) in 1974. 

Denver’s Hometown Hero

Lindsay ran for 71 yards on 15 carries in his debut against Seattle. He also caught two passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. 

Lindsay followed up with 107 yards rushing and one catch for four yards in their win over Oakland, as the Broncos improved to 2-0.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEcHUf-gF2I

He may have been overlooked on draft day, but Denver didn’t have to look far to find him. Born in Aurora, Col., Lindsay attended Denver’s South High School. He finished as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,587 yards.

Playing his college ball for the Colorado Buffaloes, Lindsay is CU’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards (5,926) and yards from scrimmage (4,849).

Can Lindsay Win OROY?

Currently third in the NFL in rushing with 175 yards, at 5-8 and 190 pounds, Lindsay isn’t the type of back who will see a ton of carries. He’ll need to continue to make every touch count. And it will be difficult to maintain his 6.1 yards per carry as teams get more film on him and unearth some of Lindsay’s tendencies. 

Interestingly, both Lindsay and Barkley have 29 carries through two games. Logically, you’d have to think Barkley will eventually find his groove. He was a prohibitive favorite to be NFL OROY in the preseason.

On the other hand, if the Giants continue to struggle and the Broncos keep rolling, that could work in Lindsay’s favor. 

Don’t put a ton of money down on Lindsay to win the NFL OROY. But at this stage and those odds, a small wager could return a big dividend down the road.