Jaxson Dart's debut boosts him into OROY contention
When Jaxson Dart ran a quarterback draw into the end zone for his first career touchdown in his debut against the Chargers on Sunday, fantasies of the future flashed before Giants fans' eyes. New York supporters have caught glimpses of potential saviors before - like Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, to name a couple who ultimately couldn't rescue the franchise.
Head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen drafted Dart 25th overall in hopes of helping the franchise escape the despair of the better part of the last decade - and to help save their jobs. Dart delivered in his debut, leading the Giants to an upset win over the undefeated Chargers. The win sent Dart's Offensive Rookie of the Year stock skyrocketing.
Offensive Rookie of the Year odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Emeka Egbuka | +260 |
| Ashton Jeanty | +375 |
| Jaxson Dart | +450 |
| Omarion Hampton | +500 |
| Tyler Warren | +1000 |
| Quinshon Judkins | +1600 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | +1600 |
| Cam Skattebo | +2000 |
| Cam Ward | +2500 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | +2500 |
| Matthew Golden | +4000 |
| Travis Hunter | +5000 |
π Check out full awards odds on ESPN BET and theScore Bet here
Nobody knew when Dart would play this season after Russell Wilson began the year as Giants starter. Coaches often find it beneficial to wait to start a rookie, giving him more time to develop. However, the losses piled up for the Giants, and Wilson's failing arm was a major reason why. As Daboll's already scorching seat grew even warmer, he had no choice but to start his rookie against the NFL's fourth-best scoring defense - and the decision paid off.
Dart wasn't incredible by any stretch of the imagination. He went 13-for-20 for 111 yards, rushed for 54 yards, and had one passing and rushing touchdown. Most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over.
As Giants fans rejoiced in watching Dart lead New York to a win, so did the waves of bettors who wagered on him to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Dart, who was tied for the 10th-best odds at the start of the season at +2500, garnered by far the most money in the market and the second-most bets on ESPN BET and theScore Bet. Since he was announced as the starter last Tuesday, over 30% of the bets and money wagered on the Offensive Rookie of the Year were placed on Dart.
While Dart's odds were +2500 when the season kicked off, they grew as long as +4000 on Sept. 15 after Wilson threw for 450 yards against the Cowboys. By the time Dart was officially announced as the starter, the price had been cut to +1100 and continued to shrink. Once the dust settled from his debut, he was +450 to win the award behind Ashton Jeanty and Emeka Egbuka.
Dart must perform at a consistent level and lead the Giants to more wins to earn the award in a crowded field. He's one of just two first-round rookie quarterbacks, and Cam Ward hasn't impressed in September. Meanwhile, in a down season for first-year passers, some skill-position players have made immediate impacts.
Egbuka, the 19th overall pick, was +2000 to win the honor before the season. The Buccaneers wide receiver has emerged as Baker Mayfield's top weapon in a pass-heavy offense, leading Tampa Bay in touchdowns, yards, and targets. Tight end Tyler Warren has also been a force as a pass-catcher for the Colts, although his statistics don't match Egbuka's.
Running backs Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton are already key pieces in their offenses. The rookie rushers have similar numbers and should be featured even more as the season progresses. Jeanty has rushed for 282 yards and two touchdowns on 68 carries for the Raiders, while Hampton has rushed for 270 yards and two touchdowns on 54 carries with the Chargers.
Egbuka, Jeanty, and Hampton have large enough sample sizes to persuade us they'll be in the mix for this award at the end of the season. Dart's debut provided optimism, but he needs more than one encouraging performance on his resume before he's truly part of the discussion.
Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.
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