The NFL Comeback Player of the Year voting procedure was clarified by the Associated Press on Tuesday:
The goal of the AP Comeback Player of the Year award is to recognise a player who has overcome adversity by winning an award and going on to play despite missing time due to illness, injury, or other reasons in the previous season. Although the decision to offer this advise was made in December of last year, the season was nearly over when it was decided to implement it for the 2023 awards.
The main idea being conveyed here is that of a player recovering from an illness or injury, which is undoubtedly motivated by Joe Flacco’s late-season arrival and subsequent “come back” to preserve the Cleveland Browns’ season.
We must adjust our strategy in light of this explanation for the NFL futures market. This implies that players like Bryce Young (+4000), Justin Fields (+3500), Sam Darnold (+2000), and Russell Wilson (+1200) are no longer good bets to win this prize.
Even though it might make it harder for us to uncover some true gems for Comeback Player of the Year, it does make things lot simpler in other respects and highlights a few noteworthy possibilities.
Since quarterbacks have won this award five times in a row, it appears that we are overdue for a return to recognising other positions. However, there were no quarterback winners from 2014 to 2017.
Despite being one of the top running backs in the NFL, Nick Chubb was limited to just two games last season due to a horrific leg injury that terminated his season before it really got started.
Chubb ought to be in the running if he returns to full strength and resumes his 1500+ yard, 10+ touchdown productivity, as Cleveland has demonstrated a preference for running games.
If Chubb has a solid first half of the season and is competing for the running title, this cost would probably be reduced.
