San Francisco wideout De’Zhaun Stribling is getting an insane amount of love for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, completely blowing past the early favorites. Seriously, the guy is taking the heaviest action at BetMGM, which is a wild surprise to anyone watching the draft just a few months ago. It’s clear the betting public has a new favorite, and he isn’t who most people expected.
The Stribling Hype Train Has Left the Station
Why the sudden surge for a second-round pick? Are we talking about some hidden gem here? Stribling was the first pick in Round 2, landing at No. 33 overall for the Niners. Yeah, that was after San Francisco shrewdly traded down twice, scooping up even more picks. You know they needed a game-breaking wideout, and man, did Stribling ever deliver in college! At Ole Miss, he was a total big-play machine, racking up 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns. And talk about speed, the guy blazed a ridiculous 4.36 40-yard dash! He’s got that burst, that separation, that makes defenses absolutely sweat. It’s no joke, BetMGM is actually ‘exposed’ on Stribling, meaning he’s drawing the most tickets and handle for the award. That’s a huge vote of confidence from the betting public, and it means people are seeing something truly special in this kid, not just some pre-season flash.
Early Favorites Are Fading Fast
Now, let’s talk about the so-called favorites who are absolutely NOT getting the action from the smart money. Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, drafted No. 3 overall, opened as the +300 favorite, but his odds have ballooned all the way up to +500. Why? A brutal high-ankle sprain suffered in the preseason opener against Mendoza’s Raiders! Talk about a terrible break before the season even begins. He did look good in limited action, we’re talking 11 rushes for 58 yards and three catches for 14 yards, but he’s a true 50/50 shot to be ready for their Sept. 13 opener against the Chargers. That’s a huge question mark hanging over a guy who was supposed to be the featured back from day one.
Then there’s Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, now sitting at +550. This guy ‘had some issues’ in his three preseason games, and get this, he’s going to be Kirk Cousins’ backup to open the season! Plus, the Raiders’ offensive line is a ‘major question mark,’ which is a nightmare scenario for any rookie QB, let alone one trying to win a major award. The biggest kicker? Neither Love nor Mendoza is even in the top three for tickets or handle at BetMGM. Yeah, the ‘favorites’ might not even see the field Week 1! That’s why the money is flowing elsewhere, straight to Stribling.
The preseason’s officially wrapped up, Seattle, and the regular season is staring us right in the face! It all kicks off a week from Wednesday right here in the Emerald City, which is awesome. Everyone’s buzzing for those first games to actually count. Will Stribling prove all the bettors right and explode out of the gate, making those top-tier picks look totally silly? Or will Love and Mendoza somehow overcome their brutal early hurdles and remind everyone why they were drafted so high? It’s going to be absolutely wild to see who actually steps up when it counts in the regular season. This is what early season football is all about, folks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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