Forget the long shot bets, because Patrick Mahomes is already running away with the 2026 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, clocking in as a heavy -300 favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 15. The dude tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15 last season, but through just four weeks this year, he’s basically been a cheat code.
Mahomes: Back From Surgery, Balling Out Like Crazy
Let’s rewind a sec to last season, Week 15, when Mahomes went down against the Chargers with a torn ACL and LCL. Surgery the very next day, and honestly, you gotta wonder if he’s even human. Fast forward to now, only four weeks into the season, and he’s already slung for 1,037 passing yards, tossed nine touchdowns, and somehow only given up two interceptions. Oh, and his Chiefs? They’re sitting pretty at a perfect 4-0. The guy is flat out proving he’s his old self, and maybe even better. It’s why he’s such a massive favorite to snag this award, no surprise there.
Aaron Donald’s Unretirement Shakes Up the Defensive Side
Sure, Mahomes is running away with it, but there are other names on that oddsboard if you’re looking for value, like Michael Penix Jr. and Kyler Murray both at +1200, or even Malik Nabers at +1500. But if there’s one other story that’s got people talking, it’s Aaron Donald. The dude literally came out of retirement to rejoin the Rams. Remember him? Three-time Defensive Player of the Year, an absolute beast. He missed their Week 1 game in Australia, a 27-7 loss to the 49ers, but since then, he’s been back in the mix. While he’s only got two solo tackles this year, he actually had a sack on Monday Night against the Bills that got called back because of a penalty. In his three games, Donald has racked up five total pressures, with four QB hurries and one QB hit. With two-time DPOY Myles Garrett reportedly missing more time with a knee injury, the Rams absolutely need Donald to keep flashing those dominant moves.
As the season rolls on, can anyone realistically catch Mahomes? It feels like the Comeback Player of the Year award is his to lose with that kind of early season performance. But football is wild, and there’s a lot of gridiron left. We’ll be watching to see if any of these other contenders can close the gap, especially with guys like Aaron Donald proving he’s still got it. This race might be tipped, but it’s far from over.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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