Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images. Pictured: Trey Lance.
If the betting market for 2021 NFL Rookie of the Year is any indication, Trey Lance impressed plenty in his preseason debut.
The San Francisco 49ers first-rounder opened at +1600 at BetMGM on April 29, and his odds have been more than cut in half as they have dropped to +750. The movement in Lance’s favor can almost directly be attributed to his hype around camp and performance in San Francisco’s first preseason game.
Lance wasn’t flawless in his first NFL preseason action, but his 80-yard touchdown pass-heard-’round-the-world certainly showed his massive potential.
TREY LANCE 80-YARD TD PASS pic.twitter.com/5C1V0OZdM3
— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) August 15, 2021
Incumbent starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo was a perfect 3-for-3 for 26 yards in his limited action. Even with San Francisco’s QB situation being extremely foggy at this point, it’s clear that oddsmakers see Lance taking the reigns at some point this season.
The award race with perhaps the most intrigue this NFL season is the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year (ROY), as there is always interest when there are three young quarterbacks in a position to win the prestigious honor.
This season, No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence (+325) and No. 11 pick Justin Fields (+700) join Lance as the favorites.
Fields was great in his first preseason action, throwing for 142 yards and a touchdown in a seven-point Bears win.
JUSTIN FIELDS IS ALREADY THE GREATEST QB IN BEARS HISTORY.pic.twitter.com/s2SXG7zZ8h
— Action Network NFL (@ActionNetNFL) August 14, 2021
He is in a similar situation to Lance and is also expected to take over as the starter in Chicago at some point this year.
Falcons’ dynamic tight end prospect Kyle Pitts (+900), Jets QB Zach Wilson (+1000), and Steelers running back Najee Harris round out the top-five odds. The highest percentage of tickets are on Lance (14.9%) and Harris (12.6%), with Lance representing the biggest liability.
All of the aforementioned names are in great positions to contribute to the offense in their first year, but the explosive, big-play ability of Lance and the 49ers offense makes him the ultimate boom-or-bust play at this point in the NFL preseason.
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