The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2022 regular season with two candidates leading the betting odds to win the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, but those odds made a dramatic shift after Week 1 and now George Pickens and Kenny Pickett have fallen down the charts.
George Pickens had been the favorite to win the award, a mark he now shares with former Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson, according to updated odds posted at FanDuel Sportsbook. Both players are +800 to win.
Pickens played in 71% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps on Sunday, the third-most of the team’s wide receivers, but he saw just three targets and made only one catch for three yards. The minimal return was unexpected for Pickens, who figures to be a big part of the Steelers’ passing offense in 2021.
But an early lead thanks to Minkah Fitzpatrick’s pick six and an offensive line that struggled with protection all afternoon conspired to keep the Steelers thinking short in the passing game. Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and Pat Freiermuth all saw more action than Pickens did.
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson II and Los Angels Rams wide receiver Drake London are tied for the third-best odds at +100.
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Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, who had been in the top three, dropped down into a tie for the fifth-best odds. Pickett, Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Skyy Moore and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave are all tied at +1200.
Pickett’s odds should probably have dropped sooner, as it was clear that the Steelers were going to go with Mitch Trubisky at quarterback to at least start the season. It was reported right before the opener that Trubisky is expected to have a long leash and that the Steelers are OK with Pickett sitting out the entire 2022 season behind Trubisky.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs and Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks round out the top ten.