The field for the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award is loaded with premium players including a few former All-Pros such as Derrick Henry, Deshaun Watson, Michael Thomas, Christian McCaffrey, Marcus Peters, Khalil Mack, and Tre’Davious White just to name a few. According to DraftKings Sportsbook Derrick Henry is currently the favorite at +300 but is closely followed by Deshaun Watson (+400), Jameis Winston (+550), and Michael Thomas (+600). The longest odds on the board are tight ends Maxx Williams and Dan Arnold at +5000.
The current favorite to win the award this year is by no means a guarantee, however if you bet on RB Derrick Henry (+300), of the Tennessee Titans, you have to feel pretty good about it. Since entering the league in 2016 Henry has only missed 11 games while playing in 86 games. This is even more impressive given that prior to last season he had only missed a total of two games in his first five seasons, illustrating durability has not been an issue for him. Henry also managed to rush for over 1,000 yards for three straight seasons from 2018-2020, including going for 2,027 rushing yards in 2020 alone. He was also well on his way to a fourth straight 1,000 yard campaign, when he sustained a season-ending injury this past season, compiling 937 rushing yards in a mere 8 games. It’s also important to note that while Henry did miss just over half of the regular season, he was back in time to get 20 carries and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in their AFC divisional-round playoff matchup. He should be able to have a complete off-season to prepare and be back to full strength well before he has to report to training camp.
Another interesting favorite is wide receiver Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints. He currently sits at +600 and is definitely a threat to win the award for comeback player of the year. When healthy, he is one of the very best wide receivers in the entire National Football League. Thomas immediately made an impact even as a rookie with the Saints. In his first four seasons Thomas had never caught less than 92 passes, had never registered less than 1,137 receiving yards, and missed a grand total of only one game. However, over the last two seasons he has only played in 7 games including none this past season. The expectation is that Thomas will be back and healthy for the Saints this season, which will be a major boost for quarterback Jameis Winston and the Saints offense. If Thomas is back to his old self this season he is going to be at the top of the list for the comeback player of the year and maybe even All-Pro honors.
Former 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack (+1800) is certainly not the favorite to win comeback player of the year but he definitely has the ability. He has been first-team All-Pro three times and most recently was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2020. This past season Mack was not able to stay healthy and as a result missed 10 games. Injuries have rarely kept Mack off the field; prior to 2021 he had missed only two games over his first 7 seasons in the league. Mack also signed this off-season with the Los Angeles Chargers, which will pair him with Joey Bosa and cause headaches for offensive coordinators in the AFC West. This makes it very difficult for opponents to keep their quarterbacks off the ground and potentially very easy for Khalil Mack to accrue sacks and force turnovers. Though he is 31 years old, he has plenty left in the tank and is a legitimate contender to win this award.
One of the most interesting long shots on the board is cornerback Tre’Davious White at +2000. He is coming off of a serious injury last season that limited him to only 11 games and just 1 interception, which were both career lows. He is part of a very talented secondary that includes Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde covering both safety positions. With that kind of top level talent around him, he should be set to come back and play at the All-Pro level we have grown accustom to seeing him exhibit.
One more long shot is Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (+4000). He was a first team All-Pro in 2019 and led the entire NFL in forced fumbles the following season in 2020. After missing the final five games of the 2021 regular season and only compiling two combined interceptions and forced fumbles, he is looking to get back to his playmaking ways. Though he is an unlikely long shot, he certainly has the pedigree and the history to rebound and have an outstanding season.
