2026 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds Favor Mahomes and Watson

The race for the 2026 NFL Comeback Player of the Year is heating up as sportsbooks reveal updated odds, particularly favoring quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. The award criteria were revised starting in 2024, now focusing on players returning from illness, injury, or circumstances that caused them to miss games.

Mahomes leads the betting odds at +185, having recovered from a torn ACL and LCL that limited him to 14 games last season. He is expected to be ready for the season opener against Denver. Watson, who has seen his odds improve from +8000 to +5000, is also a notable contender, although his performance in Cleveland has been under scrutiny.

Other candidates include Jayden Daniels of Washington and Kyler Murray of Minnesota, with Murray benefiting from a fresh start with a new team. The betting landscape reflects a strong interest in these quarterbacks, with Mahomes and Watson drawing significant attention from bettors.