NFL rushing leader odds and predictions Uptrends

Since many futures bets are placed during the offseason and bets increase quickly as the regular season approaches, the NFL rushing leader bet is a very entertaining bet that usually generates a lot of interest for most football fans and bettors. Most people I talk to or who read this article play fantasy football and often keep track of which running backs are performing and which are not.

Many factors come into play when selecting the NFL’s top running back for the upcoming season. Who has a favorable schedule? Who has a game script that supports a high rushing game? Which offensive line will their running backs benefit from the most? Who splits touches and who does most of the heavy lifting? Understanding these factors will help you decide who to bet on and who to stay away from. Let’s look at the odds for the 2022 NFL rushing leader: (Odds courtesy of docsports.com and oddshark.com)

2022 NFL Rushing Yards Leader Odds

Odds come from Caesars Sportsbook, Bet MGM and Draft Kings

Jonathan Taylor +425

Last season, Jonathan Taylor continued his phenomenal college career by finishing 6th^Th on the NCAA all-time rushing list. Going into last year, there were concerns that Taylor wouldn’t be the face of the Colts offense. However, after solidifying his role, Taylor had a complete breakthrough, rushing for 1,485 yards in his final 12 games, averaging 5.73 yards per carry. Taylor plays behind one of the best offensive lines in football and with an offense focused on performance. At just 23 years old, age is still on his side. It sounds crazy, but after 27 years as a running back, it’s extremely difficult to keep up with the performance of twenty-somethings. After leading the league in carries last year, it’s easy to see why Taylor has the best chance of repeating.

Derrick Henry +600

After winning the NFL rushing title last year in both 2019 and 2020, he started the same way. By mid-2021, King Henry, as many call him, was the undisputed favorite to three-peat, but an injury in Week 8 kept him out of the rest of the season. Even though he only played eight games, Henry still finished in the top 10 in the NFL in rushing, which is incredible. Henry is now 28, so winning the rushing title at that age would defy the odds. Only twice in the last 10 years has the winner been over 26, both by Adrian Peterson. Given his workload over the past few years, it would be surprising if Henry stayed healthy throughout 2022.

Nick Chubb +1000

Chubb may be the best pure running back in the NFL. However, the situation in Cleveland doesn’t look pretty. He ranked 8th in carries last year, and the Browns typically like to use a dual-back package in their offense. He still averaged 5.5 yards per carry, which is incredible, and ranked 2nd in rushing yards in two of the last three seasons. Depending on who the quarterback is in Cleveland, that could also mean a lot since Deshaun Watson will be serving a lengthy suspension.

Saquon Barkley +4500

It feels like Saquon Barkley has been in the NFL forever. But he is only 25 years old and has incredible speed and skill. It’s hard not to get excited about his potential every August. Since 2018, Barkley has been plagued by one injury after another. After being one of the most talked about and anticipated running backs in the NFL over the last 20 years, Barkley has only disappointed. To protect Barkley, the Giants made significant improvements to their offensive line and made coaching changes. His ability is undeniable. And at +4500, it offers great value for a player who has all the components to lead the NFL in rushing.

Elijah Mitchell +2000

After breaking into the NFL last season, Elijah Mitchell quickly made a name for himself as the NFL’s elite running back. With a crowded backfield in San Francisco, Mitchell made it clear that this is the spot he will lose in 2022. He averaged 87.5 yards per game, which ranked him 5th^Th in the NFL last season. And if he hadn’t gotten injured, he would have made 320 runs in 17 games. According to statistics, to pick the NFL’s all-time leader, you need to pick someone who can manage at least 21 runs per game, and the 49ers’ offense will allow Mitchell to do that next year if he stays healthy. Year after year, the 49ers’ offense ranks at the top of the NFL. With coach Kyle Shannan’s offensive concept and their very strong offensive line, Mitchell gives them one of the best values ​​on the board for next season.

Staying healthy and playing a key role in the offense are unwritten rules that must be followed to win the rushing title. Among rushing leaders over the last five seasons, Henry was the most impressive with a 2,027-yard season in 2020. Another note is that the average age of the rushing leader over the last 10 seasons was 24.7 years old. With Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon, four of the top favorites are older than 26 years. Deciding who will stay healthy is difficult, but deciding who will be heavily involved on offense is not an option, good luck with your picks!