National Football League

2023 Comeback Player of the Year odds: Joe Flacco making late charge

Updated Dec. 30, 2023 11:47 a.m. ET

"Joe Cool" is a hot choice with bettors to be named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin remains the favorite to win the award, but Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco is making a late charge.

Hamlin opened the season at -500. This was in the wake of his life-threatening on-field collapse suffered during the 2022 season.

Hamlin was at -470 earlier this month and now sits at -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total). He's appeared in five games and recorded two solo tackles this season.

Then there is is Flacco, who has started the last five games for the Browns. The Super Bowl XLVII MVP in 2013 with the Baltimore Ravens was unsigned until Nov. 20.

Flacco moved from +500 to +130 after going 19-for-29 passing (65.5%) for 309 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in Thursday's 37-20 win over the New York Jets.

Let's take a look at the latest Comeback Player of the Year odds, with insights from the crew on "Speak."

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR ODDS: *

Damar Hamlin, Bills: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)
Joe Flacco, Browns: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Matthew Stafford, Rams: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Lamar Jackson: Ravens: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)

*odds as of 12/30/2023

Should teams fear Joe Flacco, Browns heading into the playoffs?

Flacco was at +2000 on Dec. 12, but has thrown for 309 or more yards in his past four games.

Flacco is 123-for-204 passing (60.3%) for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 90.2 passer rating with the Browns.

"Joe Flacco plays free every time he's on the field," FOX Sports' Emmanuel Acho said on "Speak." "He's already won a Super Bowl, been the MVP, he's already got a $100 million contract. He's literally playing with house money."

Flacco has a 10-5 career postseason record, and on Friday's edition of "The Herd," Colin Cowherd went as far as to say the Browns can make it to the AFC Championship.

Cowherd: Joe Flacco's Browns are viable AFC title contender

"An adult at quarterback with no baggage — this is what it looks like. … Stefanski and Flacco, it works. And this offense is undeniably better with Joe Flacco starting than Deshaun Watson.

" … The team loves him. The coaches clearly trust him. He's doing it without starters. What do you do with Watson and Flacco? I don't know. But here's what I do know: In this moment in December, this is a viable AFC Championship team."

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