Flacco gaining on Hamlin in Comeback Player of the Year race

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Flacco gaining ground on Damar Hamlin in Comeback Player of the Year race

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 12/27/23

Though Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is still the betting favorite to win the 2023 NFL Comebacker Player of the Year award, he’s no longer the shoo-in he was just a few weeks ago.

Following his 368-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 36-22 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco now has the second-best odds of winning the award, according to DraftKings, which lists Flacco’s odds at +350, behind only Hamlin’s -300.

Some have argued that though Hamlin’s return was inspirational — his heart stopped twice during a Week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills last season and he fought his way back to the active roster less than eight months later — it may be difficult to give him the CPOTY award over players like Flacco, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford or Bucs QB Baker Mayfield because he’s only appeared in five games this season with two tackles and 111 combined snaps on defense and special teams.

Joe Flacco making some history pic.twitter.com/CKF1y4SvUO
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 24, 2023

Flacco, who was watching games from home in November, made his first start for the Browns on Dec. 3 and has led the team to a 3-1 record while throwing for 300 or more yards and multiple touchdowns in three straight games.

The 38-year-old QB leads the NFL in both passing yards (1,307) and touchdowns (10) since Week 13, and he has as many or more touchdown passes as Desmond Ridder (10), Mac Jones (10), Zach Wilson (eight) and Kenny Picket (six) — all of whom have started double-digit games.

Others in the running for Comebacker Player of the Year include Mayfield (+700), Stafford (+1200), Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (+1200) and Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (+7000).

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