Two future Hall of Famers are the clear favorites to win the 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. The odds vary at different sportsbooks, but tight end Rob Gronkowski and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stand out among all the candidates.

Gronkowski is back in the league after a year of retirement, joining his former teammate Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Roethlisberger only played six more quarters than Gronkowski in 2019, missing the Pittsburgh Steelers’ final 14 games with an elbow injury.

DraftKings Sportsbook lists Gronkowski as a +300 favorite to be next season’s Comeback Player of the Year, followed by Roethlisberger at +400. FanDuel Sportsbook has the players in reverse order with Roethlisberger a +250 favorite and Gronkowski second at +300. BetOnline has the quarterback (+250) just ahead of the tight end (+450).

On a per play basis, Gronkowski might still be one of the best players at his position. The 31-year-old could have trouble putting up the stats required to win the award. Injuries limited Gronkowski to 13 games in 2018, 14 games in 2017 and just eight games in 2016.

From 2012-2018, Gronkowski averaged 855.4 yards and 7.4 touchdowns per season. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection during that span with three appearances on the All-Pro First-Team.

Gronkowski is expected to be Brady’s third option. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin give Tampa Bay arguably the NFL’s best receiving duo.

Roethlisberger, 38, has also been somewhat injury-prone, missing seven games from 2015-2017. In 2018, he led the NFL with 452 completions and 5,219 passing yards. The veteran also finished first with 16 interceptions.

Roethlisberger was a Pro Bowl selection each year from 2014-2017. He’s thrown at least 13 interceptions in his last four full seasons.

Pittsburgh ranked fourth in total offense two seasons ago. With Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges taking the majority of the snaps under center in 2019, the Steelers plummeted to 30th.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is the third-leading contender for the award. He had four sacks in eight games last season.

Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL on Mar.24. In this picture, Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots speaks at a press conference after the Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Feb. 3, 2019. Harry How/Getty Images
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