De’Zhaun Stribling has been one of the trendiest standouts of the preseason heading into Week 1.
The 49ers’ second-round pick has gone from an afterthought in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year market over the offseason to one of its most popular picks.
And there are plenty of reasons to believe Striblings’ unbelievable rise isn’t just preseason hype.
Stribling, who opened as high as 80/1 at BetMGM Sportsbook, has moved all the way to +850 (FanDuel Sportsbook), giving him the fifth-shortest odds to win the award.
The Ole Miss product has earned the attention with some eye-popping play for the forever injury-riddled 49ers.
He caught 11 of 13 targets for 109 yards over his two preseason appearances, including seven receptions for 63 yards against the Titans’ first-team defense.
Stribling followed that up with four catches for 46 yards against the Chargers before being held out of the preseason finale.
He also repeatedly flashed around the goal line during joint practices, catching two touchdowns against the Chargers, including one from Brock Purdy, showing that the pair has forged an early connection in the pass game.
More importantly, his opportunity has changed dramatically since the 49ers took him on draft night.
Ricky Pearsall will miss the entire season after undergoing knee surgery, while Christian Kirk will begin the year on injured reserve and miss at least four games.
Veteran Mike Evans has also dealt with an adductor injury late in camp.
It’s also still unclear when star tight end George Kittle will return as he recovers from an Achilles tear.
Betting on the NFL?
If he establishes himself as a full-time starter, which looks likely given San Francisco’s age and health situation, and approaches 1,000 receiving yards in a high-profile offense, he’ll have the résumé to remain in the race all season in a field of rookies that isn’t as strong as recent years.
The long-shot price is gone, but Stribling’s path to actually winning the award has never looked clearer.
Prediction: De’Zhaun Stribling to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (+850, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
