Rob Gronkowski Retiring Has Resulted in Major Betting on One Player

Who will lead the league in receiving yards this season?

The regular receivers are in the mix, with Cooper Kupp leading the way at 8-1, Justin Jefferson has the second-lowest odds at 10/1, followed by Davante Adams at 11/1, Ja’Marr Chase at 12/1 and Tyreek Hill at 14/1. Before  Gronk retired, the young guns were getting most of the action.

Jefferson was netting 11% tickets, 10% dollars, and Ja’Marr Chase has been seeing 10% tickets, 11% dollars.

Now that Gronk is officially out for this season,  there’s a new target who is getting most of the action, and that receiver is Tampa Bay Bucs star Mike Evans.

Via Caesars Sportsbook:

“Ever since Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement last Tuesday (June 21), Evans has accumulated 39% of the total number of tickets and 44% of the total dollars wagered to lead the NFL in receiving yards. That is more than double the tickets and double the handle compared to any other player over that span. Overall, Evans is second in dollars (12%) and fourth in tickets (7%).”

Mike Evans was 40/1 to lead the NFL in receiving yards at @CaesarsSports before Gronk retired.

A surge of action since has dropped Evans' odds to 20/1. Where does he now rank among most popular bets?

More on NFL receiving yardage leader odds and trends: https://t.co/qghTJD3SW3

— Max Meyer (@TheMaxMeyer) June 30, 2022

Let’s call this the Gronk Effect.

Tampa Bay Bucs Quarterback Tom Brady finished last season leading the league in passing yards (5.316), passing touchdowns (43) and completions (485). Yeah, at 44 years old he had a 5,000-passing yard season, and who says he can’t do it again.

That would put Mike Evans in line for a huge season. Not a bad bet.

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