Orchard Park, N.Y. -- He's only had a few practices, but Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is already generating some rookie of the year buzz.

Vegas was first to get in on the action, giving Allen the third-best odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at plus-900. Only Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who were drafted first and second overall, have better odds.

Also, this week on NBC's Pro Football Talk Live, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms made the case for Allen to be rookie of the year. Simms and host Mike Florio were having a snake-style draft for offensive rookie of the year candidates. Florio took Barkley and then Simms took Allen second.

"I might get some pushback here," Simms said. "There's people who think he's going to be a bust. I have tremendous confidence in this kid's talent, and I think he is going to be the starter from day one. This is a Buffalo Bills football team that was a good football team that I think has a good support system around him. They should be able to run the football. They're going to be able to protect him. Weapons on the outside are not great. But I do think within that offense and some of the things we talked about, their defense being good, I think he can have a good enough year statistically and wins wise to where he's in this conversation for rookie of the year."

Simms did add "it's going to be hard to deny" Barkley if he stays healthy. But the hype around Allen is starting to build. Some of that may have to do with the fact that he has a clearer path to the starting lineup than other rookies. With only AJ McCarron and Nathan Peterman as his competition, Allen could see the field sooner rather than later. Bovada has the over/under set at 10.5 starts for Allen this season, so they see him playing a good chunk of the Bills' season.

If he does that, maybe Simms' prediction will come true. For Allen to live up to that hype, he's going to need some help from that supporting cast Simms was talking about. The Bills are counting on improvements from Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones after doing little to bolster the wide receiver depth chart behind them. Meanwhile, the offensive line will have two new starters after the retirements of Richie Incognito and Eric Wood.

To win rookie of the year, Allen would have to overcome quite a bit. If he does that, safe to say he'll quiet some of his critics locally and nationally.