With the first week of the NFL preseason in the books, it’s time to start thinking about which players have realistic chances at earning some hardware in the upcoming NFL season. One of those major awards that generates a lot of excitement and buzz around the league is the Rookie of the Year award. In this article, we’ll dive into the top prospects on the offensive side of the ball, along with their odds of taking home the honor.
Atop the oddsboard sits running back Ashton Jeanty with the Las Vegas Raiders at +250. Pete Carroll loves his bellcow running back and took Jeanty with the sixth overall pick. He’ll be thrust into a Chip Kelly offense, where running backs finished 1st, 9th, 14th, and 4th in the league in rushing yards during his four years as an NFL head coach. While Jeanty could walk away with the award, the number holds little value.
Sticking with the running backs, Omarion Hampton (+800) has the chance to be atop the league in total touches, as he can run between the tackles and catch the ball out of the backfield. While the Los Angeles Chargers signed Najee Harris in the offseason, they spent the No. 22 selection in the first round on the North Carolina product. He has the opportunity to start the season as their No. 1 running back with Harris still on the PUP list with an eye injury.
Players like New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (+2000) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (+3000) will have an impact on their respective teams. Still, they don’t have the luxury of starting the season as the RB1 and will likely share carries with other backs.
The Tennessee Titans believe they have something special in No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward out of the University of Miami. Ward currently has the second-best odds to win the award at +350. This award has tended to go to running backs and receivers more often than quarterbacks, with seven of the last 12 winners being non-quarterbacks.
The player who will likely have the most eyes on him is Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter. The Jaguars traded up to draft the two-way star second overall and entered the season with +1000 odds. Hunter aims to play on both sides of the ball like he did in college, but that could cut into his snap count and make it tougher to compile the stats that would likely be necessary for the award.
The Carolina Panthers drafted Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan (+1600) eighth overall to give Bryce Young a true No. 1 wide receiver. After the first week of the preseason, that connection already seems strong, as Young found McMillan on a 30-yard completion down the sideline, followed by a 13-yard reception later in the drive. The two had the chance to hook up for a touchdown, but McMillan didn’t get his head around in time. Look for that connection to get stronger as the season progresses.
Value Pick: Omarion Hampton (+800)