With the 2026 NFL Draft completed, the focus turns to the regular season. The opening market for FanDuel’s AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year 2026-27 offers only a handful of intriguing candidates.
Only 10 offensive skill players were even selected during the first round. That includes Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson, who is likely sitting this season behind reigning MVP Matthew Stafford.
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A quartet of top-10 picks are the main players to watch in this season’s Rookie of the Year race. The opening leader is Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (+320). The electric Notre Dame star should get immediate touches as a centerpiece of Arizona’s overhauled offense.
Working against Love’s candidacy is an uncertain Cardinals quarterback situation coupled with a re-worked Arizona offensive line. A running back hasn’t won Rookie of the Year since Saquon Barkley captured it in 2018 despite seven rookie running backs eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards for the season post-Barkley. Recent history shows Love will likely need monster numbers to get the attention of AP voters to win.
Fernando Mendoza (+380) is unsurprisingly right behind Love in the opening Rookie of the Year market. In a weak draft for QBs, the top overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders could be the only rookie starting quarterback to play the full season.
Although the Indiana product will play right away, Mendoza still needs to put up good numbers. Last season, Tennessee Titans top overall pick Cam Ward played almost the full season and didn’t finish top five in AP voting thanks to a shaky supporting cast that limited his offensive upside. Four of the last seven Rookie of the Year awards have gone to quarterbacks, however, so Mendoza still possesses a real opportunity to win if he thrives right away.
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Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate (+650) and New Orleans Saints wideout Jordyn Tyson (+750) are both credible secondary candidates. Wide receivers have won three of the last seven seasons, including Carolina Panthers standout Tatairoa McMillan last season despite opening as the clear No. 4 candidate.
Both Tate and Tyson have opportunities for significant early targets in their respective offenses — particularly Tate as a potential No. 1 option to Ward in Tennessee.
Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (+1000) presents an intriguing case by replacing departed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. After backing up Love at Notre Dame, it’s a credible concern whether Price gets enough touches to keep pace with the leading candidates.
The case for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon (+1200) could come down to the team trading disgruntled star A.J. Brown. Even if Brown is dealt, a crowded Philadelphia receiver situation could hamper Lemon’s early targets.
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