2026 NFL Rookies: Jeremiyah Love at +550 Odds Leads OROY Candidates

Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love enters the season as the +550 favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year after recording 73 total yards in the preseason.

Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season begins with Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love holding +550 odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY). Love, the first back taken in the top five since 2018, recorded 58 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards on 14 touches during his lone preseason appearance against the Raiders. In Washington, linebacker Sonny Styles leads Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY) candidates with +750 odds. Styles generated pressure on 20% of his blitzes at Ohio State and joins a Commanders defense looking to capitalize on his low missed-tackle rate.

Tennessee Titans receiver Carnell Tate, the No. 4 overall pick, enters the year with +600 OROY odds. Tate averaged 17.2 yards per catch in his final season at Ohio State, ranking seventh in the FBS among players with at least 50 receptions. He is projected to receive 121 targets from quarterback Cam Ward. Meanwhile, New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, the No. 5 selection, holds +850 DROY odds. Reese joins a defensive unit featuring Abdul Carter and Brian Burns, despite the Giants’ defensive system under Dennard Wilson ranking 28th in blitz rate last season.

Quarterback Depth and Starting Projections

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, will start the season on the bench behind Kirk Cousins. Mendoza is the first top-pick passer since 2018 not to start Week 1. Projections from Mike Clay slate Mendoza for 3,059 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, along with 226 rushing yards. During his 2025 season at Indiana, Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 41 touchdowns and added 440 yards on the ground.

Arizona Cardinals third-round pick Carson Beck is currently third on the depth chart behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II. Beck is projected for 451 passing yards and three touchdowns. In New York, fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik sits behind Geno Smith, while Pittsburgh Steelers third-round selection Drew Allar is positioned behind 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers and veteran Mason Rudolph. Ty Simpson of the Los Angeles Rams remains behind reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and Stetson Bennett IV. Tampa Bay Buccaneers undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels is the primary backup to Baker Mayfield, as the roster currently features only two active quarterbacks.

Offensive Impact and Fantasy Projections

Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price holds +650 OROY odds and is expected to start while Zach Charbonnet remains on the physically unable to perform list. Price averaged 3.96 yards after contact per rush last season, ranking 25th in the FBS. San Francisco 49ers receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, a second-round pick with +1100 odds, recorded seven receptions in his preseason debut. Stribling, who stands 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and produced 409 yards after the catch last season.

Cleveland Browns first-round receiver KC Concepcion enters with +1800 odds. Concepcion led this rookie class with a 27.2% career target share and will operate in an offense featuring tight end Harold Fannin Jr. His teammate, Denzel Boston, was the No. 39 pick and scored 20 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Washington. In Philadelphia, Makai Lemon averaged 3.04 yards per route run in college, dropping only three of 190 career targets. New Orleans Saints eighth-overall pick Jordyn Tyson commanded a 35% target share at Arizona State in 2025 but begins the year on IR with a hamstring injury.

Defensive Sleepers and Under-the-Radar Talent

Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman is a +2500 long shot for DROY after recording 94 tackles and a 7.8% missed-tackle rate in his final college season. Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Caleb Banks, the No. 18 pick, holds +7000 odds. Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Mansoor Delane, who generated pressure on 38% of his blitzes at LSU in 2025, rounds out the top DROY candidates at +1100.

Several mid-round picks are competing for immediate roles. New York Giants third-rounder Malachi Fields, standing 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, is vying for the No. 2 receiver spot. Las Vegas Raiders safety Treydan Stukes has taken reps with the first-team defense, while Denver Broncos fourth-rounder Jonah Coleman averaged 3.73 yards after contact in college. Atlanta Falcons fourth-round pick Zachariah Branch is expected to contribute as a returner, and Indianapolis Colts third-round safety A.J. Haulcy joins the defense with 10 career college interceptions.