The NFL Rookie of the Year market is one of the softest futures bets available at online sportsbooks. Why? Because roles aren’t fully defined yet, and nobody really knows who the main threats are outside of the betting favorite. Players from New Zealand can visit Slotornado NZ to enjoy online games and receive bonuses.
Heck, we don’t even know if the #1 pick – quarterback Fernando Mendoza – will make starts for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026. The lack of concrete knowledge surrounding his status and an overall weak draft class creates serious value with the top favorite, as well as virtually every other option after him.
Ready to bet on who will win the 2026 NFL Rookie of the Year award? Prices will never be better than they are right now, and DraftKings already has odds up for you to attack. I’ll go over the latest pricing, analyze the current favorite, identify top contenders, and make a final 2026 NFL Rookie of the Year prediction.
Latest 2026 NFL Rookie of the Year Odds
|
Player |
NFL ROY Odds |
|
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals |
+250 |
|
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders |
+350 |
|
Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans |
+500 |
|
Jordyn Tyson, WR, New Orleans Saints |
+600 |
|
Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks |
+750 |
|
Makai Lemon, WR, Philadelphia Eagles |
+950 |
|
Carson Beck, QB, Arizona Cardinals |
+1500 |
|
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets |
+1800 |
|
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, New York Jets |
+1800 |
|
KC Concepcion, WR, Cleveland Browns |
+2500 |
Above are the 10 most likely candidates to win the NFL Rookie of the Year award based on the latest odds at DraftKings. The pricing checks out, as Love is regarded by most draft pundits as the best player in this draft class, while Mendoza was the top pick by the Raiders.
The problem up top isn’t talent; it’s role and landing spot. It’s likely that Love will be the main guy in Arizona’s backfield, but the team does have a bit of a logjam at the position. Then there’s the case of Mendoza, as the Raiders went out of their way to add veteran passer Kirk Cousins to their quarterback room.
Love’s role is probably fine, but will he find enough success behind Arizona’s shaky offensive line? The Cardinals allowed 59 sacks in 2025, and they didn’t move mountains for a rushing attack that ranked 28th in rushing scores, 31st in yards per game, 32nd in rushes per game, and 15th in yards per rush.
Perhaps Love’s arrival cures what ails the Cardinals. His draft spot and NFL ROY odds indicate that’s not a terrible bet, but if the o-line isn’t better, could he just find himself in the same situation Ashton Jeanty dealt with last year?
Jeanty may have been the best player from last year’s draft class, but poor o-line play and, in turn, weak overall production kept him from winning the trophy. These are things to consider before betting on this year’s NFL Rookie of the Year winner, and why basically everyone after Love and Mendoza immediately becomes somewhat viable.
But who is the most viable? Who are the true NFL Rookie of the Year contenders, and who will actually win it in 2026? I’ll go over all of that, but first, let’s look at what goes into winning the NFL ROY award.
How the NFL Rookie of the Year Award is Actually Won
If you want to beat this market, you need to understand how NFL ROY voters think, not just who the most talented players are.
There are specific criteria to apply (or project) as well, so let’s go over what makes an NFL Rookie of the Year winner.
Quarterback Bias is a Thing
Doesn’t this seem to be the case with basically every NFL award? Probably, but it’s important to note that if a quarterback is viable, they’re probably winning.
Tet McMillan interrupted that trend last year, but Jayden Daniels and CJ Stroud won the previous two years, and a passer has locked up the ROY hardware four times in the past seven years.
All-time, a quarterback has claimed 11 of these since 2004. That doesn’t make it as lopsided as the NFL MVP, but the voters aren’t going to ignore a special season from a passer. The time to look for value with a non-QB is when the talent is legit, and there aren’t numerous quarterbacks who look like great bets.
Considering Mendoza is one of just two first-round quarterbacks this year – and early signs suggest neither will start initially – betting on another position this season does make sense.
Volume Trumps Efficiency
Voters don’t really care about yards per carry or advanced metrics. Perhaps they could turn to them if the NFL Rookie of the Year race is a close call, but overall volume and productivity are the big winners here.
Besides, voters know that players can’t help where they’re drafted. Naturally, if someone like Love comes in and dominates with 1,000+ rushing yards and 10 touchdowns – but his yards-per-carry average is weak – voters might ignore that due to his o-line being a question mark.
Overall, voters are looking for the players who simply produce the best. The guys with the most yards, touchdowns, marquee moments, and biggest impact for their franchise are going to have a leg up.
Team Context Matters
The best players go to the worst teams usually, but sometimes it makes sense to bet on players who are in brutal spots. Big workloads on bad teams can mean more passing volume for quarterbacks and wide receivers, which naturally produces bigger numbers.
Conversely, you can be an elite talent on a good team and struggle due to that team’s depth at the position. Running backs can also have a difficult time getting going if the blocking in front of them isn’t up to par.
Truly elite talent can overcome negative situations, but this can still factor into who wins this race – and how you’ll want to bet.
Mind the Narrative
Pre-draft narratives, landing spots, and ultimate team success can also all play into who wins the NFL Rookie of the Year award. We know who the big names are coming into the NFL Draft, so right away, big names like Love, Mendoza, and Tate are on everyone’s radar.
They’ll be in the mix for quite a while, even if the numbers aren’t there. Then the mid-season narratives start forming, and team success can begin to factor into how people will vote.