The 5 Frontrunners to Win Offensive Rookie of the Year | Week 15
Brock Bowers (TE, LV)
Dec 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) line up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.
The NFL’s 2024 regular season has four weeks remaining, and the Detroit Lions + Kansas City Chiefs lead the way per Super Bowl projections. The Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles aren’t far off per oddsmakers’ estimations.
The 5 Frontrunners to Win Offensive Rookie of the Year | Week 12
Josh Allen is the frontrunner to win MVP — finally — and men like Saquon Barkley, Ja’Marr Chase, and Derrick Henry are battling to win Offensive Player of the Year award.
And then there are the rookies. Several other awards, of course, are up for grabs, and heading into Week 15, these are the league’s frontrunners to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY), according to sportsbooks, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = leader to win OROY)
5. Ladd McConkey (WR)
Nov 25, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Odds to Win OROY: +12000
2024 PFF Score to Date: 80.8
McConkey is morphing into a surehanded, dependable target in Los Angeles — and is probably the best wide receiver on the Chargers’ depth chart, even in Year No. 1.
He’s battled an injury lately but is on pace for 1,055 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. It’s probably too late for dynasty fantasy football managers to trade for him at an affordable rate, but if so, grab the guy.
McConkey won’t win OROY; he’s in the discussion out of respect, though.
4. Caleb Williams (QB)
Dec 8, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks on after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images.
Team: Chicago Bears
Odds to Win OROY: +7500
2024 PFF Score to Date: 66.1
Williams hasn’t thrown an interception since mid-October, which is encouraging for his long-term development.
Nevertheless, his team can’t stop losing, and that almost always cancels a first-year passer from OROY talks.
Williams is the NFL’s sixth-worst passer per EPA+CPOE in 2024 and notably lags behind his 1st-Round peers, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix.
3. Brock Bowers (TE)
Nov 29, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner (27) makes the tackle during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images.
Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Odds to Win OROY: +1200
2024 PFF Score to Date: 86.2
Let’s be honest — this guy is the best football player from the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s just that most can’t say it out loud because Bowers doesn’t play quarterback.
He’s doing his damage in Los Angeles with Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder at quarterback. Las Vegas even signed Jake Luton while working out Kellen Mond — remember him? — and Matt Corral as quarterback insurance. His quarterbacks are comparatively awful.
That hasn’t deterred Bowers from shining. He’s on track to tally 1,220 receiving yards and 5 paydirts.
2. Bo Nix (QB)
Aug 18, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix warms up in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports.
Team: Denver Broncos
Odds to Win OROY: +200
2024 PFF Score to Date: 74.5
Have a look at this progression:
Bo Nix,
EPA+CPOE,
NFL Ranking:
Week 1-6: 31st
Week 7-14: 13th
Within Sean Payton’s offense, Nix works. Many draft heads weren’t enthused by Nix’s overall 1st-Round profile, but it’s flat-out clicking with Payton.
Nix feels like a quarterback who might experience a sophomore slump in 2025, but at the moment, he’s maturing quickly, and his team is likely headed to the postseason.
1. Jayden Daniels (QB)
Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) scrambles from Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
Team: Washington Commanders
Odds to Win OROY: -275
2024 PFF Score to Date: 87.9
Daniels is on pace for 3,686 passing yards, 771 rushing yards, and 28 total touchdowns.
He and head coach Dan Quinn have dragged the Commanders out of decades of lethargy, installing a formula that will probably have Washington football on Wildcard Weekend.
Daniels was once the runaway frontrunner to win OROY, but Nix has closed the gap. Still, Daniels will win the award if Bowers doesn’t pull off the upset.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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