NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Report – Week 3

There is no such thing as a sure thing in NFL betting. The Las Vegas Raiders showed us that in Week 2, when they beat the Baltimore Ravens, and the Raiders showed us again in Week 3, when they lost to the Carolina Panthers.

The same holds true for the end of season awards, which were supposed to feature the coronation of No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams as the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Not so fast.

Jayden Daniels – Washington Commanders (+150)

Only one rookie quarterback has won more than one game, and only one rookie quarterback has won a big prime time game on the road in a head-to-head with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

That one quarterback is Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick by the Washington Commanders, and the star of Washington’s win at the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt called the Commanders offense “simple” and a “college offense.” He might have been wise to remember just how good Daniels was when he ran an actual college offense at LSU, where he won the Heisman Trophy. On Monday night, Daniels was 21-of-23 for 254 yards and three touchdown passes, as well as a touchdown run.

He accounted for four touchdowns, had just two incompletions, and sealed the victory with an incredible corner route to Terry McLaurin in the end zone as he was taking a hit.

Daniels’ completion percentage of 91.3 was the highest for a rookie in NFL history, and he is the new Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY) betting favorite.

Malik Nabers – New York Giants (+250)

Ten years after LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. won Offensive Rookie of the Year with the New York Giants, Malik Nabers is looking for history to repeat itself.

Nabers is already making history, becoming the first player in NFL history to have at least 20 catches, 250 yards, and three touchdowns in his first three career games. Nabers’ exact numbers are 23 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns, including two touchdowns on Sunday in the Giants’ first win of the season.

The No. 6 overall pick out of LSU is proving to be the most dynamic of what was considered to be one of the best rookie wide receiving classes in years. Not only has he been the most productive offensive weapon for the Giants, he has been the most spectacular.

After Week 1, Nabers was paying +1400 to win OROY. The last two weeks of play have seen those odds drop to +250.

Marvin Harrison Jr. – Arizona Cardinals (+350)

Marvin Harrison Jr. began the season as a can’t-miss prospect destined for NFL stardom. Then he had one catch for four yards in Week 1, and there was worry. Since then, the Harrison we all expected to see has emerged, with nine catches for 195 yards and three touchdowns spanning Weeks 2 and 3.

Quarterback Kyler Murray has made Harrison his most-targeted receiver through three weeks, and the two seem to be communicating better and finding a connection on the field, which was evident when they hooked up for a touchdown in the first quarter on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

The Cardinals offense has improved in 2024, and Harrison is a big reason why.

Caleb Williams – Chicago Bears (+650)

When the season began, Caleb Williams was +125 to win OROY. The Heisman Trophy winner in 2022 was coming to a Chicago Bears team filled with weapons, and there was some talk about the Bears as a possible Super Bowl team.

The Bears are now 1-2 and the Super Bowl talk has cooled off, as has the betting on Williams to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He did throw for 363 yards and his first two touchdowns of the season in Week 3. But he also threw two more interceptions and he took four more sacks. And the Chicago offense, with all of its weapons, continues to struggle. A big part of that is a bad offensive line, and a big part is the learning curve in the NFL.

Even a player as naturally gifted as Williams is going to have his struggles.

Bo Nix – Denver Broncos (+1500)

The Bo-lievers in Denver grew anxious after two bad games to begin the season. But on Sunday, Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos broke into the win column with an impressive victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26-7.

He threw for 216 yards, and most importantly, it was his first game this season without an interception. It was also the third straight game in which he led the team in rushing, running for 47 yards and a touchdown. That now has him with more than 100 rushing yards on the season, with a pair of touchdown runs. He also didn’t take a sack, despite 36 pass attempts.

For the Broncos and Broncos fans, this is the quarterback they hoped they were drafting.