NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year 2026: Cam Ward, Ashton Jeanty, and the Full OROY Board

Cam Ward and Ashton Jeanty enter the 2026 season as the two clear favorites for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Both check every historical box: starting job locked in, elite college production, and a role tailored to their strengths.

Here's the full 2026 OROY board, the historical trends that determine this award, and the sleeper worth backing before his price shortens.

OROY Contender Board

Rank	Player	Team	Odds
1	Cam Ward	Tennessee Titans	+300
2	Ashton Jeanty	Las Vegas Raiders	+400
3	Travis Hunter	Jacksonville Jaguars	+800
4	Shedeur Sanders	Cleveland Browns	+900
5	Omarion Hampton	Los Angeles Chargers	+1200

Why Cam Ward Is the OROY Favorite

Ward walked into a Tennessee offense engineered for a mobile, big-arm passer. He has a real WR1 in Calvin Ridley, a top-tier RB2 in Tony Pollard, and one of the more creative play-callers in the league. First overall picks with clear starting jobs are historically the safest OROY bets on the board.

The Non-QB Value: Ashton Jeanty at +400

Jeanty put up historic numbers at Boise State — 2,600+ rushing yards, 29 TDs. The Raiders lack a real receiving threat, which means Jeanty will get force-fed touches: 20+ carries a game plus a heavy check-down role. His floor is 1,400 yards and 12 TDs, which is often enough to steal OROY from a struggling rookie QB.

The Sleeper: Omarion Hampton at +1200

Featured back in a Jim Harbaugh run-first scheme is exactly the OROY archetype (see: Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara). Hampton doesn't need to hit 1,500 yards — he just needs to lead a Chargers team that projects for 10+ wins.

Historical OROY Trends

• QBs dominate: 6 of the last 10 OROY winners were rookie starting QBs.
• Volume matters: Every OROY-winning RB since 2013 finished top-5 in rushing yards or receptions among rookies.
• Winning teams win awards: 8 of the last 10 OROY winners came from teams that finished .500 or better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is favored to win 2026 NFL OROY?

Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans) opens as the 2026 OROY favorite at +300.

How often do QBs win Offensive Rookie of the Year?

In the past 10 seasons, 6 of 10 OROY winners have been quarterbacks.

See the full 2026 NFL awards board including DROY, COY, DPOY, and CPOY.