Some of the early front runners for the award shined in Week 1. In contrast, a day three NFL draft pick shined in his first professional game. These players are in the lead for the NFL’s prestigious Rookie of the Year award.
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NFL Rookie of the Year Watch List Week 2
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Anthony Richardson, QB Indianapolis Colts
Richardson is a freak of nature. In his first game as a professional, he ran like Derrick Henry but still passed considerably well. He hurt his knee on one of the last drives of the game but isn’t expected to have any long-term problems. He is currently listed at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbp/nfl_offensive_rookie_of_the_year” query=”nfl/anthony_richardson/player_187787″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”] to win the award. After a stat line of 37 attempts for 24 completions, 263 total yards, and two touchdowns to one interception he’s a great pick to win the award.
Puka Nacua, WR Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua is fourth in the NFL in receiving yards. Yes, the 177th pick in the NFL draft is fourth in receiving yards. As it stands now, he is listed at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbp/nfl_offensive_rookie_of_the_year” query=”nfl/puka_nacua/player_187906″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”] to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Whether NFL fans like it or not, storylines matter for the major awards, and a fifth-round rookie winning the award is a heck of a story.
Zay Flowers, WR Baltimore Ravens
Flowers may not have had the same gaudy stats Sunday, but his role is much more secure moving forward. Nacua has to compete with Cooper Kupp (allegedly good at football) when he returns from injury. Flowers has to compete with old man Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman. The last two winners of the award were wide receivers, can Flowers make it a three-peat? Flowers is listed at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbp/nfl_offensive_rookie_of_the_year” query=”nfl/zay_flowers/player_187767″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”].
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Lukas Van Ness, EDGE Green Bay Packers
Not a bad start to an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign. He already nabbed his first sack of the season on a highly athletic quarterback in Justin Fields. He’s a monster on the outside and could easily snag double-digit sacks this season. An edge rusher has won the award three of the last four seasons, and it could be a tight race between Van Ness and this next contender. Van Ness is listed at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbp/nfl_defensive_rookie_of_the_year” query=”nfl/lukas_van_ness/player_187772″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”].
Will Anderson Jr., EDGE Houston Texans
Top five pick? Check. Sacked Lamar Jackson Sunday? Also check. Anderson Jr. was the consensus top EDGE in the draft and was number one on the rookie big board ahead of the draft. He will have to anchor this Texans defense to win the award, but he could rack up plenty of individual stats on his 2023 campaign. He’s currently listed at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbp/nfl_defensive_rookie_of_the_year” query=”nfl/will_anderson_jr./player_187866″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”] to win defensive rookie of the year.
Jalen Carter, DT Philadelphia Eagles
Can the other 31 teams please stop letting the Eagles get University of Georgia defenders? It’s not ideal anymore. Carter was number three on the rookie big board and considered a blue-chip prospect by most. His off the field problems did not bleed into the season, and now he’s an absolute wrecking ball on the inside. Much like Aaron Donald winning Defensive Player of the Year, Carter won’t need to accumulate stats. He just needs to make his presence felt. Listed at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbp/nfl_defensive_rookie_of_the_year” query=”nfl/jalen_carter/player_187805″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”], Carter is still one of the Vegas favorites to win the award.
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Main Photo Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
