Can Denver’s Bo Nix catch up to Washington’s Jayden Daniels in the race for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year?
Bo Nix is determined to close the gap with Jayden Daniels for the coveted NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Both players have made remarkable impacts early in their professional careers. Daniels, selected second overall, and Nix, chosen 12th, have outperformed other notable rookies like Caleb Williams of the Bears and Drake Maye from the Patriots. The potential exists for both Nix and Daniels to lead their respective teams into the playoffs, a feat last achieved by rookies Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck in 2012. Current projections from The New York Times indicate a 91% playoff chance for the Commanders and a 59% likelihood for the Broncos.
Nix currently holds +300 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year, suggesting a one in four chance. However, his path to overtaking Daniels is complicated by the remaining schedule. This week, Nix faces a relatively weak defense in Las Vegas, but his final three games include a matchup against the Chargers, who boast the NFL’s top scoring defense, and a home game against the Chiefs, consistently ranked among the top 10 defenses. On the other hand, Daniels has the advantage of playing against the Cowboys, who have the second-worst scoring defense, along with contests against the Titans and Falcons, both of whom rank in the bottom 10.
For Nix to catch up to Daniels, he would likely need a significant misstep from Daniels in the final stretch of the season.
McConkey steps up for Chargers
The rookie receiver class this year has generated impressive statistics in terms of catches and yards, but has lacked in game-winning plays. However, that changed during a Sunday night clash between the Chargers and Bengals, where rookie Ladd McConkey made significant contributions. With less than a minute remaining and the score tied, Justin Herbert targeted McConkey, who made crucial receptions of 28 and 27 yards, ultimately setting up J.K. Dobbins for the game-winning touchdown.
These two catches elevated McConkey to the top of the NFL leaderboard for receiving yards in the final minute of regulation for 2024, surpassing all players, not just rookies. For context, the only other rookie touchdowns in the final moments have been scored by Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Panthers receiver Jalen Coker, both occurring during less competitive periods.
Currently, McConkey ranks third among rookies in receiving yards, following Bowers (706) and Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jaguars (689). As the Chargers push for a playoff spot, McConkey is on track to challenge for the franchise record for rookie receiving yards. Only two Chargers rookies have surpassed 1,000 yards in a season: Keenan Allen (1,046 in 2013) and John Jefferson (1,001 in 1978). With six games remaining, McConkey is on pace to reach 1,046 yards.
Will a rookie rush for 1,000 yards?
This season has seen a quieter performance from rookie running backs, raising the possibility that the NFL may go without a 1,000-yard rookie rusher for the second consecutive year. The last time this occurred in back-to-back seasons was in 1992, long before many current players were even born.
Leading the rookie rushers is Tyrone Tracy Jr. of the Giants, with 545 rushing yards. At his current pace, he could finish the season with 926 yards, but he struggled early in the season, accumulating just 29 rushing yards in the first four games. Over the past six games, he has averaged 86 yards per game, and maintaining that average could push him over the 1,000-yard mark.
Could this be the week that Irving achieves his first 100-yard rushing game? If given a larger role, he too could make a push for 1,000 yards, potentially becoming just the fifth rookie in Buccaneers history to do so.
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He previously spent a decade covering the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. Readers can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.
