5 OROY candidates who could beat Texans QB C.J. Stroud
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud remains the overwhelming favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Despite missing two games with a concussion, Stroud has thrown for nearly 4,000 passing yards with 21 passing touchdowns and just five interceptions and has led the Texans into playoff contention.
But he’s not alone in a talented group of offensive rookies. There are several players who – especially with a sensational Week 18 game – have a shot at the coveted award ahead of Stroud. The Texans will be playing for a playoff spot in Week 18, meaning Stroud will suit up and be able to add to his resume.
It would take a lot to unseat Stroud, but here are five candidates who have a chance to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Rams WR Puka Nacua
Nacua is perhaps the biggest threat to Stroud. He has the most scrimmage yards in a season by a rookie receiver in NFL history and the second-most receiving yards and the second-most single-season receiving yards by a rookie since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger behind Ja’Marr Chase.
In any other season, the fifth-round pick out of BYU would be the runaway favorite to win the award if no other quarterback played better. Nacua likely won’t suit up in Week 18, either, because the Rams locked up the No. 6 seed in the NFC, so he can’t build on his sensational rookie season.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers
Flowers hasn’t had nearly as good a season as Nacua, but he’s been far and away the best wideout on the best team in the NFL – the Baltimore Ravens. He’s caught 77 passes for nearly 900 yards and five touchdowns and also rushed eight times for 56 yards and one touchdown. Flowers likely won’t play in Week 18, either, with the Ravens locked into the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Lions TE Sam LaPorta
LaPorta will finish his first season in the NFL with the fourth-most receiving yards, the second-most receptions and the second-most receiving touchdowns for a rookie tight end since the 1970 merger. He also led all tight ends in 2023 in those three categories.
Now, there’s a chance LaPorta can build on his rookie season in Week 18, but only if the Lions don’t rest their starters. Detroit has little to play for this week unless the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys both lose, but those games kickoff after the Lions’ match with the Minnesota Vikings.
Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs has been arguably the best rookie running back this season. His 10 total touchdowns are tied for first among rookies in 2023 with the Miami Dolphins’ De’Von Achane (who himself was an OROY candidate before a midseason knee injury) and his total scrimmage yards are second behind the Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson. Gibbs accomplished all this despite splitting nearly half of his snaps with David Montgomery.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson
Robinson, who opened the season as an OROY favorite, had a frustrating season with the Atlanta Falcons. He played in just 68 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, ceded goal line work to other running backs and fumbled th ball four times. Even still, Robinson has a rookie-leading 1,332 scrimmage yards and seven total touchdowns. If he plays in Week 18, Robinson could build on his solid rookie season.
