Now that the NFL preseason has concluded, NFL prediction markets have adjusted in accordance with the preseason performances of major contenders for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Contract prices for Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love and Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza have receded significantly, with 49ers wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling picking up much of the slack. Let’s dive into which players are most likely to enjoy breakout rookie NFL seasons this year.
Aside from a sore shoulder that kept him out of San Francisco’s final preseason game, wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling possesses a ton of prediction market forecasting momentum to excel during the 2026-27 NFL regular season. After enjoying a solid senior year at Ole Miss, the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is guaranteed a prominent role due to Ricky Pearsall’s placement on the 49ers’ Injured Reserve list back on August 1st.
In two preseason appearances, Stribling caught 11 passes for 109 yards before sitting out against Las Vegas in Week 3. San Francisco will begin its regular season in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th. Thanks to head coach Kyle Shanahan’s decision to take the 17-hour flight more than one week in advance of the team’s season opener, players should be well-acclimated to the time zone and unique environment.
Among the five main NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year contenders, Stribling is one of two players (Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks) who are competing on a team that has a reasonable chance to make a serious postseason run. His per-contract price to win the award currently sits at 14¢ on Kalshi.
Although an official announcement has yet to be made, CBS Sports reported over the weekend that Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is expected to start NFL journeyman Kirk Cousins at quarterback for Las Vegas’ Week 1 home game against the Miami Dolphins.
The news could mean that the No. 1 overall 2026 NFL Draft pick could see very limited action this season, especially if Cousins is able to rally the Raiders’ offense throughout the month of September. Mendoza opened near the top of the Kalshi Offensive Rookie of the Year market due to his pedigree as a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, but may be forced to sit on the bench during the bulk of his rookie year. At 12¢ per contract, Mendoza is hovering between fourth and fifth place on the Kalshi market.
At one point in April, Kalshi contract prices for Jeremiyah Love receiving the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award rose to 43 cents. The standout Notre Dame running back was practically a prediction market “darling” due to the unceremonious snub that the Fighting Irish received in December when the CFP bracket was decided.
But then the first preseason game of the year occurred, and the Arizona Cardinals’ RB was sidelined in the first half as a result of a high-ankle sprain. That injury kept him out of the remaining preseason action, and it’s currently unknown if Love will start in Week 1 when the Cardinals travel to SoFi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Love is still the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year market “frontrunner” for now at 16¢ per contract, but that will abruptly change if he’s unable to perform at his full potential.
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