The Offensive Player of the Year is one of the most prestigious awards in the NFL today.
Going into the 2025-26 NFL regular season, nine teams have never had a player win Offensive Player of the Year. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles had their first winner in franchise history last year in running back Saquon Barkley, so it’s never too late to join the club.
Here are the strongest candidates on all 32 NFL teams to be the newest OPOY this coming season.
Every NFL Team’s Top OPOY Candidate
Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. didn’t have the rookie season many expected from him, but that doesn’t mean he was bad in 2024. If anything, he’s set the stage for a potential breakout campaign in Year 2.
Harrison enters 2025 as the top wide receiver on the Arizona Cardinals’ roster. He’s big, fast, powerful, and intelligent. If he lives up to his full potential, he could be a serious dark horse for Offensive Player of the Year.
Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson
Amidst stellar seasons from Barkley and Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson quietly put together a phenomenal campaign in his second NFL season.
With 1,887 total scrimmage yards and 15 total touchdowns, Robinson was the lifeblood of the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. He’s arrived as one of the best running backs in the league, and if he builds on his momentum from last year, Robinson will be a strong OPOY favorite.
Baltimore Ravens: Derrick Henry
If this were selecting an MVP candidate for the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson would be the runaway favorite. He’s already won that award twice, and he just led the NFL in PFSN’s QB+ metric. However, each of the last six MVPs didn’t win OPOY, making Henry the better option here.
Henry has surpassed double-digit rushing touchdowns in each of the last seven years. He’s coming off of a 1,921-yard campaign in which he averaged 5.9 yards per carry. If he can come even close to replicating that production in 2025, he’ll be a strong OPOY contender.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen
As the NFL’s reigning MVP, Josh Allen figures to be in the mix for Offensive Player of the Year at all times. Both the team and individual success that Allen has seen as the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback have him firmly among the league’s elite. He’s a threat to repeat again as MVP this year, and if he does, he’ll be a top contender for OPOY by default.
Carolina Panthers: Chuba Hubbard
Picking an Offensive Player of the Year contender for the Carolina Panthers was difficult, as they don’t have much proven star power on offense. However, Chuba Hubbard is one of the most underrated starting running backs in the NFL.
Hubbard has combined for over 2,000 rushing yards in the last two seasons and just came off a 10-touchdown campaign in 2024. If the Panthers take a leap this season, his steady production should start to get him the recognition he deserves.
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams
The Chicago Bears might not have a superstar on offense, but they have a deep group of weapons in the passing game — which should greatly benefit Caleb Williams in Year 2.
Williams is in position for a breakout year in 2025, now that the Bears have improved the offensive line and coaching staff around him. He’s a ridiculously talented quarterback who could generate award buzz if he lives up to his full potential.
Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase
Despite breaking the receiving Triple Crown in 2024, Ja’Marr Chase only came in third in Offensive Player of the Year voting. But that could change this coming season.
Chase is a proven superstar receiver, but he’s coming off his best season with 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. A similar level of production in 2025 will keep him firmly in the mix for OPOY.
Cleveland Browns: Jerry Jeudy
Heading into the 2025 season, the Cleveland Browns figure to have one of the worst offenses in the NFL. So when selecting an Offensive Player of the Year candidate, you have to go with their only Pro Bowl skill player from last year.
Jerry Jeudy broke out in his first year with the Browns, tallying 90 receptions for 1,229 yards. He’s their WR1 by a country mile. Even with Cleveland’s quarterback instability, Jeudy should be a focal point of the offense this year.
Dallas Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb
CeeDee Lamb placed third in OPOY voting in 2023, though his production took a slight step back the following year. Even still, he’s one of the top wide receivers in the NFL today.
49-yard CeeDee Lamb TD!
📺: #DALvsMIA on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UIg1XAk0MB pic.twitter.com/iD2pTSdoM2— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
Lamb has finished with over 1,100 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons, and he’s topped 100 receptions in each of his last three. Now, George Pickens could take some defensive attention away from him, opening up more opportunities for Lamb to make big plays.
Denver Broncos: Bo Nix
Courtland Sutton made it back to the 1,000-yard receiving mark last year, but he hasn’t put up the elite numbers to warrant strong OPOY consideration. Thus, Bo Nix makes sense as the Denver Broncos’ top contender.
After going 10-7 as a rookie, Nix heads into Year 2 with a ton of momentum. He’s a talented quarterback with Sean Payton as his head coach, and the Broncos added players like Evan Engram, J.K. Dobbins, and RJ Harvey this offseason. It’s unlikely he wins OPOY, but Nix could surprise some people in 2025.
Detroit Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs
The Detroit Lions have two strong contenders for Offensive Player of the Year. While Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best wide receivers in football, Jahmyr Gibbs has the potential to put up video game numbers in 2025.
Gibbs had already proven himself as an elite receiving back as a rookie in 2023. And last year, he took a massive leap as a rusher.
Gibbs finished the season with 1,412 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, the latter of which led the NFL. If he tops 2,000 yards from scrimmage this season, he’ll be a strong OPOY contender.
Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs
In his first year with the Green Bay Packers, Josh Jacobs finished with a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns. He’ll look to carry that momentum on in 2025.
Jacobs finished 11th in OPOY voting last year, indicating he’s on the radar but still has room to grow. He’s proven himself as a true workhorse back. If he can improve upon his 4.4 yards per carry average from last season, there’s no reason to think he won’t contend in 2025.
Houston Texans: Nico Collins
Despite missing five games due to injury, Nico Collins still put up a strong season with 68 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
Stefon Diggs is no longer on the Houston Texans, and Tank Dell seems unlikely to play in 2025. That opens up a massive opportunity for Collins to get force-fed the ball, increasing his chances of putting up OPOY-worthy numbers.
Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor
In the midst of all of their quarterback instability, one thing has been constant for the Indianapolis Colts’ offense: Jonathan Taylor putting up big numbers.
Granted, health has been an issue for Taylor over the years. However, he finished fourth in the NFL with 1,431 rushing yards last season, despite missing three games due to injury. If he can stay healthy for a full 17 games, there’s no telling what his numbers could look like.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr.
The Jacksonville Jaguars struck gold by selecting Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, it’s just a matter of whether he can keep the momentum going.
As a rookie, Thomas earned Pro Bowl recognition for tallying 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. If he continues to develop and can stay healthy, the sky’s the limit for his production heading into Year 2.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes was the last MVP to also win Offensive Player of the Year in the same season. Could he perhaps do it again in 2025?
The Kansas City Chiefs have a talented group of weapons for Mahomes to throw to, and they invested heavily at offensive tackle this offseason. He remains a perennial MVP contender, but if Mahomes can bounce back to his 2022 level of MVP production, a corresponding OPOY award could be in his future.
Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers
Since the award’s inception in 1972, no tight end has ever been named OPOY. Could Brock Bowers be the first?
It’s a long shot given the award’s history, but Bowers broke the rookie records for both receiving yards for a tight end and total receptions in 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders have set their offense up to revolve around him in the passing attack, and there’s a very real chance he improves his numbers in Year 2.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert
Ladd McConkey deserves recognition here after his stellar rookie season. But at the end of the day, the Los Angeles Chargers are Justin Herbert’s team.
Herbert only has one Pro Bowl in five seasons, but he’s consistently been one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He faces a tough schedule in the AFC West, but if Herbert continues his level of play and strings together a few more wins, don’t count him out from OPOY contention.
Los Angeles Rams: Puka Nacua
Though the Los Angeles Rams brought in Davante Adams to replace Cooper Kupp in the starting lineup, Puka Nacua is firmly in position as the team’s long-term WR1.
Nacua missed six games due to injury in 2024, but he actually averaged more yards per game than he did in his breakout rookie season the year prior. If he can stay healthy, Nacua should be in All-Pro conversations and, therefore, in OPOY discussions.
Miami Dolphins: Tyreek Hill
Tua Tagovailoa dealing with injuries caused Tyreek Hill’s production to fall off a cliff in 2024. However, in his previous two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, he topped 1,700 receiving yards on each occasion.
TUA TO TYREEK ON A 78-YARD TD
📺: #MIAvsWAS on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/xvCjbLUIcN pic.twitter.com/I7MXJ3qJbU— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2023
Hill finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2023 and fourth in 2022. If Tagovailoa stays healthy, it’s a strong possibility that Hill will be an OPOY frontrunner.
Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson, the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, has been the definition of elite since the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in 2020. Heading into 2025, he’s the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards per game. As long as he stays healthy, Jefferson will be in OPOY conversations no matter what.
New England Patriots: Drake Maye
Diggs stands out as a potential choice here, but the New England Patriots might have a future star on their hands in quarterback Drake Maye.
Granted, it would take a miracle for Maye to become Offensive Player of the Year. That said, he made it to the Pro Bowl as a rookie and demonstrated serious upside. He could ascend to another level in 2025.
New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara
The New Orleans Saints figure to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this year, but they have a consistent force at running back in Alvin Kamara. Kamara hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year in 2017, which complicates his OPOY candidacy. Nevertheless, he’s coming off a year with 1,493 scrimmage yards despite missing three games, indicating he could be a serious contender if healthy.
New York Giants: Malik Nabers
Despite a disappointing season, the New York Giants seem to have found a franchise cornerstone in wide receiver Malik Nabers. As a rookie, he finished top 10 in the league in both receptions and receiving yards in a Pro Bowl campaign. With improved QB play expected in New York, Nabers could do even more damage this season.
New York Jets: Garrett Wilson
Breece Hall is another potential option for the New York Jets, but if Aaron Glenn runs a committee backfield, that will eat into his touches further. Thus, their WR1 gets the nod.
Garrett Wilson has finished with over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his three NFL seasons. He’s not a standout OPOY candidate but has quietly been one of the most consistent receivers in the game.
Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley
The reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Barkley is currently the odds-on favorite to win the award again this coming season.
Reaching 2,000 rushing yards in a single season gives him an extremely high bar to reach in 2025. But given his skill set and the loaded offensive line the Eagles have in place, Barkley should still put up absurd numbers.
Pittsburgh Steelers: DK Metcalf
After six strong seasons in Seattle, DK Metcalf finds himself the focal point of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense.
Metcalf fell just short of 1,000 receiving yards last year, but he was competing with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett for touches. He faces a less crowded wide receiver room in Pittsburgh and could dominate the target share.
San Francisco 49ers: Christian McCaffrey
Staying healthy has been the issue for Christian McCaffrey throughout his career. When he’s able to stay on the field, he’s an elite playmaker unlike any other.
McCaffrey won Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 but played in just four games last season. His elite receiving ability and reliability as a runner make him one of the most dynamic weapons in football. The San Francisco 49ers just need him to avoid injuries.
Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
In Year 2 of his NFL career, Smith-Njigba exploded for 100 catches, 1,130 yards, and six touchdowns in a Pro Bowl campaign.
Since then, the Seattle Seahawks have parted ways with Metcalf and Lockett. Sure, they brought in Kupp, but at this stage of his career, he isn’t enough of a threat to knock Smith-Njigba off the WR1 mantle in Seattle.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucky Irving
Despite only starting in three games, Bucky Irving shocked the world by rushing for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ backfield should firmly be his in 2025.
Irving was a rotational back to start the year but held the lion’s share of carries for the Buccaneers by the end of 2024. He’s a steady workhorse who’s tough and can make defenders miss with deceptive short-area burst.
Tennessee Titans: Calvin Ridley
It would admittedly be surprising if a Tennessee Titans player won Offensive Player of the Year in 2025. That said, their best candidate technically has to be their top skill position player.
Calvin Ridley has quietly put together consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since his reinstatement into the NFL. He figures to be the Titans’ top pass catcher again in 2025, this time with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward throwing him the ball.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels set the bar incredibly high as a rookie, leading the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game and totaling 31 total touchdowns. There’s little reason to think he can’t see similar success in 2025.
A true dual-threat quarterback with an improved offense around him, Daniels looks the part of an MVP contender heading into Year 2 of his career. If he can continue to grow, he could be the first quarterback to win Offensive Player of the Year since 2018.