Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza is now listed as a betting favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year ahead of his first NFL start. Multiple outlets cite a “wide-open” or suddenly changed odds landscape, with Mendoza moving to the top of sportsbooks despite not yet taking the field for a game.
The reports link the odds shift to the recent trade involving Kirk Cousins. Yahoo Sports adds context around timing, saying Mendoza’s first start is expected in mid-November. CBS Sports emphasizes that even with favoritism, Mendoza faces a difficult schedule, including games against top defenses.
Across coverage, the core facts are consistent: Mendoza has not started an NFL game, he has moved to the lead in Rookie of the Year betting, and his rise is tied to the Cousins trade. The main differences are the depth of context—schedule difficulty versus first-start timing—and the way each outlet frames what makes the favoritism notable.
