Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza has emerged as the betting favorite to win the NFL Rookie of the Year award following the team's trade deadline acquisition of Kirk Cousins, according to sportsbook odds analyzed by senior betting analyst Ben Fawkes on November 11, 2026.
The move for Cousins, a veteran quarterback, appears to have shifted expectations for Mendoza's immediate role and development trajectory with the Raiders. Sportsbooks have adjusted their Rookie of the Year markets significantly, placing Mendoza ahead of other first-year players.
Fawkes noted the odds movement reflects how the Cousins deal impacts the Raiders' quarterback room and Mendoza's projected playing time for the remainder of the season.
