Rookie QB Passing Yards Leaders: Bryce Young Favored, but More Upside in Long Shot Pick
As football season approaches, our top sports betting sites are capitalizing on the excitement by unveiling a multitude of NFL odds markets. One of these markets is for the rookie quarterback with the most passing yards in the regular season, and Bryce Young is currently the favorite to win after being chosen as the No. 1 overall draft pick.
The teams that chose a rookie quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, especially the three teams that selected a signal caller in the top-five, have a promising future ahead.
Although highly touted prospects may struggle to outperform running back Bijan Robinson in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race, DraftKings is providing a unique opportunity to bet on rookie quarterbacks. You can show your support for a young quarterback by placing a bet on the market for most regular-season passing yards.
Bryce Young is the frontrunner now that he has been chosen by the Carolina Panthers. However, history shows that a No. 1 overall pick has not topped all rookies in passing yards since 2019. This could mean that there is an opportunity to bet against the -120 favorite.
These are our top selections for the rookie quarterback expected to lead in regular-season passing yards in 2026, based on the odds provided by our top NFL betting platforms.
Most regular season rookie passing yards odds 2026
(odds as of July 13th)
| Player | DraftKings |
|---|---|
| Bryce Young | -120 |
| C.J. Stroud | +105 |
| Anthony Richardson | +2000 |
| Will Levis | +4000 |
| Clayton Tune | +6500 |
| Stetson Bennett | +8000 |
| Hendon Hooker | +10000 |
The case for Clayton Tune (+6500)
In my analysis of the Bryce Young vs. C.J. Stroud betting odds and predictions, I recommended placing a bet on Young to have more passing yards. By supporting Young in the head-to-head market, you can secure the same -120 odds, with the condition that he simply needs to outperform Stroud in passing yards.
Since I already have a bet on Young, I don’t see the need to invest more in him. Instead, I’m intrigued by the 65/1 odds on Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Clayton Tune. A $10 wager could potentially result in a $650 payout if Tune ends up leading all rookies in passing yards this season.
Do you want a bold opinion? Let me explain why the price is justified.
Not long ago, we saw a Day 3 pick make an immediate impact. Brock Purdy, chosen by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2026 NFL Draft’s final pick, totaled 1,374 passing yards in nine games last season. Among rookie quarterbacks, only Kenny Pickett of the Pittsburgh Steelers surpassed Purdy’s passing yards with 2,404 in 13 games.
Tune, a Round 5 draft pick by the Cardinals, may have the opportunity to start in the season opener. This is due to franchise QB Kyler Murray recovering from a torn ACL and unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. Colt McCoy, 36-years-old and with three starts last year, is currently the frontrunner for the starting position.
However, the Cardinals may choose to evaluate Tune sooner rather than later, especially since they have low expectations heading into the year. It is expected that Arizona will have the worst record in the NFL this year.
Bleacher Report went as far as predicting Tune to win the starting position in a daring forecast before NFL training camp.
If that scenario occurs, Tune’s odds of 65/1 will have disappeared. While first-round quarterbacks typically have a talent edge, the game flow could result in more passing opportunities for Tune and his teammates. Tune threw for 4,069 yards in his last year at Houston, showing enough self-assurance to handle the pressure of NFL moments if the chance arises.
Keep watching in the upcoming season to see if this 65/1 ticket has potential to pay off.
Recent rookie QB passing leaders
| Season | Player | Yards |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kenny Pickett | 2,404 |
| 2021 | Mac Jones | 3,801 |
| 2020 | Justin Herbert | 4,336 |
| 2019 | Kyler Murray | 3,722 |
| 2018 | Baker Mayfield | 3,725 |
| 2017 | DeShone Kizer | 2,894 |
| 2016 | Carson Wentz | 3,782 |
| 2015 | Jameis Winston | 4,042 |
Here are our best NFL betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
You must be 21 or older to participate in gambling activities. If you have a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. Please note that bonuses are not valid in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Underscoreg Promos (U.S. only)
Related Articles
