Is Quinshon Judkins An OROY Candidate?

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was dominant in Sunday's blowout 31-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Judkins rushed for 84 yards and three touchdowns. He should now be considered among the frontrunners for this year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Judkins became the first Browns playmaker to score three touchdowns in a game since Nick Chubb against the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. Judkins' first touchdown was an explosive 46-yard scamper in the second quarter. The former Ohio State standout burst through a hole before making the middle-field safety miss in space en route to winning a foot race.

Judkins' second touchdown saw the rookie ball-carrier align as the quarterback in a shotgun wildcat formation. Despite juggling the snap, Judkins still powered himself into the end zone. The Dolphins' defense had no answer.

Judkins' third touchdown occurred on 1st-and-goal in the fourth quarter, extending Cleveland's lead to 31-6. The Dolphins' body language on defense showed no remaining fight. Judkins consistently wore them down.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski completely committed to making Judkins the focal point of his offensive game plan. Judkins rushed 15 times for 69 yards and three TDs from jumbo sets (six-plus offensive linemen) on Sunday, according to Next Gen Stats. The Browns used an extra lineman on 22 of 52 plays overall (40.9%), the highest rate by any team in a game this campaign.

The Dolphins sold out defensively to stop Judkins. The rookie saw eight-plus defenders in the box on 52% of his rushing attempts, more than any other running back in Week 7, per NGS. Judkins was consistently impactful, nonetheless.

Judkins currently ranks 10th in the NFL in rushing with 467 yards. His 325 yards after contact ranks sixth-highest, according to Pro Football Focus’ data, and his 3.87 average yards after contact per attempt ranks fifth. It's worth remembering he didn't receive a full workload until Week 3. Judkins is performing like a top-five back in the league.

The biggest roadblock to Judkins' OROY chances is the Browns' 2-5 record. Other candidates, such as Emeka Egbuka and Tyler Warren, are on playoff-contending teams. Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart faces a similar challenge, but has the benefit of playing the game's most important position in one of the league's biggest markets.

Dart remains DraftKings' OROY favorite with -105 odds, though Sunday's collapse loss to the Denver Broncos won't help. Egbuka possesses +275 odds, but is dealing with an ongoing injury that threatens to limit his participation and effectiveness. Warren is third with +450 odds, and Judkins trails them by a significant margin at +1000. Expect Judkins to continue making ground.

Judkins put forth a historically relevant performance in Sunday's blowout victory over the Dolphins by scoring three touchdowns. He continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting high-upside running backs in the league. The future is incredibly bright for Judkins, who is beginning to position himself in Offensive Rookie of the Year conversations.