GLENDALE – One of the most popular sports bet for next NFL season is Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love for offensive rookie of the year. With the team’s question mark surrounding the quarterback position, head coach Mike LaFleur is expected to feed Love early and often to fuel the offense next season. However, some experts don’t believe in that trend and see Arizona taking a different approach in 2026.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Sports Illustrated Albert Breer spoke about his favorite pick for OROY and mentioned Love before backtracking and highlighting a penalty issue for the 21-year-old to win the award.
The Arizona Cardinals introduce their first-round draft pick running back Jeremiyah Love during a news conference at the Cardinals Dignity Health training facility on April 24, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Breer on slowing down Love’s expectations for rookie year:
“I think the easy answer is Jeremiyah Love. The Cardinals figure to build their offense around him, the running back position translates quickly from college to pro, and he’s a really, really good player. But I’d temper that just a bit in that I’d bet Arizona will try not to overuse him, with James Conner and Tyler Allgeier also in that backfield.
“So on offense, give me Love’s Notre Dame teammate, Jadarian Price, in Seattle, and Carnell Tate, who’s already turning heads in Tennessee. I think both will have a ton of opportunities and assimilate quickly, and those two elements are always key in rookie of the year races.”
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the number three pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The same issue arose for last year’s top selected running back in Las Vegas Raiders Ashton Jeanty, limiting his reps earlier in the season. Jeanty did finish the final three weeks averaging 22 attempts per game, which inflated his rushing numbers quite a bit. That same strategy could be used by the Cardinals to not overwork the running back they planned to be a cornerstone of the offense for the next decade.
It’ll be easy to not overwork the All-American because of how crowded the running back position is in Arizona. James Conner, Tyler Allgeier and Trey Benson are all on the roster for 2026, with one of them likely being traded or cut beforehand. Allgeier is coming from the Atlanta Falcons, where he played behind another All-Pro caliber running back in Bijan Robinson and has the same environment with new team.
Add in other factors like All-Pro tight end Trey McBride getting his much-deserved touches and wide receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, Love might not get the numbers many expect.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
