Can Skattebo win OROY?
By: Jake Rajala
Cam Skattebo, who plays running back for the New York Giants, is on a mission in 2025. He has already accumulated 338 yards, five touchdowns, and 4.1 YPC. PFF has handed Cam an admirable grade of 82.1, which is third among RBs. Yes, you read that correctly. Just as we’ve seen Derrick Henry look like a defensive end at the RB spot, Cam looks like a LB playing RB. They both run like their head is the hardest part of their body, too.
He’s not only a gifted as a rookie, but he’s a stud among all RBs! He arguably is coming off his best game as a pro. He had three rushing touchdowns and averaged 5.2 YPC against a stingy Eagles defense. He bounced back from a Saints game, where he had a critical fumble. With that all said, the ultimate question surrounds Cam: can he win Offensive Rookie of The Year? Absolutely.
So, we know Cam is a baller. He reminds me of Peyton Hillis and Marshawn Lynch. Well, which other rookies could contend with him for OROY? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka is a heavyweight. He had 25 grabs for 445 yards, but he’s facing a hamstring injury.
I don’t quite believe Jaxson Dart is an OROY candidate. He’s missed a lot of time, and he hasn’t been overly productive (6 total TDs to 2 int) The Pro Bowl WR Malik Nabers is also out for the season, which is a massive blow to the passing game. The Titans QB Cam Ward has struggled (3 passing TDs to 4 ints), and he only has one win right now. Number one picks at QB often carry the worst or near the worst supporting cast.
It’s not easy for a RB to win OROY. The last RB to do so was Saquon Barkley in 2018. Alvin Kamara did win OROY the season before him. So, how did Barkley perform in his rookie season? He ran for 1,307 rushing yards and 11 rushing TDs. He also had 91 catches for 721 yards. Yes, he was quite well-rounded.
Now here is a season projection of Cam:
957 rushing yards
14 rushing TDs.
439 receiving yards
He will most likely record 900-1,100 yards this season. It’s impressive that he should have 14 rushing TDs. This would eclipse Saquon’s rushing TD figure.
So, how has Cam scored from a fantasy perspective? Well, he’s the fourth best RB on Sleeper. He had one 2.9 pt game and then he never looked back. He had 13.9 pts in Week 2, 24.1 pts in Week 3, 13 pts in Week 4, 14,4 pts in Week 5, and then 31 pts last Thursday. I honestly believe he’s next to being untradeable, especially with his recent growth. I wouldn’t even trade him for the elite RB previously discussed, Barkley.
Clearly, Cam is special. Even if he fails to win OROY, he should get votes for the award. The rookie Jaxson Dart should only improve and force safeties to play high, which can open up things for Cam. They can improve side by side. Kamara was able to win OROY with Drew Brees, who played like an MVP candidate.
It’s hard not to like Cam’s playing style. He really reminds me of an old-school RB like Jim Brown or Jerome Bettis (besides the modern day power backs mentioned). He only gets more dangerous throughout the game. If he wins OROY, it could spell a run of RBs getting picked early in future NFL Drafts. Cam and Kamara were somehow both third round picks in the draft.
I believe Cam will also need help in an area where other rookies might have. This is known as: wins. If the GMEN have four to five wins, many voters will doubt the impact Skattebo has on a team. Just as the wins matter for MVP, victories can help propel a rookie to win OROY.
If Cam brings home the trophy and wins OROY, where will he stand in the history books? Well, Barkley was a Giant when he won the award. Let’s also not forget that OBJ was on the Giants when he won OROY!
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