Browns rookie WR Denzel Boston could start to run away with OROY in Week 4

We’re only three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, but Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston has a chance to start running away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Literally.

Well, no literally running away from the award itself, but running away from the award in the sense that the yardage he racked up after the catch could give him an insurmountable lead early in the season.

Okay, that’s enough of a setup. The Cleveland Browns have a big matchup in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it’s the first time the NFL world will see Boston on a big stage like this. He’s off to a good start, but after just two catches on four targets in Week 3, Cleveland will be motivated to play him hard.

Denzel Boston’s YAC ability could help him pull away from Offensive Rookie of the Year

Even though he only had two receptions against the Panthers in Week 3, Boston actually had a third reception that played a big role in the Browns getting their second win of the season.

He was the player they made the play on the 2-point conversion that gave the Browns a 3-point lead late in the 4th quarter.

So far this season, Boston has 9 receptions for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. Those numbers aren’t exactly earth-shattering, but when you dig a little deeper, the picture starts to become clearer.

Boston has the 3rd-best YAC above expectation average in the NFL so far this season (5.7 yards), which means he’s creating after the catch when he’s not there. Boston’s 69 yards after the catch make up 35.4 percent of his receiving total this season, and if he can continue to create when he gets the ball in space, he’ll quickly become one of the most dangerous all-around threats at the position in the NFL.

He’s already big at 6-foot-4. He’s not the fastest receiver, but he knows how to get an edge on defenders in other ways, especially in the red zone. And we’ve already seen that on display early in his rookie year.

Tetairoa McMillan won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2025, and he has 216 yards on 14 receptions through his first three games. He also didn’t score his first touchdown until Week 6.

Boston is already ahead of schedule in so many categories at this point, and Thursday night’s matchup against the Steelers is his chance to really cement his candidacy and start running away as the favorite to win the award.