The 2025-26 NBA season's Rookie of the Year race remains every bit exciting to follow after five weeks. Preseason favorite Cooper Flagg has yet to top the power rankings, but is steadily trailing runaway leader Kon Knueppel, his former Duke teammate.The rest of the rankings remain fluid amid their rivals' ups and downs. One of the major losers has been VJ Edgecombe, who went nuclear in the first week but has gradually regressed since then despite a few highlights. An injury-riddled stretch sees him drop out of the top five for the first time.Elsewhere, the New Orleans Pelicans' lottery pick duo of Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen have consistently improved their performances. We've rewarded Queen over the past two weeks. Now, it's Fears' turn to reap some benefits.That said, here's a look at how things stand in our latest NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings.NBA Rookie of the Year 2025-26 Season: Latest Power Rankings - Nov. 20, 2025Notable mentions:#10 Will Richard#9 Tre Johnson#8 Ace Bailey#7 Ryan Kalkbrenner#6 VJ Edgecombe#5 Cedric Coward, Memphis GrizzliesCedric Coward #23 in action against Pelicans (Image Source: IMAGN)Last week's ranking: 2 (↓3)Season stats: GP 19 | PPG 13.7 | RPG 6.0 | APG 2.8 | SPG 0.7 | BPG 0.4 | TOV 1.3FG 46.6% | 3-PT FG 37.5% | FT 86.4%Cedric Coward had a rough week after retaining his No. 2 spot in our previous Rookie of the Year power ranking on Nov. 20. He has averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists, shooting 42.5%, including 26.3% from deep in four games since then.Coward's shooting, scoring, rebounding and playmaking numbers have regressed. Other candidates have passed him in those areas, leading to a massive slide for the No. 11 pick in this week's ranking as he drops three spots.Nevertheless, Coward's defense has remained elite in this stretch. He capped off the week with a potential game-saving block against New Orleans on Wednesday. It summed up his elite ability as a viable contributor regardless of his offensive struggles.#4 Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans PelicansPelicans' #10 Jeremiah Fears in action against Bulls (Image Source: IMAGN)Last Week's Ranking: 6 (↑2)Season stats: GP 19 | PPG 15.1 | RPG 3.2 | APG 2.7 | SPG 1.5 | BPG 0.2 | TOV 2.3FG 45.3% | 3-PT FG 36.5% | FT 78.6%The steals per game leader among rookies, Jeremiah Fears, replaces VJ Edgecombe in the top five of our Rookie of the Year power rankings. The 6-foot-3 guard has been on the brink of earning a spot for two weeks after spending time at No. 6Edgecombe's injury and another consistent week, averaging 14.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.3 spg on 46.7% shooting and 54.5% from beyond the arc, gave Fears his break. There's been plenty to like about his game, especially his ability to attack downhill, get paint touches at will, and his defensive instincts.He's given the Pelicans immense stability on both ends of the court in the early stages. While Fears' playmaking has yet to translate, he's done enough in other areas to receive an endorsement in the Rookie of the Year race.#3 Derik Queen, New Orleans PelicansPelicans' #22 Derik Queen shoots the ball over Bulls' Jalen Smith (Image Source: IMAGN)Last week's ranking: 4 (↑1)Season stats: GP 19 | PPG 12.3 | RPG 6.3 | APG 3.6 | SPG 1.1 | BPG 0.8 | TOV 2.3FG 49.2% | 3-PT FG 11.8% | FT 77.9%Derik Queen continues to impress with his weekly progression that has earned him the third spot in our Rookie of the Year power rankings. The No. 13 pick averaged 14.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.8 apg and 1.3 spg in four games last week, shooting 47.9% and 92.3% from the free throw line.The Pelicans center recorded consecutive 20-point games, right after giving Nikola Jokic a 30-piece. This stretch included a near triple-double against Dallas on Friday. Queen scored 20 points, seven rebounds and a career-high 11 assists.Every week, he's showing that his game is beyond just his great floor reading and playmaking. This time, it was all about his scoring ability and improved defense. Queen tied Fears for most steals per game in the last four games.#2 Cooper Flagg, Dallas MavericksMavericks' #32 Cooper Flagg drives the ball against Heat (Image Source: IMAGN)Last week's ranking: 3 (↑1)Season stats: GP 18 | PPG 15.9 | RPG 6.4 | APG 3.1 | SPG 1.3 | BPG 0.7 | TOV 2.2FG 45.1% | 3-PT FG 26.1% | FT 79.3%Cooper Flagg climbs up a spot this week to No. 2 after Cedric Coward's slide. It wasn't the only reason the No. 1 pick is back in this position. Flagg had a solid week, playing three out of four games after missing one due to an illness. He averaged 17.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.7 spg. He's shot 43.8% and 83.3% from the free throw line.Though Flagg's struggles from beyond the arc worsened as he made only 9.1% of his attempts during this stretch, his impact in other areas made a compelling case in his Rookie of the Year claim. He tipped off the week with a career-high 29 points on 63.2% shooting against New Orleans, leading the Mavericks to a 118-115 win.Flagg scored 12 apiece in the following two games on a combined 9-for-29 shooting. Nevertheless, he delivered on defense, and his few made shots were timely.#1 Kon Knueppel, Charlotte HornetsHornets' #7 Kon Knueppel drives the ball (Image Source: IMAGN)Last week's ranking: 1 (=)Season stats: GP 18 | PPG 18.6 | RPG 5.7 | APG 2.8 | SPG 0.7 | BPG 0.2 | TOV 2.4FG 47.6% | 3-PT FG 41.7% | FT 88.4%Kon Knueppel remains the undisputed No. 1 in our Rookie of the Year power rankings for the third straight week. The Hornets' No. 4 pick had a stellar run over the past three games, averaging 20.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 2.0 apg on 48.8% shooting, including 48.1% from 3 and 87.5% from the free throw line.Knueppel scored consecutive 25-plus-point games to start the week. That marked his fourth straight game with 20-plus points and third with more than 25. Knueppel's leaving established stars behind in all three major statistical categories this season.As of Tuesday, he had more points than notable players like Zach LaVine and Desmond Bane. He had more rebounds than Bam Adebayo, Amen Thompson and Draymond Green. In 3-pointers, Knueppel led James Harden, Lauri Markkanen and Michael Porter Jr. In 3-point efficiency, the rookie outshot Steph Curry and Tyrese Maxey.Knueppel hit a slight bump after a lengthy stretch on Wednesday after he managed six points on 2 of 12 shots in a loss to the Knicks. But it did little to derail his stake as a Rookie of the Year favorite as he's comfortably outperforming his peers in the season context.