MVP: Derek Carr, quarterback (Raiders)
Tom Brady has made a strong case for this award with his play over the past month, but a 4 game sample size isn't enough to name some mid-season MVP. With Brady out of the equation, the crown has to go to Derek Carr. Carr has overcome a shaky defense (31st in yards allowed, 23rd in points allowed) and team-wide lack of discipline (they're averaging 10.8 penalties per game, which is almost 1.5 more than anyone else in the league) to lead the Raiders to a 6-2 record, and a legitimate shot at clinching their first playoff berth since 2002.
Honorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Tom Brady (Patriots), Drew Brees (Saints)
Top Offensive Player: David Johnson, running back (Cardinals)
2016's running back headlines have been dominated by Ezekiel Elliott's breakout rookie campaign and DeMarco Murray's unexpected return to form, but David Johnson has quietly been the most dominant running back in football this season. Johnson has picked a league-leading 1,112 all-purpose yards (705 rushing, 407 receiving) behind an injury-riddled offensive line and is the primary reason the Cardinals offense has been able to stay afloat during their disappointing 3-4-1 start.
Honorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Top Defensive Player: Von Miller (Broncos)
A huge new contract has not changed Von Miller in the slightest. The NFL's highest-paid defensive player has once again proven why he's the best outside linebacker of his generation by consistently flashing his rare combination of run-stuffing (26 run stops, 4th most in the NFL among edge defenders) and pass-rushing prowess (45 quarterback pressures and 8.5 sacks, most and 2nd most in the league respectively) during the first 8 games of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Donald (Rams), Linval Joseph (Vikings), Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
Top Offensive Rookie: Ezekiel Elliott, running back (Cowboys)
In one of this season's least shocking developments, Ezekiel Elliott has found instant success in the NFL. After a merely average first 2 games, the Cowboys running back been a nearly unstoppable wrecking ball, carving up defenses at will with his punishing rushing style. With a favorable second-half schedule and an elite offensive line blocking for him, it seems like a safe bet to assume Elliott will hold onto the league-lead in rushing yards for the rest of the season and cruise to an Offensive Rookie of the Year win.
Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Carson Wentz (Eagles), Jack Conklin (Titans)
Top Defensive Rookie: Joey Bosa, outside linebacker (Chargers)
The 1st defensive player selected in this year's draft got off to a late start to the season after engaging in an inexplicable contract dispute and missing the first 4 games of the year with a hamstring injury, but he has more than managed to make up for his lengthy absence since he stepped on the field for the 1st time in early October. Bosa has been every bit of the edge-rushing force he was touted to be coming out of Ohio State, racking up 26 quarterback pressures, 13 tackles and 4 sacks in just 4 games. Bosa is the clear king of the defensive rookies and it would be a massive shock if anyone was able to match or exceed his level of play in the 2nd half of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Keanu Neal (Falcons), Karl Joseph (Raiders), Michael Pierce (Ravens)
Top Comeback Player: Terrelle Pryor Sr. (Browns)
You could easily give this award to DeMarco Murray, but his comeback from a down season with the Eagles isn't nearly as impressive as what Terrelle Pryor Sr. has done this season. Pryor has been out of the league for almost 2 full seasons (he appeared in 1 game for the Browns last year) and is still honing his skill set as a wide receiver after playing as a quarterback for the first 3 years of his NFL career yet has still managed to emerge as one of the few reliable contributors on a talent-barren Browns squad with 532 yards (18th most in the league, more than DeAndre Hopkins, Jeremy Maclin and Jordy Nelson) and 3 TD's (tied for 21st in the league, more than Amari Cooper, Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall). While those aren't Pro Bowl/All-Pro caliber numbers, it's still wildly impressive for a newly-converted wideout that has been forced to catch passes from 5 different quarterbacks this year.
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Titans), Terrance West (Ravens), Morris Claiborne (Cowboys)
Top Coach: Jack Del Rio (Raiders)
What Jack Del Rio has done with the Raiders this season is nothing short of incredible. Del Rio's resilience and dice-rolling mentality has helped the Raiders overcome a slew of obstacles (porous defense, league-leading number of penalties, revolving door at running back), and put them on the right track to end their nearly 15-year playoff drought.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Zimmer (Vikings), Doug Pederson (Eagles), Dan Quinn (Falcons)
Top 3 Surprise Teams:
1.Eagles
2.Falcons
3.Titans
Top 3 Disappointments:
1.Panthers
2.Cardinals
3.Bengals
Revised Playoff Picks:
AFC:
1.Patriots
2.Broncos
3.Steelers
4.Texans
5.Chiefs
6.Raiders
Wild Card:
Steelers over Raiders
Chiefs over Texans
Divisional Round:
Patriots over Chiefs
Steelers over Broncos
AFC Championship:
Patriots over Steelers
NFC:
1.Cowboys
2.Seahawks
3.Vikings
4.Falcons
5.Packers
6.Redskins
Wild Card:
Vikings over Redskins
Packers over Falcons
Divisional Round:
Cowboys over Packers
Vikings over Seahawks
NFC Championship:
Cowboys over Vikings
Super Bowl:
Patriots over Cowboys
No comments:
Post a Comment