MVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks) (2,505 YDS, 22 TD, 1 INT, 203 Rushing YDS, 3 TD)
Wilson's 2019 campaign has been damn near perfect thus far. He's played largely mistake-free football while routinely taking over games, making highlight-worthy plays and bailing the Seahawks out of tricky predicaments during their excellent 7-2 start.
Honorable Mentions: Christian McCaffery (Panthers), Deshaun Watson (Texans), Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
Top Offensive Player: Christian McCaffery (Panthers) (165 CAR, 881 YDS, 10 TD, 42 REC, 363 YDS, 3 TD)
No none-QB has meant more to their team in the opening portion of the 2019 season than McCaffery. By making navigating through stacked boxes behind a mediocre offensive line look as easy running in the open field, not dropping a single pass and displaying a strong nose for the endzone, he's been exactly the consistently explosive playmaking presence this offense needed to make Kyle Allen's unexpected transition to the starting QB role as seamless as possible.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Thomas (Saints), Dalvin Cook (Vikings), Quenton Nelson (Colts)
Top Defensive Player: Aaron Donald (Rams) (25 tackles, 5 sacks, 11 TFL's, 9 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles, 1 FUM REC)
There are several players with better raw stats (Nick Bosa, Calias Campbell, Myles Garrett) and he's not racking up quite as many as sacks as he usually does, but Donald is still pressuring QB's and blowing up plays at the line of scrimmage more than any other player in the league. It would be a true shock if his year-end numbers don't provide a more accurate depiction of his down-by-down dominance.
Honorable Mentions: Calias Campbell (Jaguars), T.J. Watt (Steelers), Eric Kendricks (Vikings)
Top Offensive Rookie: Josh Jacobs (Raiders) (152 CAR, 740 YDS, 6 TD, 11 REC, 102 YDS)
Jon Gruden has called on Jacobs to be a bellcow back despite his modest workload at Alabama and so far, the 21 year old has responded remarkably well to that challenge. His strong, physical rushing style has made him a key cog in the Raiders surprisingly solid offense and allowed to him rank within the top 10 in the league in total rushing YDS (740, 6th overall), rushing YDS per game (92.5-4th) and rushing TD's (6-tied for 5th).
Honorable Mentions: DK Metcalf (Seahawks), Terry McLaurin (Redskins), Gardner Minshew (Jaguars)
Top Defensive Rookie: Nick Bosa (49ers) (21 tackles, 7 sacks, 13 QB hits, 11 TFL's 1 INT)
Thanks to a wide arsenal of pass-rushing moves combined with an explosive first step and beautiful technique, Bosa has immediately emerged as a top-tier edge disruptor in the pros. Like his brother Joey in 2016, the extensive amount of time he missed in the offseason battling various injuries make this incredible start to his rookie year that much more impressive.
Honorable Mentions: Devin Bush (Steelers), Josh Allen (Jaguars), Brian Burns (Panthers)
Comeback Player of the Year: Cooper Kupp (Rams) (58 REC, 792 YDS, 5 TD)
The fact that Kupp appears to be putting together his best NFL season less than 12 months after suffering an ACL tear is truly astonishing. On a Rams offense that hasn't been nearly as dynamic as it was a year ago for a variety of reasons (wretched offensive line play, weaker rushing game, erratic play from Jared Goff), Kupp has been the lone source of splash plays as well as a much-needed safety net for Goff.
Honorable Mentions: Teddy Bridgewater (Saints), Leonard Fournette (Jaguars), Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Coach of the Year: Kyle Shanahan (49ers)
About 2 months ago, I predicted that Shanahan was a strong bet to get fired this season. Like a lot of the takes I threw out during my preseason preview series, it ended up being comically wrong. Shanahan's creative playcalling paired with the sudden emergence of their defense as an elite unit has the 49ers off to an 8-0 start and on track to make their 1st playoff appearance since 2013.
Honorable Mentions: Matt LaFleur (Packers), Sean Payton (Saints), Frank Reich (Colts)
AFC:
1.Patriots
2.Chiefs
3.Ravens
4.Texans
5.Bills
6.Colts
Wild Card:
Ravens over Colts
Texans over Bills
Divisional Round:
Patriots over Texans
Chiefs over Ravens
Conference Championship:
Patriots over Chiefs
NFC:
1.Saints
2.49ers
3.Packers
4.Cowboys
5.Seahawks
6.Rams
Wild Card:
Rams over Packers
Seahawks over Cowboys
Divisional Round:
Saints over Rams
Seahawks over 49ers
Conference Championship:
Saints over Seahawks
Super Bowl:
Patriots over Saints
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