NFL Honors Predictions
As week 13 kicks off, the NFL awards race is heating up. Five games are left for players to separate themselves from the rest of the league. Here are the current front runners for the NFL Honors that will be presented on Super Bowl eve.
Defensive Player of the Year
Aaron Donald
Donald is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and he might just defend his title. Leading the NFL with 14.5 sacks and third with three forced fumbles, Donald is proving his record-breaking contract extension was worth every penny. Donald leads the league in sacks despite being double-teamed just around 72% of his defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus has Aaron Donald first in quarterback hurries and total quarterback pressures at 49 and 77 respectively. Donald has also been an elite run defender this season, ranking third in total run defense per PFF. With the pace he is currently on, Donald should have no problem winning back to back awards.
Khalil Mack
Khalil Mack has been dominant this season in his own right. Posting eight sacks (Tied 15th), five forced fumbles (Tied 1st), and an interception that he returned for a touchdown, Mack has been as dominant as ever this year. The ankle injury Mack suffered earlier this year hinders Mack’s chances to catch Donald, as he was forced to miss two games, but what Mack has done for the Bears defense and overall team record should not be overlooked.
Offensive Player of the Year
Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley looks to repeat in 2018 much like his teammate Aaron Donald. Touting an impressive 1,043 yards, 13 touchdowns, and a 5.0 yard per carry, Gurley might just win OPOY again. Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott are the only two running backs that have posted more than 81 yards per game with 94.8 and 95.8 respectively. Add in the fact that he has zero fumbles and 441 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 43 receptions, here is your front runner for Offensive Player of the Year.
Ezekiel Elliot
The current NFL leader in rushing yards with 1,150, Elliott is starting to heat up. With a slow start to the season and a poor month of October, Elliott has some ground to make up if he wants to catch Gurley. Elliott has also been as good as Gurley through the air, posting 53 receptions, 423 yards, and three touchdowns. With only nine total touchdowns however, Gurley still walks away with this one.
Adam Thielen
Leading the league in receptions with 93, Thielen has been unstoppable this year. Thielen has also been the most consistent receiver in the NFL this season, with 100+ yards in 9 of 11 games this season. Add in his eight touchdowns that places him top five in the NFL, Thielen has a case to be included in the conversation for OPOY.
Julio Jones
Much like Thielen, Julio continues to be one of the best receivers in the NFL. Leading the league in receiving yards with 1,305 and eight games with 100 or more yards, Julio could find himself in the conversation as well. However, much like recent years, Jones’ low touchdown numbers (3) will hurt his argument.
Tyreek Hill
Despite the lower reception count (65), the dynamic Hill leads the NFL in touchdown receptions (11), receptions of 20 yards or more, and yards after catch for receivers (410). He is also fourth in total receiving yards with 1,106.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Saquon Barkley
He has been what everyone expected. Dynamic, elusive, powerful, game-changing, all describe Barkley’s season so far. Barkley is top five in rushing yards (829) and touchdowns (8) this season. He also owns an impressive 4.8 yards per carry stat. He also leads all running backs in receptions (71), second with 581 yards, and fifth with four touchdowns through the air.
Baker Mayfield
If Baker Mayfield can put the Browns in a position to finish second in the AFC North, he has a chance to hear his name in the discussion for OROY. Leading all rookie passers in virtually every meaningful statistic, Mayfield is giving Cleveland fans something to hang their hopes on.
Nick Chubb
Chubb is the underdog to win OROY this season. Late to take over the sole backfield job in Cleveland, Chubb has posted 663 yards, six touchdowns, and an impressive 5.4 yards per attempt. He adds in two touchdowns through the air.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Darius Leonard
Darius Leonard has done everything this season. Leading the NFL in solo tackles (88) and total tackles with 114, Leonard also has an impressive six sacks, and four forced fumbles. Leonard has been rated the highest total grade of 84.9 for linebackers by Pro Football Focus this season.
Leighton Vander Esch
Replacing Pro Bowl linebacker Sean Lee, Vander Esch has flourished in Dallas. Second only to Leonard in statistics and grading, Vander Esch has started to impact games in big ways. 102 total tackles, seven passes defended, two interceptions, and made the key stop on third down against the Saints on Thursday, cementing the upset. He needs to finish the season in a big way, and the return of Sean Lee might hinder his chances, but this kid is a star in the making.
Derwin James
James is third among safeties for tackles, with 78 this season. He has an impressive nine passes defended and adds two interceptions as well. His 3.5 sacks lead all safeties in the NFL.
Bradley Chubb
The Broncos got the game changing pass rusher they wanted opposite of Von Miller. Tied for 14th in the NFL, Chubb has sacked the quarterback nine times this season. He also has a forced fumble.
MVP
Patrick Mahomes
There is no secret that the MVP race is down to two players currently. Mahomes has been the most prolific, and most consistent quarterback this season, leading the Chiefs to the best record in the AFC. Mahomes is third in passing yards (3,628), first in touchdowns (37), and second in total Quarterback Rating at 82.5. Mahomes does not have a bad loss on his resume this season, with his only losses coming to the second place New England Patriots, and the highest scoring Monday night football game in history, against the St. Louis Rams. In the Rams game, Mahomes did account for five turnovers, but ultimately ended up keeping the Chiefs in the game until the end, throwing for 478 yards and six touchdowns. With Drew Brees’ shaky Thursday night loss to the Cowboys, Mahomes gets a slight edge here.
Drew Brees
The NFL leader in completion percentage with a ridiculous 75.5 percent, and second most touchdown passes, Brees is having a career year even by his standards. He owns the top total QBR with 83.6 and also broke Peyton Manning’s NFL record for passing yards. He just became the first quarterback in history with 10 seasons in which he threw 30 or more touchdowns on Thursday night. Brees is very much alive in the MVP race, and may in fact end up winning the honor, but as stated earlier, the loss to the Cowboys may have voters in doubt right now.
