Mid-Season NFL Awards Predictions

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Most Valuable Player

Patrick Mahomes

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The first year starting quarterback has hit the ground running. Maholmes has led the Chiefs to a 6-1 record while breaking Peyton Manning’s touchdown record to start a season with 13 through the first 3 weeks of the season. Mahomes has also broke the NFL record for the most touchdown passes in his first 8 career games. Mahomes has thrown for 2,507 yards, 22 touchdown passes, and a 85.9 quarterback rating (QBR). Mahomes is likely going to win this prestigious award and likely lead his team to the Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.

 

Todd Gurley

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The fourth year running back is leading the NFL in rushing and leading the Los Angeles Rams to  a 7-0 record. Gurley is the most consistent running back in the NFL, so far he has 686 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Gurley has lived up to all the hype since coming out college (Georgia). In Gurley’s rookie year he won Offensive Rookie of the Year. The way Gurley’s going, he will be running his way to Super Bowl LII in Atlanta.

 

Drew Brees

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The newly number 1 Quarterback in NFL passing yards is off to a historic season. The 17 season veteran hasn’t missed a beat since his 2004 Comeback Player of the Year award breaking records left and right, and making defenses look silly with his passes to different receivers every week. With a 121.6 QBR, 77.3% completion percentage, 1,870 passing yards, 13 TDs and 0 INTs he continuously shows why he is still a top contender for this award. Brees on a weekly basis leads his 5-1 Saints team to another winning season, even with the defensive side of the ball not living up to the hype from last years Defensive Rookie of the Year, Marshon Lattimore.  

 

Defensive Player Of The Year

Khalil Mack

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After being traded from Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders for draft picks Khalil Mack has been leading the surprising Bears’ defense to a complete lockdown defense. The 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is trying to make it a second time winner. He definitely is making a strong case for the award with a whopping 20 combined tackles, 4 assisted tackles, 5 sacks, and 1 Interception for 27 yards. Mack has been dealing with an ankle injury, but that hasn’t kept him sidelined as he has played all 6 games for the Bears so far this season; showing that Mack is a true contender as he shows commitment on the field at all times.

 

JJ Watt

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After a season ending injury last season, Watt has comeback to lead the Houston Texans defense front. Although Watt was missed for the season last year, it was what he did off the field which was what people were talking about. Watt’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund is the world’s largest crowdfunding effort. The fundraiser started on August 27 of last year and he raised a total of $41.6 million dollars. Watt’s work off the field last season awarded him the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which goes to the player’s volunteer and charity work, as well as their excellence on the field. This season Watt is tied for first in sacks with 8.

 

Aaron Donald

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Coming off a Defensive Player of the Year last season Donald is trying to make it a back-to-back winning season with the 7-0 season. Donald has been a menace to NFL offensive lines with 26 combined tackles, 9 assisted tackles, and 8 sacks. Donald is tied with Minnesota Vikings’ Danielle Hunter and the Houston Texans’ JJ Watt for the most sacks so far this 2018 NFL season. Donald has been leading the Rams defense in achieving their 7-0 start, with many analysts and NFL fans expecting them to remain undefeated and then eventually make it to Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta.

 

Offensive Rookie Of The Year

Saquon Barkley

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The 2nd pick in this years NFL draft out of Penn State the 6 foot 233 pound running back has been living up to the hype running all over defenses. The rookie already has 481 rushing yards, 68.7 yards per game, and averages 4.9 yards per carry each game. Barkley has already been compared to the Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, Barkley has been a clear-cut contender for the 2018 Rookie of the Year winner.

 

Calvin Ridley

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With the 26th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft the Atlanta Falcons picked the speedy wide receiver out of the University of Alabama. Ridley has been a true reliable option for the veteran quarterback Matt “Matty-Ice” Ryan. With Julio Jones racking up record yards but not scoring a touchdown yet, Ridley has stepped up to take the load of the touchdown receptions. In fact, the rookie sensation has been leading the Falcons wide receiver core with 6 total touchdowns so far this season.

 

 

 

Baker Mayfield

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With a surprising first overall pick the Cleveland Browns drafted the 2017 Heisman Trophy Winner, Baker Mayfield. In the preseason, fans were on the edge of their seats whenever they saw the first pick step foot on the field expecting to witness greatness, and help the struggling Browns turn it around. Originally the Browns named the veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor as the starting QB, but in week 3 of this new season; during the game, Taylor suffered a concussion sidelining him for the rest of the game, and more. Stepped out was the highly anticipated Baker Mayfield who led the team to a 21-17 win over the New York Jets throwing for 17/23 and 201 yards with 0 interceptions, and caught a 2-point conversion on a trick play to seal the win. And is now the starting QB for the rest of the season.

 

Defensive Rookie Of The Year

Denzel Ward

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The 4th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns selected the rookie cornerback from the University of Ohio State. Ward has been a lockdown corner for the Browns this year. The Browns really needed someone to lockdown the number one receiver on every team and Ward is getting the job done. Ward leads the team with 3 interceptions. In Wards first 4 games of the season, he locked down star wide receivers like Antonio Brown, Michael Thomas, and Amari Cooper. The way Ward has played so far, he is likely going to win the award.

 

Darius Leonard

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The Indianapolis Colts selected him with the 36th pick in the second of the 2018 NFL Draft out of South Carolina State. Leonard was named the NFL’s defensive rookie of the month for September. He is the first Colt to secure this honor since 2002, when Dwight Freeney did it twice. Leonard leads his team in tackles with eighty-eight and forced fumbles with three, recovering two of them. Leonard’s performance in a Week Two win over Washington resulted in Leonard being named both the AFC defensive player of the week and the Pepsi rookie of the week.

 

Tremaine Edmunds

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The Buffalo Bills selected Edmunds with the 16th pick in the first round from Virginia Tech University. Edmunds is the son of Ferrell Edmunds, a two-time Pro Bowler at tight end for the Miami Dolphins (1989-1990). Edmunds leads the Bills in tackles with 62 and also leads with 7 passes deflected. Edmunds has made several eye-popping plays that give the Bills every indication that he is the star in the making they believed he’d be when they picked him.

 

Coach Of The Year

Sean McVay

Image result for sean mcvayComing off his 2017 Coach of the Year award winning season, Sean McVay (Head Coach of the Los Angeles Rams) is making a strong case for back-to-back seasons. Leading the 8-0 Rams McVay has been proving why he is a great coach calling the correct plays at the correct time for his young phenom QB Jared Goff and his offense to execute. Whether it be Goff handing off to the leading rusher of the Rams in Todd Gurley, or throwing to their most reliable wide receiver Brandin Cooks Goff has been executing that too perfection.

 

Andy Reid

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Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs made the right decision to trade away veteran QB Alex Smith and let second year QB Patrick Mahomes take the reins under center. Mahomes and Reid have been proving why they are MVP and COY caliber QB and Coach as they are on to an impressive 7-1 record. The combination of Reid and Mahomes have been lighting up offensive numbers as they are ranked the number 1 offense in the NFL through the first 8 weeks breaking records left and right. Reid makes plays for the rising star QB to either give the ball to their strong back, Kareem Hunt, or let the speedy wideout Tyreek Hill run deep and have Mahomes drop it right into Hunt’s hands for a score.

 

Matt Nagy

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After trading draft picks to Jon Gruden and the Raiders for the defensive beast, Khalil Mack, Nagy has stepped out as a true contender for this award. Nagy has improved his Chicago Bears’ team from their bottom of the NFC North, 5-11 record, to leading the NFC North at 4-3. Matt Nagy has truly been a candidate for this award, upgrading his team from the bottom of the barrel to the top dogs.

 

Comeback Player Of The Year

Aaron Rodgers

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After coming off the injured reserve last season, Rodgers hasn’t missed a beat, in week 1 against the Bears Rodgers had to be taken out of the game in the first half. The Packers were losing 17-0 at the end of the second quarter heading into halftime; during the break Rodgers got a brace put on him and took some painkillers and headed back out, leading the Packers back into the game scoring 24 second half points and winning the game 24-23. This passed week, Rodgers and the Packers played the Rams and only lost by 2. Rodgers led the way in the first half scoring 10 points to the Rams 8, and kept up the scoring scoring 17 to the Rams’ 21 point; even though the Rams took the game Rodgers pulled off a huge eye opener to the undefeated Rams.

 

Andrew Luck

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After 2 straight seasons being on the sidelines Andrew Luck finally took the field this season. Luck has been leading the mediocre Colts to a measly 3-5 record, but there is still hope for Luck and the Colts. So far after coming off injury Luck has thrown for 65.8% completion, 2,187 yards, 23 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, and has thrown for a 96.2 passer rating. Most people believe that Luck is the most healthy QB coming into this new season, and he is making a strong case for Comeback Player of the Year.

 

Adrian Peterson

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The 33 year old running back who was a free agent a few seasons ago has been running like he is still a rushing leading running back. Peterson has been leading the rushing game for the Redskins with 127 carries for 587 yards, he averages 4.6 yards per carry, and 4 touchdowns running through defenses like he is playing against pee-wee leagues. Peterson sealed the the 20-13 win over the Giants this passed Sunday with a late 4th quarter 64 yard touchdown putting the Redskins up by 7 and ultimately put it out of reach for the Giants trying to mount a comeback. Peterson may be considered old by many fans, but he still is showing that he has a lot of pep in his step and a true contender for this award.