Aaron Rodgers is the favorite to win the NFL Most Valuable Player.
We have made it to Super Bowl Weekend and that means it is time for the NFL Honors. We will find out who will win the Most Valuable Player award, Rookies of the Year, and more. Here are my picks for each of the awards:
Bridgestone Clutch Performance Play of the Year: Hail Murray, Arizona Cardinals
This one is easy for me. Kyler Murray threw a 43-yard hail mary to DeAndre Hopkins for a touchdown with two seconds to go, defeating the Bills 32-30 in Week 10. It was the first go-ahead hail mary since Aaron Rodgers launched a 61-yard touchdown to Richard Rodgers back in 2015. Here’s a clip of the play:
FedEx Air Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (70.72% completion, 4299 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 84.3 QBR, 121.5 passer rating, 382.76 fantasy points, 23.9 fantasy points per game)
Aaron Rodgers surprised me this year after a decent season last year. The duo of Rodgers and Davante Adams is truly incredible.
FedEx Ground Player of the Year: Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans (378 attempts, 2027 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns, 323.6 fantasy points, 20.2 fantasy points per game)
Derrick Henry is truly incredible. What made this award tough was that Vikings running back Dalvin Cook and Saints running back Alvin Kamara would have won this award any other year. All three were amazing this season. What gave Henry the edge was that he had over 2000 rushing yards this season and led the league in rushing touchdowns. He is unstoppable.
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Player of the Year: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills (69.2% completion, 4544 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 6 fumbles, 421 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns, 395.56 fantasy points,
In my fantasy league, we used half-PPR, so the fantasy points are based on that. Allen scored the most fantasy points out of everyone this season and surprised the league after having mediocre seasons until this season. He also averaged 24.7 points per game, which I have to say is pretty good.
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year presented by Microsoft Surface: Chase Young, EDGE, Washington Football Team (42 total tackles, 30 solo tackles, 12 assist tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries)
This was an award between Chase Young and Panthers rookie Jeremy Chinn. I think Chinn exceeded everybody’s expectations, but Chase Young was the better player. The Washington Football Team defense was the reason why they won the NFC East and got to the playoffs. And leading that defense was Chase Young.
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year presented by Microsoft Surface: Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers (66.6% completion, 4336 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 69.6 QBR, 98.3 passer rating, 234 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 332.54 fantasy points, 22.2 fantasy points per game)
It was a close race between Herbert and Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson can certainly become one of the best receivers in the league, but when I look at this award, I look at the impact each player had. The Chargers found their franchise quarterback and the Vikings found a perfect replacement for Stefon Diggs. Every football team revolves around the quarterback, so that’s why I’ll take Herbert. Justin Jefferson was a strong candidate.
AP Comeback Player of the Year presented by Visa: Alex Smith, QB, Washington Football Team (66.67% completion, 1582 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 34.8 QBR, 78.5 passer rating, 71.58 fantasy points, 8.9 fantasy points per game)
Alex Smith’s story is inspiring to all of us. The moment he had his first play since coming back from the gruesome injury he had back in November 2018, he won this award. It’s a no brainer. I will always be an Alex Smith fan due to his story. Congratulations, Alex.
AP Coach of the Year presented by Bose: Brian Flores, Miami Dolphins
This award was between Flores and Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills. Everyone had doubts about the Dolphins and expected them to be not contending for a playoff spot. They didn’t make the playoffs, but the Dolphins were one game away from doing so. The defense exceeded my expectations, so I will give the award to Flores, but it was very close.
AP Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers (53 total tackles, 43 solo tackles, 10 assist tackles, 15 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception)
This award was probably the hardest to pick besides the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and Coach of the Year. I had reasons to pick Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, I had reasons to pick Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and I had reasons to pick Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard. However, I was most impressed with T.J. Watt this year. He led the league in sacks and was the best player on the Steelers. I think any of the players I just mentioned can win. I’ll be okay with the results if any of these four players win.
AP Offensive Player of the Year: Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers (115 receptions, 1374 receiving yards, 18 receiving touchdowns, 300.9 fantasy points, 21.5 fantasy points per game)
If Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas won this award last year, this should be Davante Adams’s award. I’ve been considering many players for this award: Stefon Diggs, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, Josh Allen, Alvin Kamara, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill. They all had terrific seasons, but I’ve never been so scared to face a fantasy player as much as I was scared to face Davante Adams. I can see any of these players winning this award, but I think Davante Adams deserves it.
AP Most Valuable Player Award delivered by Pizza Hut: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (70.72% completion, 4299 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 84.3 QBR, 121.5 passer rating, 382.76 fantasy points, 23.9 fantasy points per game, 38 carries, 149 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns)
I would be surprised if this award went to anyone else. Early in the season, it was Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s award to lose. He ended up losing it. Then the favorite was Patrick Mahomes, who is a finalist for the award. Josh Allen was a new face, having an incredible season with the Bills. This should be his third NFL MVP award, winning previously in 2011 and 2014. The Pro Football Writers Association already picked Rodgers as the MVP.
Those are my predictions, but you can watch those awards be revealed and many others at 9 p.m. EST on CBS at the Straz Center in Tampa, Florida, hosted by Steve Harvey (third consecutive host).
Calhoun's Corner 