Happy Super Bowl Week, everyone! In honor of the end of the season, I wanted to hand out my awards for the best performances this season. Whether it’s the Most Valuable Player or Rookie of the Year, I have been impressed by many. So many, I made all-pro first and second teams and an all-rookie team. Here’s a look at my picks:
Most Valuable Player: Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Passing: 5316 yards, 43 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 67.5% completion rate, 102.1 passer rating, 68.1 QBR)
Happy retirement to the greatest to ever do it! Based on what the media says, I think Aaron Rodgers will end up winning the award, but Brady is a much better candidate. His stats are better than Rodgers’s and he had a career-high for passing yards in a season. Yes, there was a lot more talent for Brady to throw to, but that shouldn’t eliminate him having an incredible and record-breaking season at age 44.
Offensive Player of the Year: Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams (145 receptions, 1947 yards, 16 touchdowns)
Cooper Kupp had the best season of his career, leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Matthew Stafford has changed the Rams’ offense, but Kupp’s ability to catch and run has been huge this year.
Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers (64 total tackles, 48 solo tackles, 22.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 7 passes defended, 11 stuffs)
T.J. Watt will win this year’s Defensive Player of the Year, and it’s not even close. Watt had a historic year when sacking quarterbacks, leading the NFL in that category. He’s a key part of why the Steelers were in the NFL Playoffs. It’s not Aaron Donald or Myles Garrett this year. This year belongs to T.J. Watt.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (81 receptions, 1455 yards, 13 touchdowns)
Mac Jones was leading the race heading into 2022, but Ja’Marr Chase said, “Not so fast!” He had an incredible game against the Chiefs during Week 17, with 11 receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He was 4th in the NFL in receiving yards and 3rd in the NFL in receiving touchdowns. He also averaged 18 yards per catch, 2nd in the NFL. I was skeptical about him going into this year, but he’s been incredibly impactful on the Bengals’ offense. Joe Burrow’s top receiver from college is now his WR1 in the Super Bowl. What a dream for the LSU alums.
Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys (84 total tackles, 64 solo tackles, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 passes defended, 12 stuffs)
What an incredible year for the Cowboys’ defense, which was led by Parsons and Trevon Diggs. Parsons was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, without a doubt. He won this award by a landslide, there was no one beating the top linebacker taken this year. He was 6th in the NFL in sacks.
Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans (12-5 record)
With Derrick Henry missing the rest of the season since getting injured on Halloween, the Titans’ offense was on code red. Ryan Tannehill wasn’t the same quarterback from last year. Still, the Titans earned the #1 seed in the AFC, thanks to Vrabel’s coaching and a boost from the defense. Had we included postseason, this award would be going to Zac Taylor from the Bengals, but Vrabel had a tougher job during the regular season without his superstar running back.
Comeback Player of the Year: Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (Passing: 4449 yards, 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 68.8% completion rate, 104.2 passer rating, 54.5 QBR)
This was the closest race out of any of my awards. Both Dak Prescott and Joe Burrow had incredible seasons after gruesome injuries last year. They had similar stat lines this season. When I look at the stats, Dak Prescott had a slightly better season than Burrow. When I look on the field, Burrow’s more impressive. I like Joe Burrow, but I’m not letting any playoff bias get to me. Dak Prescott’s stats show he was slightly better than Burrow this year. It’s super close. Burrow got the last laugh, however. He made the Super Bowl.
Fantasy Player of the Year: Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams (367 points, 21.6 points per game in 1/2 PPR)
Cooper Kupp was so dominant in fantasy football, he was 4th in total fantasy points this season, behind Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and Tom Brady. I didn’t expect such an insane season from him this year. I lost to him in my league championship. He was so frustrating to go up against.
Air Player of the Year: Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Look above for the stats and details why he wins both MVP and my Air Player of the Year. He was so incredible, even at 44 years old.
Ground Player of the Year: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts (Rushing: 332 attempts, 1811 yards, 18 touchdowns; Rushing: 40 receptions, 360 yards, 2 touchdowns)
Jonathan Taylor made sure everyone knew he was one of the top running backs in the NFL, leading the league in rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and averaging 5.5 yards per attempt, which is 8th in the NFL. He is a stud that may just be the #1 overall pick in fantasy leagues next year.
Play of the Year: Justin Tucker breaks the field goal record with a 66-yard field goal
66 yards. 66 YARDS?! Insane. That is incredible. Not only was that the record-breaking field goal, but it also won the game for the Baltimore Ravens! Here’s a clip of it below:
All-Pro First Team:
Offense:
QB: Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
WR1: Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
WR2: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
WR3: Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
TE: Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
LT: Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
LG: Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
C: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
RG: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
RT: Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Defense:
EDGE: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
IDL: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
IDL: Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
EDGE: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
LB: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
LB: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
LB: De’Vondre Campbell, Green Bay Packers
CB: Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
CB: Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys
FS: Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans
SS: Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills
Special Teams:
K: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
P: A.J. Cole, Las Vegas Raiders
RS: Kene Nwangwu, Minnesota Vikings
ST: Matthew Slater, New England Patriots
LS: Luke Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts
All-Pro Second Team:
Offense:
QB: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
RB: Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
WR1: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
WR2: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
WR3: Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
TE: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
LT: Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers
LG: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
C: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
RG: Shaq Mason, New England Patriots
RT: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
Defense:
EDGE: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
IDL: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
IDL: Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
EDGE: Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears
LB: Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
LB: Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LB: Roquan Smith, Chicago Bears
CB: J.C. Jackson, New England Patriots
CB: A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
FS: Micah Hyde, Buffalo Bills
SS: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Special Teams:
K: Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Raiders
P: Bryan Anger, Dallas Cowboys
RS: Braxton Berrios, New York Jets
ST: J.T. Gray, New Orleans Saints
LS: Josh Harris, Atlanta Falcons
All-Rookie Team:
QB: Mac Jones, New England Patriots
RB: Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
WR1: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
WR2: Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
WR3: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
TE: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
LT: Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers
LG: Alijah Vera-Tucker, New York Jets
C: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
RG: Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
RT: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions
Defense:
EDGE: Odafe Oweh, Baltimore Ravens
IDL: Christian Barmore, New England Patriots
EDGE: Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts
LB: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns
LB: Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs
CB: Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos
CB: Greg Newsome, Cleveland Browns
S: Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins
S: Trevon Moehrig, Las Vegas Raiders
Special Teams:
K: Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals
P: Pressley Harvin III, Pittsburgh Steelers
RS: Kene Nwangwu, Minnesota Vikings
ST: Nick Niemann, Los Angeles Chargers
Calhoun's Corner 