There’s only one trophy that players want to get their hands on at the end of the year: the Lombardi Trophy. But for a select few players (and coach), getting their hands on one of the prestigious individual awards isn’t too shabby, either. So, let’s see who stands the best shot at taking home those awards at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, get a good sense of how the entire season shakes out with our complete regular season and playoff predictions here.
[sc:Football ]2015 NFL Awards Predictions
Most Valuable Player
Top 3 Contenders: Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson
And the winner is: Andrew Luck
[sc:NFL240banner ]It’s just a matter of time before Luck wins this award, and this is shaping up to be his year to do it. With all the options he has at receiver, he’s going to put up some pretty impressive numbers. He’s also going to win a lot of games with their very easy schedule – his Colts are huge -550 favorites to win the AFC South – which should catch the eyes of voters.
Rodgers and Wilson will also benefit from that combination of wins and stats – Wilson in particular now that he has actual receivers to work with this year – but Luck’s gaudier numbers and the Colts’ better record earns him the hardware.
Offensive Player of the Year
Top 3 Contenders: Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Adrian Peterson
And the winner is: Russell Wilson
Otherwise known as the “Runner-up MVP Award,” Rodgers and Wilson will be top contenders for the trophy by virtue of missing out on the big prize. Peterson will also be in contention as he looks to make up for that lost year.
This award could just be Wilson’s to win, though. He has the clear edge over Rodgers on the ground with his scrambling ability, and should close the gap in terms of passing numbers with his new weapons. That complete package on offense makes Wilson a legit dark horse for the trophy.
Russell’s Seahawks are anything but dark horses in terms of the Super Bowl, though. Seattle’s currently a +650 favorite to win it all.
Defensive Player of the Year
Top 3 Contenders: JJ Watt, Ndamukong Suh, Robert Quinn
And the winner is: Ndamukong Suh
Watt and Suh are arguably the two best defensive players in the NFL today, so their names will inevitably be in the conversation. Watt notched 20.5 sacks to win the award last season, the second time he’s done so in three years. Watt’s a freak of nature, but it’s still going to be tough for him to reach those same insane stats again in consecutive seasons.
Suh, on the other hand, will have a ready-made narrative of being the “missing piece” which transforms the Dolphins defense into a playoff-caliber unit. And if he does lead them to the postseason, Ndamukong should be a “Suh-in” for the award.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Top 3 Contenders: Amari Cooper, Melvin Gordon, Nelson Agholor
And the winner is: Amari Cooper
Gordon and Agholor find themselves in very ideal situations as rookies. They’re going to get significant playing time right away, and have a chance to be key contributors in very good offenses. They’re teams should also be in the thick of playoff contention due to their efforts, which should gain them a few more votes.
Amari Cooper won’t be anywhere near a playoff race, but he will get targeted a LOT in that Raiders offense, and he’ll get some huge numbers as a result. It’ll take something special to make people overlook how horrible the Raiders are again, but Cooper has a chance to produce exactly that.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Top 3 Contenders: Danny Shelton, Leonard Williams, Vic Beasley
And the winner is: Vic Beasley
Williams and Shelton are going to be beasts right away along the defensive line. Williams will get a chance to prove himself as a possible long-term replacement for the suspended Sheldon Richardson, while the Browns will be more formidable against the run with Shelton’s monstrous presence.
Beasley, though, could have them both beat by the end of the season. He’ll give the Falcons the pass rusher they desperately need, and could put up some impressive sack numbers under Dan Quinn’s defense. If he can be a major player in a Falcons revival that ends up in a playoff berth – Atlanta is priced at +175 to win the NFC South – the ROY trophy is his to lose.
Coach of the Year
Top 3 Contenders: Chuck Pagano, Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer
And the winner is: Dan Quinn
Speaking of Quinn, he’ll also be the easy front-runner to win COY if he can coach the Falcons back into the playoffs. His excellent defensive expertise will help a great deal on that front, as will an eminently winnable division in the NFC South.
The Colts’ Pagano and the Vikings’ Zimmer are also worthy contenders, but the first-year coach that turns a flailing franchise around instantly is pretty popular for voters, so Quinn has the edge in that regard.
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