As we wrap up Week 10 of the NFL season, the cream of the league rises to the top and we can start to see who really is a star and who was pretending all along. Here are my picks for the NFL Honors Awards as of now.
Coach of the Year- Brian Daboll, NYG
My pick for CotY is rookie HC Brian Daboll. Daboll came to NYG after a very successful career as OC in Buffalo, where he was instrumental in coaching QB Josh Allen into the superstar he is now. Daboll was handed the reins to a 4-13 Giants team with low prospects and is currently 7-2 which is the third-best in the NFC. Daboll has not quite turned QB Daniel Jones into a superstar, but he has found ways to win tight games and play to his team's strengths which is why he is my pick.
Offensive Rookie of the Year- RB Dameon Pierce, HOU
Pierce has risen to my top rookie on the offensive side of the ball since NYJ RB Breece Hall tore his ACL. The Houston back is a top-five back in most metrics besides touchdowns. Since winning the starting job this offseason after being a fourth-round pick he has been the lone bright spot on a disastrous Texans team. I can honestly say I do regret dropping him on my fantasy team after a slow start to the season. My main hope is that Houston uses him properly and does not try to destroy his body as a means to compensate for other poor areas of the offense.
Defensive Rookie of the Year- CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, NYJ
Gardner came into the league with a big reputation as "Sauce" with the amazing stat of never allowing a touchdown in three years at Cincinnati. Since then, he has unbelievably continued that stat well into his rookie season and earned the right to keep his nickname. He is hailed in NY as the second coming of Darelle Revis, handing out one-way tickets to Sauce Island where opposing WRs go to starve to death.
Comeback Player of the Year- RB Saquon Barkley, NYG
Geno Smith was a close second in my head until I realized that he only came back from... the bench? Saquon Barkley has been through so much in the past five seasons, and finally, he is performing the way he has been supposed to, all while being healthy. Along with my CotY Brian Daboll, Barkley has been a big part of why this Giants team can stay afloat. The Giants lean heavily on Barkley, so much so that on more than one occasion, he has stepped in under center to run wildcat formations that actually work. This do-it-all back is all but guaranteed to win this award come February.
Offensive Player of the Year- WR Tyreek Hill, MIA
Hill leads the league in receiving yards, receptions, and receptions over 20 yards. This big play receiver is, in my opinion, the biggest cause for the success of the Miami Dolphins. I also believe that he is the biggest offseason addition this year. With his speed and ability, he has made QB Tua Tagovailoa look like an All-Pro and led the Dolphins to AFC East leaders. This season he has been able to separate himself from Patrick Mahomes and solidify himself as a truly elite WR.
Defensive Player of the Year- EDGE Nick Bosa, SF
This may be an outlier pick as Bosa has not been the absolute best defensive player in the league. However, he is a top-three defender in about every category he qualifies in. I give Bosa the boost over other candidates like Pats LB Matt Judon and Ravens LB Za'Darius Smith due to his star power. Casual fans all know the likes of Nick Bosa and popularity definitely matters. Bosa has been overshadowed in the past by other defenders, but with a slower year by our regular candidates, he is finally shining as the best overall this season.
Most Valuable Player- QB Patrick Mahomes, KC
The more things change, the more they stay the same. As a salty Chargers fan, I have long been a Mahomes denier in saying that he is overrated, until today. I used to believe that Lamar and Josh Allen were better QBs this year, but their seasons are slowing down and Mahomes is still flying high. Even after seriously downgrading the KC offense, he is still putting up numbers as if Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt were still there. The Chiefs are still the biggest threat in the NFL and stand in the way of anyone wanting the Lombardi trophy.
By Brandon McCann
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