As the season starts to wind down towards the playoffs, it’s time to look ahead at who might be picking up some serious hardware for their body of work this season: MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defense Rookie of the Year. I listed my current Top 3 and a wild-card for each Trophy. Things might change as the season closes out, but these are my current favorites.

MVP:

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts: Best QB in the game, he has the Colts 14-0, thrown for 4,213 yrds, 33 td’s, enough said. Should have another MVP on his mantle.
2. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints: Brees has thrown for 4,130 yrds with 33 td’s and his team is 13-1. If the Saints didn’t lose to the Cowboys last week he might have been number one on this list…what he has done the last few years has been nothing short of amazing.
3. Brett Favre, QB Minnesota Vikings: A 40 yr old putting up over 3,500 yrds passing with 27 td’s and the Vikes are 12-3…these stats make the Minnesota a relevant team with legit Super-Bowl aspirations. He already has 3 MVP’s in his trophy case which always helps to sway voters.
4. Long Shot: TIE between Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers and Chris Johnson RB, Nashville Titans….Rivers has been steady to great all year for the surging Chargers while Johnson has a chance to break Eric Dickerson’s all time rushing yards mark(2,105 yrds) with only 233 yards needed…he has been electric for a team that lost its identity.

Defensive Player of the Year:

1. Darrelle Revis, CB, NY Jets: The best corner in the game right now…he might not have the stats that some of the others on this list but he has shutdown the best receivers in the NFL each week. Just ask fantasy owners whose number 1 receivers were shut out against the Jets this year…he’s young and getting better which is scary for NFL offenses.
2. Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers: His sheer numbers this year will gain him some serious cred (70 tkls, 8 ints, 2 tds, 2 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles) but I still don’t think he affects the top receivers like Revis does. This is his best year stat wise for the 5 time Pro-Bowler.
3. Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings: He is a menace on the field (just ask Green Bay when he racked up 4.5 sacks on Aaron Rodgers) You have to like his non-stop motor and overall production of 46 tkls, 13.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 int for a first place team.
4. Long Shot: Elvis Dumervil, DE, Denver Broncos: He might be the best defensive player that most fans don’t know about. He is only 5’11 and 248 pounds playing rush end, who makes everything count. His numbers don’t lie as he leads the league with 15 sacks, 46 tkls, and 3 forced fumbles….if the Broncos go on a run he might start to climb the list.

Rookie of the Year: Offense

1. Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota Vikings: Mr. Do-it-all, has been a solid receiver out of the backfield or split wide, and has made an impact on special teams returning two for touchdowns…maybe the first Florida Gator WR to actually be worth something in the NFL.
2. Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals: Still not the starting RB for the Cards but is the future at the position. Getting better as the season winds down. Needs to cut down on the fumbles. Could be a difference maker for a team that can’t run the ball effectively.
3. Mark Sanchez, QB, NY Jets: Started the year off HOT but cooled off. Still has a chance to guide the Jets to the playoffs in his rookie year. Jets fans are happy they have a QB to build around.
4. Long Shot: Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49’ers: Just think if he had played all year what type of production he would have had (he does lead his WR group with the most yards). Will be a serious player in the league, soon.

Rookie of the Year: Defense

1. Brian Cushing, LB, Houston Texans: Former USC linebacker has been leading his team in tackles all year. Smart, instinctive player who just makes plays…all teams need young players like this.
2. Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers: Might be number one on the list if he would have started all year like fellow USC alum Cushing…second to Orakpo in Sacks with 10…starting to get a feel for the Dom Capers new defense.
3. Brian Orakpo, DE, Washington Redskins: Leads all rookies in Sacks with 11, and has made the shift to playing both DE and OLB for the Skins D…has the tools to be a double digit sack man for years.
4. Long Shot: Jarious Byrd, S, Buffalo Bills: Nobody even pays attention to the Bills anymore (Canada here they come) but you need to take notice of a rookie Safety who leads the league in interceptions with 9. Teams need players who create turnovers and Byrd is doing that in bunches, it’s too bad nobody seems to care.

I will do a re-cap once the winners are announced and see how I did. Let me know what you think.

- Jeff Powers

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Tags | defensive player of the year, MVP, nfl, rookie of the year