We're halfway through the NFL season and it is time to hand out some awards (and show you how you can make some bets alongside our predictions)!
MVP
Our pick — Jalen Hurts: QB, Philadelphia Eagles (Current FanDuel Sportsbook odds +250)
Fly Eagles Fly! On the road to victory!!! Not only is Jalen Hurts leading the only undefeated team in the NFL but he is doing so with swagger and poise. He ranks second among NFL quarterbacks in passing yards per attempt, QB rating and perhaps most importantly, second in the NFL in interception percentage. Add in his rushing stats and he has led a nigh unstoppable offense after an offseason full of experts questioning whether he was the "right guy."
Mahomes and Allen will have their case with the padded stats their powerful offenses will produce but Hurts has yet to lose a game with a poor throw that leads to a backbreaking interception. Something both Mahomes and Allen can not say.
The Ballot
Jalen Hurts (+250 — AKA bet $10 to win $25 profit)
Pat Mahomes (+200)
Josh Allen (+250)
Tyreek Hill (+7500)
Saquon Barkley (+15000)
Offensive Player of the Year
Our pick — Saquon Barkley: RB, New York Giants (+1600)
The Giants are one of the many cinderella stories of the awesomely weird 2022 season and Saquon is the engine that makes this whole team tick. He has the third most rushing yards in the league and is behind only Tyreek Hill in all-purpose yards. To me, he means more to a worse Giants team than the AMAZING Tyreek Hill means to a better Dolphins team.
Tyreek is the betting favorite for this award as he is on pace to break NFL records in receiving yards but I'm still on team Saquon. Probably because he is leading my fantasy team. Watch out for a late-season push by CMC. That Shanahan offense could unlock the Christian McCaffrey that was in MVP discussions a few seasons back.
The Ballot
Saquon Barkley (+1600)
Tyreek Hill (+350)
Stefon Diggs (+1000)
Christian McCaffrey (+2500)
Nick Chubb (+1400)
Defensive Player of the Year
Our pick — Micah Parsons: LB, Dallas Cowboys (-250)
The 12th pick of the 2021 NFL draft lit the world on fire with his speed and playmaking last season on his way to a runaway Defensive Rookie of the Year win. This season he has been handed more on his plate and THRIVED. Whether it's a sack, a tackle for a loss, a turnover forced or a pass deflection, Micah has created havoc for opposing offenses all year. The sportsbooks have him running away with this award too.
The middle three on the ballot will swap places throughout November and December depending on their sack results but my money is on big Z to give Parsons the closest race. Tough to know the Packers are paying Za'Darius Smith 11.4 million dollars to lead the league in tackle for loss whilst playing on a division rival.
The Ballot
Micah Parsons (-250 — AKA, bet $25 to win $10 profit)
Za'Darius Smith (+4000)
Matthew Judon (+1400)
Myles Garrett (+1200)
Quennin Williams (+5000)
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Our pick — Kenneth Walker, RB: Seattle Seahawks (+100)
Holy moly, do we have a fun race for this one. We give a slight edge right now to the Seattle phenom who won't stop scoring fourth quarter touchdowns but don't sleep on Dameon Pierce, the bruising back in Houston. Pierce is sixth in the league in rushing and more importantly tied for 2nd in broken tackles! He can't be stopped.
Walker will finish the season playing in higher-profile games and will likely end up securing the award based on that alone. But these two look to be the bellcows for years to come on teams that desperately need some.
The Ballot
Kenneth Walker (+100)
Dameon Pierce (+200)
Garrett Wilson (+2000)
Chris Olave (+600)
Charles Cross (Unlisted because f*ck O Lineman)
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Our pick — Sauce Gardner: DB, New York Jets (+100)
Before we get to the saucy dominance, can we point out that Seattle not only had two players on the Offensive Rookie ballot but also has two players on the Defensive Rookie ballot? What a slam dunk draft by GM John Schneider, as both Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen look like long-term starters in the defensive backfield.
Speaking of long-term answers, the once-barren Revis Island might just have a new tenant ready to make some renovations. Sauce Gardner has stepped into the CB1 role with ease in New York and has faced off with some of the NFL's best. He intercepted Josh Allen whilst covering Stefon Diggs and helped hold Tyreek Hill to his lowest receiving total on the season (7 catches, 47 yards). Sauce is the truth.
The Ballot
Sauce Gardner (+100)
Tariq Woolen (+200)
Jack Jones (+1600)
Coby Bryant (+7500)
Aidan Hutchinson (+1400)
Comeback Player of the Year
Our pick — Geno Smith: QB, Seattle Seahawks (-125)
THEY WROTE HIM OFF BUT HE AIN'T WRITE BACK! What a stud Geno Smith has been. This is a man who was told he had to compete for a starting spot for Drew Lock in the preseason. This was a man who was chewed up and spit out by BOTH New York football franchises. This is a man who once went on the IR because his teammate punched him in the mouth. And now?!?
He is top-6 in the following stats; yards per attempt (7.8), passing TDs (15), interception percentage (1.4%), QBR (68.1) and passer Rating (107.2). Oh, and he LEADS THE LEAGUE IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE (73.1%). Most importantly, he's captaining a Seahawks team that is 6-3 and leads the NFC West. Just like we all predicted.
The Ballot
Geno Smith (-125)
Saquon Barkley (+150)
Travis Etienne (+3000)
Marcus Mariota (+20000)
JuJu Smith-Schuster (+10000)
Coach of the Year
Our pick — Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks (+700)
Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni is the heavy favorite to win this award but comes second on our ballot because of just how unexpected this Seahawks season has been. If the Eagles finish 17-0, hand Sirianni the trophy. But if Philly falls short a few times and Seattle continues to run away with the West, after trading away the face of the franchise and completely retooling the offense AND the defense, Pete Carroll deserves to add this 2022 award to his massive trophy case.
Saleh just beats out Daboll on our ballot based on projections of where these teams will finish (no, we still don't believe in the Giants). Mike Vrabel belongs on the ballot every year because no matter how many people attempt to crown an AFC South team not named the Titans in the offseason, Tennessee continues to prove them all wrong when the ball is snapped.
The Ballot
Pete Carroll (+700)
Nick Sirianni (-125)
Robert Saleh (+800)
Brian Daboll (+800)
Mike Vrabel (+10000)
