The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for 2015 should be a tight race, as players like David Johnson, Todd Gurley, Amari Cooper, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota have established themselves as solid candidates for the award.
Coming into the season players like Mariota, Cooper and Winston were looked at as the likely options, as Gurley was starting off injured and Johnson was stuck behind Andre Ellington in Arizona. But things changed quickly, as Gurley busted onto the scene for the Rams as a top running back, while Johnson has made a second half surge that could end up wining him the award.
Mariota is dealing with a knee injury and missing time likely will keep him from winning the award. Winston has been impressive as a rookie and kept the Buccaneers in playoff contention for a while after the team won just two games last season, but he may not end up getting enough votes to win. Cooper, Gurley and Johnson appear to be the top candidates along with Winston and it should be a close vote this year.
Here is a look at a few of the candidates:
David Johnson, Cardinals
Johnson has broken out in the second half of the season with Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington banged up and over his last two games Johnson has put up four touchdowns and over 300 total yards from scrimmage. Johnson doesn't have the overall numbers that Gurley and Cooper have, but he has arguably made just as much of an impact. The Cardinals are heading towards the playoffs and while that might not be the best barometer for this award, it may help Johnson this time around. Johnson has 556 rushing yards and eight TDs this season and has also put up 423 receiving yards and four more scores.
Todd Gurley, Rams
Gurley looked like the runaway winner of the award about a month ago and that still may be true, as the Rams RB has put up over 1000 yards this season. Gurley missed the first stretch of the year and has managed to rush for 1108 yards and 10 touchdowns and he is averaging 85 yards on the ground per game. Gurley has had five 100-yard games this season and should be in the running for the award.
Amari Cooper, Raiders
Cooper has helped Derek Carr put up some fantastic numbers in year two and he comes in with 70 catches for 1050 yards and six touchdowns. Cooper has had some issues with drops this season, but he has shown an explosive ability for the Raiders and has given the team their first true number one receiver in a while.
Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
Winston has been impressive for the Bucs and kept the team in playoff contention way longer than anyone expected after the team had the number one pick last season. Winston has thrown for 22 TDs and 13 interceptions this season with 3717 yards and that came with players like Vincent Jackson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins dealing with injuries through the season.
Quick hit on Defensive rookie of the year:
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters likely has this one wrapped up already, as the former Washington star has emerged as one of the best young corners in the league. Peters has eight interceptions this season with two returns for touchdowns, including one last week. Peters was AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 15 and he has lived up to his billing as a first round pick.
