NFL Awards Watch: Tyreek Hill, Bailey Zappe Turn Heads With Strong Week 6 Performances
Welcome to NFL Awards Watch, my weekly column that will take a look at the five major awards handed out in the NFL: MVP; Offensive and Defensive Player Of The Year; and Offensive and Defensive Rookie Of The Year.
JONATHAN HUTTON NFL AWARDS WATCH ARCHIVE
Week 6 was highlighted by a game-winning drive from the NFL's top quarterback, some well known pass rushers climbing into the column, rookie corners producing lockdown performances, and a late-round rookie creating a QB controversy in New England. Let’s get to it:
NFL AWARDS WATCH WEEK 6
Most Valuable Player
QB JOSH ALLEN, Buffalo Bills
Allen is the clear frontrunner because of his precise passing and clutch play in the massive matchup last Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He completed 27 of his 40 pass attempts for 329 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions as the Bills won 24-20 over their AFC nemesis.
Allen capped off the game-winning touchdown drive with a great throw to tight end Dawson Knox in the end zone. Just prior to the final touchdown, Allen scrambled for 16 yards and hurdled safety Justin Reid before he was knocked out of bounds. It’s so much fun watching him play quarterback.
Two More To Consider
Offensive Player of the Year
WR TYREEK HILL, Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill leads the NFL with 701 receiving yards. That’s his most through the first six games of a season throughout his career. He’s torching defenses on a weekly basis.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In Week 6 against the Vikings, Hill finished with 12 catches for 177 yards. Per NFL Research, there have been six instances of a player recording at least 10 receptions and 150 receiving yards in a game this season. Hill has three of them, including Sunday’s performance against Minnesota.
Two More To Consider
Offensive Rookie of the Year
RB BREECE HALL, New York Jets
There’s no question who runs the engine for this Jets offense. Breece Hall continues to break tackles, score touchdowns, extend drives, and post big numbers.
Breece Hall. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
He followed up big game in Week 5 with 20 carries for 116 yards, forced five missed tackles in Green Bay, and also housed a long TD run on an inside trap play where he made Packers defenders appear as though they were running in quicksand. He shared the glory with Jets faithful in attendance, when he made his Lambeau Leap.
Two More To Consider
Defensive Player of the Year
WLB MICAH PARSONS, Dallas Cowboys
Parsons entered Week 6 tied for the NFL lead with six sacks, but did not record a sack on Jalen Hurts Sunday night. He did make seven tackles, including one in the backfield, and he broke up two passes in the game.
Jalen Hurts and Micah Parsons. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
His personal foul penalty for taunting Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert gave Philly a first down on a near-interception that at worst would have forced a punt. Parsons remains at the top for me this week as he and the Cowboys return home to host the Detroit Lions.
Two More To Consider
Defensive Rookie of the Year
CB SAUCE GARDNER, New York Jets
There are other late-round corners who made this week’s column, but the fourth overall selection in April’s draft continues to set the bar for the league’s top rookie performer on defense.
Gardner players like a veteran. His seven pass breakups lead all NFL players, and he allowed just one completion eight yards in last Sunday’s win in Green Bay.
Two More To Consider
Jonathan Hutton is the host of OutKick 360 and will write weekly about NFL awards. Follow Hutton on Twitter.