With only three more weeks to go, let's take a look at possible rookies of the year.
On offense, there are not as many interesting candidates as on defense, so I will focus more on defense. But here are first the offensive candidates for rookie of the year:
D. Farlane - 313 attempts for 1053 yards and 4 touchdowns
Farlane has been fantastic and leads the league in rushing yards, not just among rookies but all players. Farlane is probably the top candidate to win the award on offense.
F. North - 61 catches for 998 yards, 3 touchdowns
North has been great as the main receiver on the Liberty and is third in the entire league in receiving yards. North is the main candidate that can cost Farlane the award.
T. Pest - 42 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed
Pest has arguably been the best offensive linemen in the league period, not allowing a single sack all year long. Pest could have a chance at the award, especially if he stays flawless until the end and voters focus on offensive line play.
D. Evans - 45 catches for 652 yards, 5 touchdowns
Evans has been good and while he has less yards and catches than Fox, he has more touchdowns and a couple good games to end the season could give him an outside chance.
A. Savea - 202 attempts for 639 yards, 3 touchdowns
Savea is probably a complete outsider for the award but he has had a decent season as well.
And now let's take a look at the defensive side:
L. Luechly - 76 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 6 pass deflections, 1 interception
Luechly has been a beast and filled the stats sheet in all kinds of ways. His 10 sacks stand out especially for a linebacker, but he has also shown to be good in pass defense. Luechly is the odds on favorite to win the award.
N. Parker - 68 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 8 pass deflections
Parker has been almost as good as Luechly, with just slightly less of everything basically. Two strong weeks could push Parker to the lead.
D. Lavelle - 49 tackles, 14 pass deflections, 4 interceptions
The first overall pick has not disappointed and is the strongest rookie cornerback.
R. Thomas - 46 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 1 touchdown
Thomas has been really good at the safety position.
R. Kronen - 38 tackles, 1 sack, 3 pass deflection, 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumble, 2 fumbles recovered
Kronen has been just slightly worse than Thomas, but his hard hitting style means he has caused more fumbles.
B. Bjornsson - 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovered
The big defensive lineman, Bjornsson has been fantastic and wreaked havoc on the field. His 4 forced fumbles are especially impressive.
O. Von Gerhardt - 30 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 safety, 1 forced fumble
Von Gerhardt has had a quiet but great season, causing a lot of destruction wherever he goes.
P. Tucker - 66 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Tucker has been great, wracking up stats in a lot of different ways.
D. Turner - 37 tackles, 15 pass deflections, 3 interceptions
Turner has been solid, even having more pass deflections than Lavelle.
T. Oles - 50 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 4 interceptions
Oles has been solid, his 50 tackles are impressive but his lack of more pass deflections speaks against him compared to Turner and Lavelle.
K. Cushing - 78 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovered
Cushing has an incredible 78 tackles, but the rest of his stats are not good enough to be higher.
C. Okonkwo - 29 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks
Okonkwo has been underrated but has played incredibly well.
And a brief look at special teams at the end:
C. Ronaldo - 16/20 field goals, 31/32 extra points
Ronaldo has been great and is the clear favorite for special teams rookie of the year. His punting has been excellent as well.
J. Langdon - 21/29 field goals, 19/19 extra points
Langdon has been solid but missed some more field goals. In terms of punting he was arguably better than Ronaldo though.
What do you guys think, who should win the awards? Discuss in the comments!
On offense, there are not as many interesting candidates as on defense, so I will focus more on defense. But here are first the offensive candidates for rookie of the year:
D. Farlane - 313 attempts for 1053 yards and 4 touchdowns
Farlane has been fantastic and leads the league in rushing yards, not just among rookies but all players. Farlane is probably the top candidate to win the award on offense.
F. North - 61 catches for 998 yards, 3 touchdowns
North has been great as the main receiver on the Liberty and is third in the entire league in receiving yards. North is the main candidate that can cost Farlane the award.
T. Pest - 42 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed
Pest has arguably been the best offensive linemen in the league period, not allowing a single sack all year long. Pest could have a chance at the award, especially if he stays flawless until the end and voters focus on offensive line play.
D. Evans - 45 catches for 652 yards, 5 touchdowns
Evans has been good and while he has less yards and catches than Fox, he has more touchdowns and a couple good games to end the season could give him an outside chance.
A. Savea - 202 attempts for 639 yards, 3 touchdowns
Savea is probably a complete outsider for the award but he has had a decent season as well.
And now let's take a look at the defensive side:
L. Luechly - 76 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 6 pass deflections, 1 interception
Luechly has been a beast and filled the stats sheet in all kinds of ways. His 10 sacks stand out especially for a linebacker, but he has also shown to be good in pass defense. Luechly is the odds on favorite to win the award.
N. Parker - 68 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 8 pass deflections
Parker has been almost as good as Luechly, with just slightly less of everything basically. Two strong weeks could push Parker to the lead.
D. Lavelle - 49 tackles, 14 pass deflections, 4 interceptions
The first overall pick has not disappointed and is the strongest rookie cornerback.
R. Thomas - 46 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 1 touchdown
Thomas has been really good at the safety position.
R. Kronen - 38 tackles, 1 sack, 3 pass deflection, 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumble, 2 fumbles recovered
Kronen has been just slightly worse than Thomas, but his hard hitting style means he has caused more fumbles.
B. Bjornsson - 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovered
The big defensive lineman, Bjornsson has been fantastic and wreaked havoc on the field. His 4 forced fumbles are especially impressive.
O. Von Gerhardt - 30 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 safety, 1 forced fumble
Von Gerhardt has had a quiet but great season, causing a lot of destruction wherever he goes.
P. Tucker - 66 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Tucker has been great, wracking up stats in a lot of different ways.
D. Turner - 37 tackles, 15 pass deflections, 3 interceptions
Turner has been solid, even having more pass deflections than Lavelle.
T. Oles - 50 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 4 interceptions
Oles has been solid, his 50 tackles are impressive but his lack of more pass deflections speaks against him compared to Turner and Lavelle.
K. Cushing - 78 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovered
Cushing has an incredible 78 tackles, but the rest of his stats are not good enough to be higher.
C. Okonkwo - 29 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks
Okonkwo has been underrated but has played incredibly well.
And a brief look at special teams at the end:
C. Ronaldo - 16/20 field goals, 31/32 extra points
Ronaldo has been great and is the clear favorite for special teams rookie of the year. His punting has been excellent as well.
J. Langdon - 21/29 field goals, 19/19 extra points
Langdon has been solid but missed some more field goals. In terms of punting he was arguably better than Ronaldo though.
What do you guys think, who should win the awards? Discuss in the comments!