theScore's NFL Awards Roundtable: Offensive Player of the Year
The NFL Honors will be handed out on Feb. 4, but theScore's NFL Editors are making a case for the players whom they feel deserve to take home the hardware this season.
theScore's NFL Awards
- Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Comeback Player of the Year
- Offensive Player of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Most Valuable Player
Offensive Player of the Year
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
4,944 passing yards, 38 TDs
Ryan was undeniable in 2016, recording far and away the best season in his nine-year career. Previous success had been tied to Julio Jones, or before him, Roddy White, but Ryan threw for 38 touchdowns and a career-high 4,944 passing yards while spreading it around to 15 different receiving options. He ascended to the upper tier of the QB class this year, as evidenced by his sky-high 117.1 QB rating. -Michael McClymont
It's nearly impossible for a quarterback to be any better from a statistical perspective than Ryan was this year. The Falcons' strong supporting cast can serve as an argument against his MVP candidacy, but this category is no contest. -Dan Wilkins
Ryan was unbelievably efficient en route to a career year in 2016, finishing second in passing yards and touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions. Perhaps more stunning, Ryan's 9.25 yards per attempt was a full yard higher than the next closest quarterback. This award deserves to go to the most impressive statistical season and Ryan certainly had that in 2016. -Justin Boone
Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers
1,268 rushing yards, 7 TDs
75 receptions, 616 receiving yards, 2 TDs
The fact he was suspended for the first three games of the season likely robs Bell of a shot at MVP, but the running back should easily take home the OPOY award. Bell managed to be just as good of a receiver as he is a runner, with no other running back coming close to his impact in both areas. Bell was second (behind Ezekiel Elliott) in rushing yards per game, while somehow also finishing second (behind David Johnson) in receiving yards per game by a runner. No other offensive player was so dominating over the rest of their position. -Jack Browne
If the most patient running back in the NFL had played a full 16-game season, he would be the MVP, but Offensive Player of the Year may have to do this time around. Though he wasn't active for four games, Bell's 157 average scrimmage yards per game is the third-highest mark ever set in that category, behind Priest Holmes' 163.4 yards in 2002 and O.J. Simpsons' 160.2 in 1975. He finished second in both average rushing and receiving yards per game by a running back, about three yards off the league lead in both categories. -Mitch Sanderson
David Johnson, RB, Cardinals
1,239 rushing yards, 16 TDs
80 receptions, 879 receiving yards, 4 TDs
Johnson's 2,118 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns both led the NFL. Had he not been injured in Week 17, he likely would have become the first player in NFL history to top 100 yards from scrimmage in all 16 games. -David P. Woods
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
1,631 rushing yards, 15 TDs
32 receptions, 363 receiving yards, 1 TD
Elliott edges out numerous worthy candidates for the award, after steering the Cowboys to the NFC's top seed this season. Earning first-team All-Pro honors, Elliott excelled as a run and pass blocker, and emerged as a very capable wide receiver out of the backfield, breathing life into the Cowboys' offense. After capturing the rushing title and excelling in all facets of the game, Elliott should be in line for two major awards, with an outside chance of winning MVP. -Arun Srinivasan
theScore's NFL Awards