DFS: 2015 NFL First-Half Awards - NFC

After eight weeks, one team stands tall in the NFC.

The Carolina Panthers are sitting pretty atop the conference and the NFC South Division at 7-0. The Green Bay Packers lead the NFC North at 6-1. The NFC West is led by the 6-2 Arizona Cardinals. The New York Giants lead the messy NFC East Division at a lowly 4-4.

Similarly to the AFC, running backs have provided the top storylines in the National Football Conference. They highlight the awards from the first half of the 2015 NFL season:

DFS Most Valuable Player: Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Here is how Freeman's major rushing statistics matchup with his colleagues from around the league:

Here's how his receiving statistics stack up against other running backs:

Freeman has 57.8 more fantasy points than any other running back and 37 more points than any other non-quarterback in non-PPR scoring formats. He is the eighth-overall fantasy player in such scoring formats, with seven quarterbacks ranking ahead of him.

He hasn't finished below 130 total yards in a single start this season, and he has as many three touchdown games as he has games with zero touchdowns. Freeman has become the most valuable player for a team that includes WR Julio Jones.

And he was easily the most valuable player in daily fantasy from the NFC, thanks to his reluctant price increase on most DFS sites.

DFS Least Valuable Player: Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

This was prior to the Eagles' Week 8 bye:

Matthews has been downright horrible this season. He has just a single touchdown, and despite being on pace for more targets than he received last season, he's on pace for a much lower yardage total.

Since finishing as WR16 in Week 1 and WR18 in Week 2, Matthews hasn't finished above WR48.

He likely bottomed out in Week 7, catching three of seven targets for 14 yards. With Sam Bradford at quarterback, Matthews ceiling appears to be six receptions for 80 yards, and an outside shot at a touchdown. DFS owners need more at his price.

Rookie of the Year: Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams

Gurley's 141.5 yards per game in his four games as the Rams' starter would have him on pace for 2,264 rushing yards over the course of a season. That number dwarfs the totals of Murray and McCoy from the previous two seasons. It also trumps Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 yards from the 1984 season.

The Rams run the ball on 48.19% of all offensive plays this season, the third-highest ratio in the league. Their 55.68% rate over their last three games ranks first in the league. Their 64.06% rush rate in Week 8 was the highest by a margin of more than 10 percent.

Gurley has completely changed his team's offensive scheme, and he's changing the league's running back landscape in the process.

Most Improved Player: Chris Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

It's almost crazy to think Johnson entered the 2015 season without an NFL team to play for. Coming off a 663-yard, one-touchdown season with the New York Jets in 2014, CJ2K was believed to be finished.

He's completely changed that perception. Johnson's 676 rushing yards through eight games is the second-highest total in the league, behind only Freeman. He only has three touchdowns, but his 4.8 yards per attempt is 11th in the league.

Johnson remains ahead of both RBs Andre Ellington and David Johnson in the Cardinals' pecking order. He's a high-floor play every week, regardless of matchup. The other two RBs in the Cardinals' backfield cap his ceiling.

Biggest Surprise: Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Luckily for DFS owners, for every Matthews there's a Stefon Diggs:

The Vikings' fifth-round pick out of Minnesota has been a reliable, high-ceiling option since his debut in Week 4. Diggs has had at least six receptions in every game, and has scored in each of his past two games.

Diggs leads all Vikings receivers in yards, despite only playing four games. He he is just two targets and one reception behind leader Mike Wallace.

The production from Diggs has been the biggest surprise, but it's here to stay.

Biggest Disappointment: Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

While it's tough to pick on someone who missed three games due to injury, DFS owners' problems with Adams date back to when he was healthy in Week 1.

Adams was expected to assume most of the role that was vacated by Jordy Nelson's season-ending injury. Yet, he had just 59 receiving yards in Week 1, and he remains without a touchdown for the season.

Adams's struggles are representative of the entire Packers team. The only time QB Aaron Rodgers exceeded 300 passing yards was a Week 3 domination of the Kansas City Chiefs, in which he threw five TD passes. Adams has flashed brilliance when healthy, as his low price tag makes him an attractive option. But he has yet to return value, even at his bargain salary.

Best Single-Game Performance: Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks (Week 5 at Cincinnati Bengals)

Rawls was an excellent example of the importance of not fading value at the running back position. As a low-cost backup, Rawls set the Seahawks' single-game rushing yards record in Week 5, going for 169 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries - a yardage total even Marshawn Lynch had never reached.

Relegated to backup duties, Rawls won't be worth consideration unless Lynch misses more time due to injury. But his big game is a great example of what can be available for owners when an injury opens up an opportunity.

Worst Single-Game Performance: DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (Week 2 vs. Cowboys)

Murray's Week 2 statline:

Some extra highlights of that game:

• Murray did contribute five receptions for 53 yards through the air.
• His longest rush of the game was nine yards.
• Murray's other 12 carries were for a total of -7 yards.
• The game was at home.
• The game was against the Dallas Cowboys.

Despite being able to stay relatively healthy, Murray's entire 2015 season has been a major disappointment. He does have four total touchdowns, but the case could be made that he has been less effective than both Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathews out of the Eagles' backfield.