theScore's NFL Awards Roundtable: Offensive Player of the Year
The NFL Honors will be handed out on Feb. 6, 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
- Offensive Player of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Most Valuable Player
- Coach of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year
Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
136 receptions, 1,834 yards, 10 TDs
Wide receivers never get the recognition they deserve come awards season, but this year Brown and Julio Jones had such spectacular campaigns, both are worthy of the award. However, Brown tops Jones for OPOY because even though the pair had near identical stats, Brown did so without Ben Roethlisberger for four games, and it's likely he'd have broken receiving records if he hadn't been sidelined. Brown showed why he is the best weapon in the league, with unparalleled hands, body control, and route-running ability. - Jack Browne
There wasn't a team in the NFL that had an answer for Brown this year. Extrapolating his production with Roethlisberger over a full 16-game schedule would have Brown projected to haul in an incredible 158 receptions and 2,132 yards, shattering the all-time single-season records in each category. - Dan Wilkins
Brown finished second in the league in receiving yards and was just seven receptions shy of Marvin Harrison's single-season mark of 143. Those numbers likely would have been higher had Roethlisberger played in all 16 games. Brown is the best and most consistent wide receiver in the game today. - Caitlyn Holroyd
Browns' 16-game stats rank among the greatest ever recorded by a wideout, but are limited by a four-game stretch Roethlisberger sat out. Project Brown over 16 games with Roethlisberger and he would have shattered the all-time records for catches and yards receiving in a season. - David P. Woods
Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
136 receptions, 1,871 yards, 8 TDs
Antonio Brown had an amazing campaign, but Jones equaled him in receptions and topped him in yards, finishing with second-highest single season total all-time. Jones was also the only viable receiving threat in the Falcons' offense, forcing him to overcome added attention from opposing defenses. Brown may be a more consistent receiver, but Jones' ability to take over games makes him a more dangerous offensive weapon. - Justin Boone
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
327 carries, 1,485 rushing yards, 11 TDs
30 receptions, 222 receiving yards
Peterson showed why he's the best running back of his generation, winning the third rushing title of his career. The Vikings superstar was the fulcrum of an otherwise dormant offense, and was instrumental in carrying his team to the playoffs. - Arun Srinivasan
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans
222 receptions, 1,521 receiving yards, 11 TDs
The Texans' lone offensive weapon had less receiving yards than Julio Jones and Antonio Brown, but he had more touchdowns on less targets. The case for Hopkins really comes down to his awful stable of quarterbacks. Hopkins weathered the storms of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, Brandon Weeden, and T.J. Yates, producing big numbers with all of them. - Joe Thomson