NFL 2019: Midseason Awards

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Josh Jacobs

Josh Jacobs

While the two frontrunners for this award may have been first-round picks, it is important to point out that the other two I’ll mention here have gone in third round and a sixth-rounder respectively. Terry McLaurin was not even the first receiver from his school of Ohio State to be selected. He was looked at as just one of those guys between Paul Richardson, Trey Quinn and others, but he has been fantastic.

McLaurin is on pace to go for over 1000 yards and double-digit touchdowns, while averaging 16.4 yards per catch, despite already playing with three different quarterbacks and Washington having one of the worst passing attacks in the league. Then there’s the guy who has taken over that Jacksonville fanbase, which had to be devastated when Nick Foles went down early on in the season-opener, after the organization just decided to pay him some big money to finally give them a capable.

Well, the former Super Bowl MVP is still out, but Gardner Minshew has given them a reason to cheer. The man with the moustache has gone 4-3 as a starter with 11 touchdowns compared to just one pick, while providing highlight-reel plays off script every week. I also want to give the O-line some love here by putting Erik McCoy’s name out there, who has made the transition from a Pro Bowl center look flawless for the Saints.

As my second choice for the award, I have the number one pick. Kyler Murray has had some rookie moments, but he has also given us sequences of brilliance. This is not a very good Arizona team after only winning three games all of last year. Kyler has been already at the same win total and only half a game back from .500, while leading one of the pass-happiest offenses in the league.

Only six guys in the league have more combined passing and rushing yards despite playing behind of the NFL’s worst offensive lines. However, at this point I have pretty clear winner in Josh Jacobs. The only RB drafted in the first round of 2019 runs with an explosion and violence that has given the Raiders offense an identity. Jacobs has now reached the top five with 620 rushing yards on 5.0 yards per attempt.

All that while averaging about two carries less than everybody else in the top eight. He has also added over 100 yards in the passing game and when you look at the combined numbers, he has ripped off seven plays of 20+ yards. I just love to watch this kid play and I only think he will touch the ball more going forward. Unlike a lot of rookie backs, he has yet to fumble as well.

The next three: Kyler Murray, Gardner Minshew and Terry McLaurin