We are now nine weeks into the NFL season and pieces of the award puzzles are starting to come together; let us find out who is the current leader for each award.
MVP: Lamar Jackson | QB | Ravens
Jackson is coming off an insane game where he threw for 280 yards, three TDs, an 84.2 completion percentage and a passer rating of 158.3 (perfect). Now while I am not the biggest Jackson fan, I have to admit he is easily on pace for his third MVP. If he were to win, that would put him at three MVPs before the age of 29. I expect him and Allen to go back and forth throughout the season for this award.
Rank Movement: +1
2. Josh Allen | QB | Bills -1
3. Joe Burrow | QB | Bengals -NEW-
OPOY: Derrick Henry | RB | Ravens
No movement here, Henry put together another very strong performance and is the first player to cross one thousand rushing yards on the year. He has done that in just nine games. He also became just the 10th player in NFL history to cross 100 rushing TDs in their career. Henry does not seem to show any signs of slowing down. He will need to watch out though as Eagles’ RB Saquon Barkley is also putting up a strong campaign for OPOY.
Rank Movement: +/-0
2. Saquon Barkley | RB | Eagles +/-0
3. Justin Jefferson | WR | Vikings -NEW-
DPOY: Trey Hendrickson | EDGE | Bengals
This might be my most bold and hot pick on these award picks. I think Hendrickson is putting up a very strong case for this to come true though. He is coming off a four sack game. That puts him as the current NFL sack leader at 11, and he is also tied for first in TFLs (tackle for loss) at 11. This also comes from his insane pressure and win rate when rushing the passer, which both rank top five among edge defenders.
Rank Movement: -NEW-
2. Dexter Lawrence II | DT | Giants -1
3. Will Anderson Jr. | EDGE | Texans +/-0
OROY: Jayden Daniels | QB | Commanders
Like I said last week, this is Daniels’ award to lose, and I just do not see that happening with his current play. Now while it has been nothing crazy in the stat sheet, it is how Daniels has been safe and smart with the ball overall. Daniels has not only led the Commanders to their first sweep of the Giants since the 2021-22 season but also to a seven win and two lose record start for the first time since 1996. He is coming off another good game passing at 209 yards, two TDs and a completion percentage of 68.2.
Rank Movement: +/-0
2. Brock Bowers | TE | Raiders -NEW-
3. Marvin Harrison Jr. | WR | Cardinals -1
DROY: Jared Verse | EDGE | Rams
Similar to Daniels, I think this is just Verse’s award to lose at this point. Verse has not only been one of the best rookies in the NFL but one of the best pass rushers, and I could really see a case for him being in the top seven talks for DPOY. Verse is coming off a strong performance (similar to other players in this article) with one sack, four total tackles and two key run stops.
Rank Movement: +/-0
2. Quinyon Mitchell | CB | Eagles +/-0
3. Braden Fiske | DT | Rams -NEW-
