Post Season and Awards

Post-Season and Awards:

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Johnny Manziel, QB, Cleveland- Risky pick since he’s not even the starter, but if JFF plays at least half the year he will almost assuredly win this award.  The hype and highlights will get him that much.  If he doesn’t start, I’m guessing Kelvin Benjamin wins.  I still don’t advocate Benjamin as a fantasy sleeper, but I think he will have a couple of multiple-TD games with monster catches to boost his resume.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jadaveon Clowney, DE, Houston- With the bad teams he will get to face and J.J. Watt taking all the double teams, 20 sacks is in play.  The only way he might not win would be that Clowney starts so strong that the double teams fall to him giving Watt over 20 sacks, and then look for someone like Aaron Donald of the Rams.

Defensive Player of the Year: DeMarcus Ware, DE, Denver- Ware was hurt all season last year giving a false vibe for the amount of talent he has left.  He will be in an ideal pass-rushing situation: a team that will always be up, score a ton of points forcing the opponent to pass, and with a talented secondary causing the QB to hold onto the ball.  It was still the right choice to cut him, but it will suck when he has 18 sacks and 5 forced fumbles.

Sleeper Defensive Player of the Year: Darrelle Revis, CB, New England- Apparently he is fully healthy as well and we saw what Aqib Talib could do with Belichick last year.  I think he will get opportunities because like Ware, the Patriots will be up and forcing other teams to pass a lot.  They can’t throw away from him the whole game.

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay- Once again, until otherwise noted he is still the favorite to me.  Even more so since he was injured last year and I doubt that he will miss the majority of the season again.

Sleeper MVP: Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis- I was tempted to take Romo again just because he might throw for 5K, but they Cowboys still will suck so he wouldn’t get consideration.  Rodgers is the best player in the league right now… and Luck is not that far behind him.  One of these years he will take the title belt, so why not this one?

NFC:

#1- Seattle

#2- Green Bay

#3- New Orleans

#4- Philadelphia

#5- San Francisco

#6- Atlanta

Wild Card: San Francisco over Philadelphia, New Orleans over Atlanta

Divisional: San Francisco over Seattle, Green Bay over New Orleans

NFC Championship: Green Bay over San Francisco

San Francisco should have most of its team back from suspension/injury by the end of the season, and I think having the toughest schedule in the league hardens them for the playoff matchups.  If there is a team that can go into Seattle and win, it is probably the 49ers.  Having said that, I still think Green Bay is the best team in the conference besides the Seahawks, and I just can’t see a team repeating anymore.

AFC:

#1- Denver

#2- New England

#3- Indianapolis

#4- Cincinnati

#5- Pittsburgh

#6- Houston

Wild Card: Indianapolis over Houston, Pittsburgh over Cincinnati

Divisional: Denver over Pittsburgh, New England over Indianapolis

AFC Championship: New England over Denver

In the AFC, we get the 37^th (approximately) Brady/Manning championship game.  Pittsburgh could be a dangerous out if they get in the playoffs and would not surprise me if they upset one of the favorites.  However, I think Brady knows this might be his last chance as one of the favorites.  The young quarterbacks in his division are going to get better (Tannehill, and Smith or Manuel) and outside of the division have already hit elite (Luck).  Denver just won’t have the stamina to get to back-to-back Super Bowls.

SUPER BOWL XLIX: New England over Green Bay

As much as I love Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ team, I just have a feeling that this is the year that Brady/Belichick get one more.  The schedule sets up for them to have an easy ride into a first round bye, and the rest of the AFC is pretty weak outside of Denver.  While this was a bad thing when the Broncos had to face the staunch Seattle defense, when facing a team like the Packers the more healthy and invigorated team will win.  That will definitely be the Patriots after the Packers have to run the NFC gauntlet.

THURSDAY NIGHT PICK: SEAHAKS -5.5 over PACKERS

I know, I just picked Green Bay to go to the Super Bowl, but I think the energy will be too high for the Packers to overcome.  Also notice I did not pick Green Bay to have to beat the Seahawks because I think it is a bad matchup.  The one hesitation I have is that the referee crew calling the game called twice as many DB penalties (pass interference, holding, illegal contact) than league average over both the preseason and last year.  If they call it too tightly, then Aaron Rodgers will take advantage.