NFL Mid-Season Awards

Week 8 was a slog -- would have been the perfect "Pumpkin Patch Weekend" because the games were disgusting. One game decided by less than a TD (and it was Jets/Bengals) and the most amount of teams on Bye. So instead of trying to find takeaways from the shit-fest that just unfolded, we'd rather do a Power Poll and hand out our Mid-Season awards -- MVP, Best Team, traditional awards and Bean's Blog Specials, etc. We'll also mix in some Fantasy Football Awards for Best Player, Best Value, Pickup of the Year, and more.

This is about the Top performers to this point in the season -- not a projection of who will win each award, but who has been the Most Valuable Player, Best Rookie, Best Coach etc for the first half of the NFL season.

Most Valuable Player

Patrick Mahomes

The Alien is back -- and I for one am not happy about it. The Chiefs had a slow start, but over the last few weeks have made up ground (MNF pending). And it's because Mahomes has elevated his game from the version we saw last year -- the downfield attack is stronger, and he has more weapons with Rashee Rice returning and Xavier Worthy coming into his own. He's back to being a true dual-threat -- almost eclipsing his 2024 rush yard total already and doubling his rush TD total with 4 in just 7 starts. He's limiting turnovers with a 7:1 TD:INT ratio thus, and the offense has only had Rashee back for one game -- sky is the limit.

Coach of the Year

Shane Steichen

The Colts organization could have a winner in just about every award on this list -- and they'll win their share. They cover the next 2 slots, 1st being the outrageously good job Shane Steichen has done with this roster. He's leaned heavily on his All-World RB Jonathan Taylor -- who's scored 10 TD's in his last 4 games. He's entrusted Daniel Jones, a QB the entire world had given up on -- to lead this offense incredibly. A rag-tag WR Room, a rookie TE (who is absurdly good - Tyler Warren), a really good O-line, and a creative defense have been the recipe for his success, leading a team no one had high hopes for in 25-26 to 7-1.

Best Team

Indianapolis Colts

Staying with Indy briefly -- if you told me in August that the Colts would have the best record in the NFL through 8 weeks, I would've laughed you out of the room, then I would have had you tarred and feathered in October for being a witch. Sitting at 7-1, their only loss being a road loss to The Rams, the Colts are looking like an absolute wagon. They haven't beaten a ton of juggernauts -- their best wins are @ Denver and @ LAC, but you play the schedule you play -- and they've put the beat down on their opposition. The schedules gets tougher from here on out -- @ Chiefs, @ Seattle, hosting the Niners and 2 against the Jags -- but they're looking like a #1 seed through half a season.

Worst Team

New York Jets

They won their 1st game of the season because their RB threw a Touchdown -- need I say more? At 1-7 under 1st-year coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets have been a dumpster fire in every aspect. The defense -- the side of the ball they're supposed to be at least competitive on -- has more holes than a brothel. The O-line -- a unit many hyped up preseason -- has struggled mightily. They brought in Justin Fields to answer their QB problem in the offseason -- and while fun for Fantasy Football occasionally, he's been a disaster. I honestly feel bad for him, but when your coach is deferring to a 36-year old Tyrod Taylor, there's not much to defend. This team is awful and I don't think things are getting better, despite their win over Cincy.

Defensive Player of the Year

Myles Garrett

Let's start by saying it's fucking ridiculous that Micah Parsons is the favorite to win this award because he doesn't deserve it whatsoever. 6.5 sacks and 17 tackles, sick. Myles Garrett should win this award for 2 reasons. 1.) he's far and away the best defensive player in football, has been for several years, and disrupts games more than anyone else since Aaron Donald retired. 2.) He leads the NFL in sacks with 10, despite being the offense's sole concern every time he's on the field. Parsons is one of 5 guys you have to worry about when you play Green Bay, Myles Garret is THE guy you have to worry about when you play Cleveland.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Jaxson Dart

It was heart-breaking to see NYG RB Cam Skattebo go down with a season-ending injury this past week -- for fans and for his teammate Jaxson Dart, who together formed the most exciting rookie-tandem in years. The Giants won't be as fun to watch without Skatt, but Dart still keeps this team afloat -- and has been shockingly good since taking over the reigns from Russ Wilson. He's thrown for 8 TD's and ran for 4 more with just just 4 turnovers in his 5 starts, leading the G-men to their only 2 wins this year. He's been far and away the most successful Rookie QB this year, and has taken the Giants from a must-avoid to must-watch team.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Jihaad Campbell

This category is kind of a crapshoot so far -- no rookies are having massive impacts on this side of the ball for the most part. Abdul Carter is getting some shine for opening things up for his teammates on a destructive D-line, but from a production standpoint, I think Jihaad Campbell on the Eagles has been a more impactful player. He's racked up a ton of tackles, had a pick and a forced fumble, and has stepped up for a defense that's needed help this year. Also keeping an eye on Will Johnson for the Cardinals -- missed a couple games but has been balling lately.

Comeback Player of the Year

Dak Prescott

Daniel Jones, who's resurrected his career with Indy, was my first two choice here -- but I've given Indy a lot of love. So I'll go with Dak Prescott, who returned from a season-ending injury last year and is leading one of the best offense's in the NFL. Before a rough outing in Denver this past week, he had thrown for 13 TD's and ran in another in a 4-game stretch, and is currently 2nd in passing yards and tied for 2nd in passing TD's. Honorable Mention to Aidan Hutchinson who's been a monster coming back from injury last year.

Biggest Surprise

The Patriots Becoming a Legit Contender

Another category that would go to the Colts if I hadn't already given so many to Indy -- but the Pats are a close second. I expected this to be a better team than the 4-13 squad we saw last year -- but I definitely didn't expect them to have 6 wins through 8 weeks -- let alone beating Josh Allen in Buffalo and sitting atop the AFC East. Drake Maye elevating his play has been a major factor -- he's 4th in pass yards, 5th in TD's, 4th in QBR and 1st in completion %. His WR room has been boosted with the addition of Stefon Diggs and the emergence of Keshon Boutte, and the Pats' defense has been stellar. Mike Vrabel, in his 1st season, has this team firing on all cylinders with 5 straight wins, and they're a legit threat in the AFC.

Biggest Letdown

The Ravens 1st Half from Hell

Of all the 2-win or 1-win teams in the league, there's no more shocking one than Baltimore. After one of the best regular season games we've seen in years Week 1, with them losing 41-40 to Buffalo, they looked like a team that would be competing for a 1-seed. But another loss to the Lions in Week 3, followed by a worse loss @ KC in Week 4 that saw Lamar get hurt -- things started sliding fast. The defense has been mangled by injuries, Lamar hasn't played since that KC game, and they sit at 2-5 entering Week 9. They got a big win with Tyler Huntley at QB over the Bears, but they will need Lamar to get healthy if they want to sneak into the playoffs.

Fantasy Player of the Year

Jonathan Taylor

And now for a handful of Fantasy-related awards -- and a return to the Colts' well -- Jonathan Taylor has been far and away the Fantasy Player of the year. Drafted in most leagues around the RB9-RB12 range, questions around the Colts' offense kept managers from going after JT earlier. Those who did have been rewarded greatly -- and are likely in the Top-3 of their league because of it (unless you draft a bunch of bums around him, cough cough Nash). In standard half-point PPR scoring, he's the top RB by 35+ points. He leads ALL FANTASY PLAYERS in total points by 15+ -- if Mahomes scores 17+ tonight he'll retake the lead, but this is unheard of for an RB to outscore damn near every QB. A ridiculous TD-pace that shows no signs of slowing down, JT managers couldn't be happier with their RB1.

Fantasy Value of the Year

Javonte Williams

Picked in the 100's in most drafts and sky-rocketing to a Top 5 player at his position is textbook value -- and that's exactly what Javonte Williams has done this season. It's silly when you look at it in hindsight -- the RB1, an explosive offense that traded away their best defensive player right before the season started -- it feels like everyone should've been after this guy. But he had a down season last year, and no one knew if he had a firm hold on the RB1 role in Dallas. Luckily for those that took a shot on him -- that grasp has been tighter than Spongebob with a jellyfishing net. He's RB4 through 8 weeks, 3rd in TD's, 4th in rush yards, and has dominated backfield opportunity for Dallas. A true diamond in the rough.

Fantasy Pickup of the Year

Early-Season - Quentin Johnston

There's been no clear-cut choice for this award, but the closest you could get is Quentin Johnston. Undrafted in most leagues, he broke out in Week 1 with 2 TD's and was a hot pickup. He followed that up with 3 straight games of 12+ points in which he caught 2 TD's and saw 30 targets. He missed a week and had a couple down games (including a goose egg in Week 8), but even so, he's been arguably the most impactful waiver wire find of the first half.

Mid-Season - Rico Dowdle

The Mid-season pickup is a little different -- rather than starting hot, this is a guy that was available and was a week-winner when you got him on waivers in the later weeks. Dowdle was a handcuff when Chuba Hubbard went down in Week 4. In 2 games without Hubbard, he ran for 383 yards, had 7 catches for 86 yards, scored 2 TD's, and scored 62.80 fantasy points. He's been playable in the 2 weeks since Hubbard's return, but it's clear he's the best RB on the team and deserves the lion's share of touches -- Dowdle owners are hoping that happens soon.

Fantasy Bust of the Year (non-injury)

Brian Thomas Jr.

There's a handful of worthy candidates here -- guys who get injured aren't busts to me, so the Brock Bowers', and Bucky Irving's of the world aren't considered here. Chase Brown was atop my list originally, but he's strung together a couple nice games in a row. AJ Brown was seriously considered, but he's had two splash weeks of 20+ points. Nico Collins is right on the verge, but has had 4 weeks over at 10+ points.

My choice here is Brian Thomas Jr., who was a Top-20 pick in damn near every draft this August, and has been a massive disappointment through 8 weeks. His highest scoring weeks have been 19 points and 10 points -- his other 5 games, he's been under 8.50 points. And eye-test-wise, has simply not been the same WR we saw breakout as a rookie last year. So much so that the Jaguars are playing Travis Hunter almost exclusively on offense -- a guy they drafted #1 to play both sides of the ball. BTJ is talented enough to turn it around, but it's been an ugly first half.

That's all for today -- come back later this week for more blogs -- likely a College Basketball blog or two, maybe an NBA blog, maybe even a recipe blog! Leave a like and Comment below who you think has been the 1st Half MVP of the NFL season.