Oct 13, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT
Here are the NFL Weekly Award Nominees. The voting links are posted following each category.
FedEx Air Nominees:
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals: 24-34 , 372 yards, 3 TD, 135.9 QBR
Andy Dalton killed it against the Detroit Lions. Dalton is really benefitting from his new offensive weapons and looked like an experienced gunslinger on Sunday. The Bengals got crushed in time of possession, but who cares when it only takes Dalton 10 seconds to bomb 80-yard TD passes?
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons: 20-26, 273 yards, 3 TD, 148.4 QBR
No Julio Jones, no Roddy White, no problem. Harry Douglass and Tony Gonzales did more than enough on Sunday to help Ryan push the Tamba Bay Schianos to 0-6. We got a little taste of just how good we thought the Falcons would be this year, and even without Roddy or Julio, Matt Ryan was able to get it done.
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins: 18-29, 298 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 105.2 QBR
RGIII looks like himself again. Heck, he could have been nominated for FedEX Ground too. He had 84 yards on only 11 attempt rushing. To me though, he still looked a little inaccurate and made some questionable throws. Either way, he is deserving of the nomination this week after what he did to a great Chicago Bears defense.
FedEx Ground Nominees
Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers: 21 rush, 110 yards, 1 TD
Ryan Mathews looked explosive on Sunday. Granted he was playing the Jacksonville Jaguars, he still played well and was hitting holes with speed and power. They weren’t alway the right holes, but man, he was hitting them hard. Somehow, according to ESPN.com, Mathews is the first player this season to rush for over 100 yards in back-to-back weeks. Someone could shove the proof in my face, and I still wouldn’t believe that stat.
Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks: 21 rush, 91 yards, 1 TD
Beastmode was on full display against the Arizona Cardinals. When he knocked off Darnell Docket’s helmet on the goal line, everyone in my apartment just lost it. That was the epitome of Marshawn Lynch: the power, the speed, the quickness. Like most weeks, he was a sight to see on Thursday Night Football.
Chris Ivory, New York Jets: 34 rush, 104 yards
Chris Ivory was the NY Jets offense on Sunday. They punished the Patriots defense with him over 30 times. It is crazy the think that he only rushed 4 times less than every other player in the game combined. The ability to even walk away from that game makes him deserving of the nomination.
Vote for FedEx Air and FedEx Ground Players of the Week HERE
NFL Rookies of the Week Nominees
Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers: 27 touches, 108 yards from scrimmage, 1 TD
Lacy looks like the real deal. He carved up the Browns defense in the running and passing game and has been a huge weapon for Aaron Rodgers so far this season. I think he is officially a steal at #61 in the draft.
Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets: 17-33, 233 yards, 1 tD, 1 INT, 71.9 QBR – 6 rush, 32 yards, 1 tD
Smith is still a question mark to me. He made questionable decisions and bad throws throughout the day, but he (and Ivory) were able to pull out a win in the 4th quarter. Again. The nomination is for rookie of the week, so I guess those mistakes are inferred by the title anyways.
Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins: 9 catches, 134 yards, 1 TD
Reed absolutely went off on the Bears. Linebackers couldn’t catch him and corners couldn’t tackle him. Jordan Reed looks like he could be a big factor for the Redskins offense moving forward. Reed was probably the reason RGIII is listed under the FedEx Air nominees this week.
Nickell Robey, CB, Buffalo Bills: 4 tackles, 3 passes defensed, 1 INT for TD
I am normally not inclined to vote for a defensive player for rookie of the week just because they had a pick-6, but Robey did so much more than that. He is tiny, but he played like a linebacker against receivers over the middle. He ripped passes out of Brandon Gibson’s hands twice to save 1st downs.
DJ Fluker, OT, San Diego Chargers: 434 team yards, 3 TD
Fluker is the Chargers’ starting right tackle, but had to move to left tackle half way through the game after the top-2 LTs went down. He played admirably, surprisingly allowing only one sack (when he was playing on the right side.) Fluker is an absolute animal and his athleticism served him well on Sunday. His pass blocking is improving significantly.
Vote for NFL Rookie of the Week HERE
Let me know what you think of the nominations or who you voted for in the comments or on twitter @kingofcahill
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