Green Bay Packers: Midseason awards, Part 1

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GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 15: Marquez Valdes-Scantling #83 of the Green Bay Packers runs for yards after a reception during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Rookie of the Year: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Wide Receiver

I wanted to put Jaire Alexander or Josh Jackson here, but Alexander has been hurt as of late and Jackson hasn’t been performing all that well. It wouldn’t be surprising if Alexander is the Packers Rookie of the Year when the season is over, but for now, Valdes-Scantling is the best rookie at the bye week.

MVS was taken in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the second of three wide receivers taken by the Green Bay Packers in the latest draft. Along with J’Mon Moore and Equanimeous St. Brown, it was a talented trio of receivers that were picked.

No one expected any of the three to contribute to the offense, at least this early in the season. But Valdes-Scantling has distanced himself from Moore and St. Brown and has become the Packers number three receiving option behind Davante Adams and Jimmy Graham.

The injuries to Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison gave MVS the opportunity to contribute. He has done an incredible job during the first half of the season.

Against the aforementioned 49ers, Valdes-Scantlinghad some of the biggest catches for the Packers so far this season. He was also one of the bright spots from the ugly game in Detroit.

MVS has 12 receptions for 212 yards and a touchdown this season, per Pro Football Reference. Those aren’t numbers that will blow you out of the water but he’s only played when Cobb and Allison have been hurt. Even if both receivers are back, Valdes-Scantling has shown what he can do. He will likely get playing time to lighten the load on the receivers ahead of him on the depth chart.

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