NFL Awards Watch: How The Races Are Shaping Up With 10 Weeks In The Books

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Welcome to NFL Awards Watch, my weekly column that will take a look at the five major awards handed out in the NFL: MVP; Offensive and Defensive Player Of The Year; and Offensive and Defensive Rookie Of The Year.

JONATHAN HUTTON NFL AWARDS WATCH ARCHIVE

There’s another contender for MVP as the backstretch of the season begins, plus Offensive Player of the Year is also becoming quite the interesting battle. Let’s get to it:

NFL Awards Watch: Week 10

Left to right: Micah Parsons, Kenneth Walker III, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Jefferson. (Getty Images)

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

QB PATRICK MAHOMES, Kansas City Chiefs 

Mahomes remains the best player in the league, but like many seasons prior to Thanksgiving, the MVP race is wide open. Right now, Mahomes is the clear winner. 

Three More To Consider:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

WR TYREEK HILL, Miami Dolphins

He’s been just as important for the Dolphins as any player on the roster, and that includes Tua. Hill continued to produce even when his quarterback missed games. That’s because the threat of #10 is the key that's unlocked everything for the Dolphins offense. His speed sets up all of the motions, misdirections and routes that stem from Mike McDaniel’s play sheet. The only player Hill isn’t running away from is Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson. Hill now leads Jefferson by just 88 receiving yards. 

Two More To Consider:

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

RB KENNETH WALKER III, Seattle Seahawks

The Bucs shut him down in Germany, but he still found ways to contribute for the Seahawks in the passing game. The rookie hauled in six catches for 55 yards out of the backfield.

Two More To Consider:

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

OLB MICAH PARSONS, Dallas Cowboys

Parsons has eight sacks, 43 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery this season. He’s the clear favorite here, but now it’s more than just sack numbers for the top defender in football. The Dallas defense is getting shredded in the run game.

Two More To Consider:

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

CB SAUCE GARDNER, New York Jets

Gardner comes off the bye with a matchup against the Patriots in Foxboro. 

Two More To Consider:

Jonathan Hutton is the host of OutKick 360 and will write weekly about NFL awards. Follow Hutton on Twitter.

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Jonathan Hutton is the host of OutKick 360 which breaks down all the latest sports headlines every day from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Hutton joined OutKick in January of 2021 after nine years as co-host of Midday 180 on 104.5 The Zone, the second highest rated local sports show in the United States. He is well recognized in the Tennessee sports community and spent 16 years on the Tennessee Titans Radio Network, serving as the Gameday Host, sideline reporter, among other roles. Hutton also does television play-by-play for the TSSAA state football and basketball championships on the NFHS Network as well as a freelance sports anchor for WTVF-TV NewsChannel in Nashville. Hutton is a Tennessee native.