NFL Awards Watch: Ryan, Elliott among leaders at quarter-season mark
With the first four weeks of the 2016 season now officially in the books, races for the NFL's most prominent individual awards are beginning to take shape.
There's plenty of football still left to be played, and these rankings could look completely different by this time next month, but the impressive starts from these players and coaches are certainly worth recognizing.
MVP
Matt Ryan
The Falcons looked similarly strong before suffering through a steep drop-off last year, but Ryan is playing the best football of his career. Leading the way to an impressive 3-1 start, the veteran signal-caller is tops in passing yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns. Atlanta is a legitimate contender for as long as Ryan can keep this up.
Other candidates: Ben Roethlisberger, Von Miller, A.J. Green
Offensive Player of the Year
Julio Jones
Examining awards candidates at the quarter mark of the season is bound to overvalue single-game performances. Don't expect the awe around Jones' incredible Week 4 performance to wear off anytime soon, though. Racking up 300 receiving yards immediately vaults him to the top of the league in that category despite being held to just one catch the game prior. Ryan and Jones look like an unstoppable duo.
Other candidates: A.J. Green, David Johnson, Antonio Brown, Marvin Jones
Defensive Player of the Year
Marcus Peters
The NFL's newest shutdown corner is here. Perfectly building upon a rookie season in which he recorded eight interceptions, Peters has picked off four passes through just four games to start the 2016 campaign. Expecting him to keep that pace and finish with 16 is unfair, but anything close to that mark could see him run away with DPOY honors by season's end.
Other candidates: Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Luke Kuechly
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Ezekiel Elliott
Elliott is already living up to some lofty expectations in Dallas. The Ohio State product, selected No. 4 overall this spring, has quietly carried the Cowboys' offense over the first month of the season in the absence of Tony Romo. His 412 rushing yards gives him the league lead over Isaiah Crowell, and his average of 103 yards per game has Elliott on pace for the best rookie season since Eric Dickerson's 1,808 yards in 1983.
Other candidates: Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott, Will Fuller
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Jalen Ramsey
Dominant cornerbacks struggle to get their deserved recognition unless they rack up interception numbers like that of Peters. But with quarterbacks already so quick to avoid his side of the field, it's clear that Ramsey is having the expected impact at the NFL level. A disappointing Jaguars offense coming around would force opponents to air it out more often as the season moves forward, thus giving Ramsey some opportunities to make plays on the ball.
Other candidates: Deion Jones, Darron Lee
Coach of the Year
Doug Pederson
Bill Belichick deserves the award every year, and a particularly strong case can made after leading his team to a 3-1 start without Tom Brady. As surprising as that may be, though, nobody had the Eagles starting the Doug Pederson era at 3-0. The first-year head coach has his team prepared for action every week, and he deserves a lot of credit for the immediate success rookie Carson Wentz has enjoyed after the Sam Bradford trade bumped him into the starting role.
Other candidates: Bill Belichick, Mike Zimmer, Gary Kubiak