NFL season predictions and award winners for 2015-16

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August 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) runs with the football against the St. Louis Rams during the first quarter in a preseason NFL football game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Rookie of the Year

Allen: Amari Cooper

I look for the Raiders to improve significantly in 2015. The team has drafted well in recent years (seriously) and if speedy running back Latavius Murray (remember that name) can stay healthy, Derek Carr should have the tools he needs to take the next step. Cooper will be a big beneficiary of that step.

Dyce: Amari Cooper

The highlight of Amari Cooper shaking Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson on a route was one of the highlights of the NFL Preseason and has everyone, including myself, seeing big things this season. Derek Carr was servicable as a quarterback without a stud receiver and with someone like Cooper to rely on, you can expect him to be fed the ball and get his fair share of chances to put up top-receiver numbers.

Bass: Amari Cooper

Cooper has drawn comparisons to Raiders great Tim Brown, and he shows why in a stellar rookie campaign. Cooper’s workhorse mentality helps rekindle the flames of “Just win, baby,” as he and Derek Carr become one of the league’s most exciting QB-WR tandems.

Hill: Jameis Winston

He’s a lot better than people want to give him credit for, and that has a lot to do with the baggage he brings. But his preseason wasn’t supposed to show signs that he’s elite, it showed growth in his skill set. He’s not going to be the second-coming of anyone, but he’s going to be the best rookie who improves the most over the course of the season.

Jorgensen: Tyler Lockett

Yes, sort of going off preseason performance here, but I can’t shake the feeling that this young man is ready to roll and make teams pay for passing on him in the draft. We saw this preseason that he can make you pay on special teams and he makes an impact with the passing game. By year’s end, Lockett may become Russell Wilson’s new best friend. He can do it all and he just fits in with this team so well.

Verderame: Jameis Winston

Tampa Bay is better than people think, and Winston is coming from a pro-style system. Add in a pair of top receivers in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, and Winston will have a field day in a poor division without one decent secondary.

Next: Offensive Player of the Year

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