NFL Week 17 Awards: J.J. Watt devastates the Jaguars
By Brad Rowland
Sending out Week 17 awards to the top NFL players in the land.
The 2015 regular season is no more; it is all steam ahead toward the playoffs. Before we take a deep dive into the postseason, though, it is time to wrap up with a full view of Week 17, and that means examining the league from a perspective of individual awards.
We have been with you every step of the way, and it would just be wrong to avoid handing out the hardware for the league’s final week. With that out of the way, let’s get to the honorees.
Offensive Rookie of the Week
Devin Funchess, WR Carolina Panthers
Remember when Funchess was a “bust” midway through the season? That was, of course, a ridiculous notion for any rookie, but the former Michigan tight end (yes, tight end) now looks the part of a potential impact wide receiver for Carolina.
Funchess caught seven passes for 120 yards and a touchdown against the Bucs on Sunday, and he was generally the most effective pass-catcher for the Panthers. That isn’t exactly a tough bar to clear when compared to the other wide-outs but Carolina does feature a dominant tight end in Greg Olsen, so Funchess’s performance was especially noteworthy. He’ll never be a traditional burner, but his huge frame makes Funchess a nice project to grow alongside Cam Newton.
Runner-up: DeVante Parker, WR Miami Dolphins
Defensive Rookie of the Week
Malcom Brown, DT New England Patriots
It wasn’t a banner week for defensive rookies (nor for New England), but that shouldn’t detract from what Brown managed to do for the Pats. The 320-pound defensive tackle from Texas couldn’t help New England secure a victory, but he showed flashes of the significant promise that accompanied him as a first-round draft pick.
Brown contributed six tackles on the day from his place on the interior, and he was generally a terror against the run. Players of his stature won’t pick up big-time stats and, as such, he is unlikely to generate any real recognition nationally for this type of effort. Still, the Patriots were able to hold the Dolphins to just 2.8 yards per carry on the day, and Brown was a huge part of that.
Runner-up: Za’Darius Smith, OLB Baltimore Ravens
Next: Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week