The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Hunt, Watson should battle for rookie of the year award
Last season’s race for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award was a dogfight between Cowboys teammates Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott.
Prescott won the race, as do most quarterbacks for most individuals awards open to all positions.
If it’s the year of the running back — Penn State’s Saquon Barkley appears to be the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy — Kareem Hunt could be in line to win NFL hardware if he keeps up his current pace.
Don’t count out the top rookie quarterback to this point — the Texans’ Deshaun Watson.
As the Chiefs (5-2) and Texans (3-3) near the halfway point, Hunt, a Willoughby South graduate, and Watson, in no order, would likely be 1-2 if voting were done today, with Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette third.
Let’s take a look at the candidates:
Hunt
It seems as if Hunt sets a rookie mark every game, and in his last, he set another.
Hunt is the first rookie with 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his first seven games since the Rams’ Eric Dickerson did it in 1983.
Hunt has 1,002 yards. At this point in ’83, Dickerson had 1,045.
Hunt leads the NFL with 717 rushing yards on 124 carries (5.8-yard average) and has four rushing touchdowns. As a receiver, he has 25 catches for 285 yards (11.4-yard average) and two TDs.
Through seven games in 1983, Dickerson had 851 yards rushing and 192 receiving, and 12 touchdowns.
According to NFL.com, Hunt has the most runs of 20-plus yards this season with eight. The next closest is a group of seven running backs with four. He also leads with three runs of 40-plus yards.
Hunt’s next five games are home to Denver, at Dallas, at the Giants, home to the Bills, and at the New York Jets.
The game vs. the Cowboys will be a marquee one, and could help Hunt’s cause if he has a solid performance.
One thing to consider for Hunt’s chances: Since scoring six TDs in his first three games, he hasn’t crossed the goal line since.
Watson
In six games this season (one being about a half-game as he relieved starter Tom Savage in the opener), the Texans rookie from Clemson has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,297 yards with 15 touchdown passes and five interceptions.
As a rusher, he has 202 yards and two TDs.
In his last game against the Browns, he threw for three touchdowns, and that was considered a letdown for Watson’s standards.
That’s because in the two previous games before the Browns game, Watson had 10 total touchdowns.
Four of the Texans’ next six games are on the road, beginning Oct. 29 at Seattle, so Watson will be tested.
Fournette
In six games for the Jaguars, Fournette has 596 rushing yards, plus another 136 receiving and seven total touchdowns.
He missed Jacksonville’s Oct. 22 game against the Colts with a foot injury.
Like Hunt, Fournette has a knack for big plays with touchdowns runs of 90 and 75 yards.
The race for NFL Rookie of the Year will be a tight one down the stretch. Hunt looked to have the early lead, but Watson and Fournette are closing fast.
Hunt was at his alma mater on Oct. 20 for Mayfield-South game, and the buzz generated by his presence was felt throughout the stadium.
The next time he returns to South, Hunt might be carrying the Rookie of the Year award.
He’s good enough to win it, but Watson and Fournette might have something to say about that in the NFL’s second half.
Contact Podolski at MPodolski@News-Herald. com; On Twitter: @mpodo.