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As we reach the halfway point of the 2024 NFL season, the race for the league’s most coveted awards is heating up. From MVP to Coach of the Year, the first nine weeks of the season have offered plenty of surprises, breakout performances, and unexpected twists. In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the top contenders across all major categories—highlighting the standout players, analyzing their impact, and predicting which of them might take home the hardware come season’s end.
While some awards are still very much up for grabs, certain candidates have emerged as clear frontrunners, with a few established names holding steady and others making strong cases for a career-defining accolade. MVP contenders like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow are providing all the drama, while players like Derrick Henry and TJ Watt are setting the bar high in the race for Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Meanwhile, exciting rookies like Jaden Daniels and Jared Verse are reshaping expectations and earning their place in midseason award discussions.
In this article, we’ll break down the top nominees in each category and discuss how they’ve positioned themselves as the leading contenders at this stage of the season. Whether you’re a die-hard NFL fan or just casually following the season’s storyline, this midseason awards breakdown will give you a comprehensive look at the players who are on track for greatness in 2024. So, let’s dive into the most compelling narratives of the season and take a closer look at who could be taking home the hardware come January.
The MVP race has always been dominated by quarterbacks, and 2024 is no exception. While there’s no shortage of candidates, the battle for the MVP trophy is shaping up to be a two-horse race between Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. These two signal-callers have been lighting up defenses week after week, but who has the edge at the midseason mark?
Josh Allen
Josh Allen has quietly been putting together an MVP-caliber season. Despite a roster that isn’t as loaded as some of the league’s top offenses, Allen has managed to lead the Bills to a strong record. His ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs has been nothing short of spectacular. With only one turnover all season, his efficiency has taken a huge leap forward, a significant improvement from years past.
Lamar Jackson
On the flip side, Lamar Jackson is once again showing the world why he is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league. Jackson is in the midst of his best season to date, showcasing his improved passing accuracy and maintaining his dangerous rushing ability. While his MVP-winning performance in 2019 feels like a lifetime ago, Jackson’s play has been pivotal to the Ravens’ success this season. His ability to change the game with his legs while being more efficient through the air makes him a serious contender.
The Verdict
At the midseason mark, I’m leaning toward Josh Allen. His consistency, improved decision-making, and leadership have been evident week in and week out. While Lamar Jackson is undoubtedly an MVP contender, Allen’s play has been more steady, and he’s been the backbone of a team that has overachieved despite some offensive challenges.
The Offensive Player of the Year award often goes to a player who doesn’t necessarily win MVP but still has an outstanding individual season. This year, the frontrunner is clear: Derrick Henry.
Despite concerns about his age (he’s over 30), Henry is having a historic season. Currently on pace for his second 2,000-yard rushing season, he is once again proving that age is just a number. Henry has been nearly unstoppable, running through defenses and racking up touchdowns at an incredible rate. His physicality and durability are unmatched, and he continues to rewrite the record books in the process.
Why Henry?
At 6’3”, 247 pounds, Henry is an anomaly in modern football. He’s the first running back in NFL history to sustain such high-level production for multiple seasons in a row. His performance is so dominant that it’s almost like watching a grown man playing against kids. If the Titans remain competitive, Henry’s candidacy for OPOTY will only get stronger.
Defensive Player of the Year is always a hard-fought contest, but this season, there are two players who have clearly separated themselves from the pack: TJ Watt and Dexter Lawrence.
TJ Watt
TJ Watt has been a wrecking ball for the Pittsburgh Steelers, anchoring a defense that has kept them in contention despite offensive struggles. Watt’s ability to disrupt quarterbacks, generate turnovers, and make clutch plays in critical moments has earned him a place at the top of the DPOY race. Even during stretches where his sack numbers weren’t as high, Watt’s impact on the game was undeniable.
Dexter Lawrence
Meanwhile, Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants has been a revelation. Leading the league in sacks for defensive tackles, Lawrence has been dominant in both pass rushing and run defense. His play has been a major reason the Giants’ defense has been able to perform at a high level, and his ability to collapse the pocket has been a game-changer.
The Verdict
While Lawrence has been excellent, TJ Watt edges him out as the midseason favorite. Watt’s ability to completely change the course of a game, particularly when his team needs it most, puts him ahead in the race for Defensive Player of the Year.
The Offensive Rookie of the Year race was essentially decided in the first few weeks of the season, with Jayden Daniels of LSU putting up numbers that have been impossible to ignore. Daniels has been nothing short of spectacular, and his dual-threat ability has made him a nightmare for opposing defenses.
His ability to throw the ball with precision while also being a threat in the running game makes him an extremely valuable player. Even with some injuries, Daniels has remained the most consistent and impactful rookie, and unless something drastic changes, this award is his to lose.
In a season where rookie defenders have been a bit underwhelming, one player has stood out: Jared Verse. Playing for the Rams, Verse has already emerged as one of the most disruptive forces on the defensive line. His ability to rush the passer and stop the run has been instrumental in solidifying the Rams’ defense.
While other rookies have had flashes of greatness, Verse has been the most consistent, and it’s clear he’s ready to take on the mantle of being one of the league’s top defensive linemen.
The Coach of the Year race is shaping up to be a tight contest between Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions and Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders. Both have worked miracles with their respective teams, turning struggling franchises into legitimate playoff contenders.
Dan Campbell has transformed the Lions from perennial bottom-dwellers into Super Bowl contenders, with his fiery leadership and innovative play calling. If the Lions continue their dominant run, Campbell will be hard to beat.
Dan Quinn, meanwhile, has revived a Washington team that many wrote off at the start of the season. With solid defensive schemes and an offense that has overachieved, Quinn’s leadership has sparked a resurgence in Washington, making them one of the most dangerous teams in the NFC.
The Verdict
While both coaches have done phenomenal jobs, I’m giving the edge to Dan Quinn at the midseason mark. His ability to make Washington a feared team in the NFC East, and his work with a team that had its fair share of offseason turmoil, has been impressive. Quinn has taken the Commanders from irrelevance to playoff contention, making him the Coach of the Year front-runner right now.
The Comeback Player of the Year award usually goes to a player who has fought through adversity to return to form, and JK Dobbins is the epitome of this. After a series of tough injuries, including a torn Achilles, Dobbins has managed to stay healthy and produce at an elite level for the Baltimore Ravens.
His resurgence has been crucial for the Ravens’ offense, and he’s once again proving that he can be one of the top running backs in the league when healthy.
The 2024 NFL season is far from over, but as we hit the halfway point, the front-runners for each major award have already begun to emerge. From MVP to Comeback Player of the Year, the players and coaches at the top of the list have earned their spots through exceptional performance and leadership.
As the season progresses, things may shift, but as of now, Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, and TJ Watt stand as the clear frontrunners for their respective awards. The NFL continues to provide drama, excitement, and surprises each week, and we can only wait to see how the second half of the season unfolds.
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