The Offensive Rookie of the Year Award is an arbitrary honor bestowed on a rookie who strings together a few "wow" performances during his first season. I say arbitrary because winning the award isn't exactly a guarantee of future success. Just ask Vince Young and Robert Griffin. Still, it is a good indicator of who made an impression early on in their careers.
So, who is in contention for the award this year?
WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
Really, ODB's campaign can be summed up in this one video...
The dude literally might be Spider-Man.
Don't underestimate the power of a single impact play, especially when it comes late in the season and stays fresh in the minds of voters.
But holistically, Beckham has been laying waste to opposing secondary's since returning from a four-game absence due to injury to start the season. His 101 yards from scrimmage per game is the highest mark among rookies this season. He's averaging 7.1 receptions, 97.2 yards and .9 touchdowns in the 10 games he has played this season. He's also single-handedly made the Giants bearable to watch.
Overall, he has 71 catches for 972 yards and nine touchdowns. He'd get my vote.
RB Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
Hill, a second-round pick, played behind last year's OROY contender Giovani Bernard for much of the early portion of the season. But he has recently emerged as the leader in that talented backfield.
Right now, he leads all rookies with 1,082 yards from scrimmage. Not to mention, his Bengals are in first place out in the competitive AFC North. Hill has accounted for 22 percent of Cincinnati's yards from scrimmage total, easily the highest total among rookies.
The guy is talented. Just take a look at this 60-yard touchdown run from Week 9.
WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans, the No. 7 overall pick, has caught fire after a somewhat slow start to the season.
The rookie WR has 11 touchdowns this season, tied for the most by a rookie receiver since Randy Moss had 17 in 1998. He also put up 209 yards against the Washington Redskins in Week 11.
All of this is even more impressive when you consider how poorly Tampa Bay's quarterbacks have played. Combined, Josh McCown and Mike Glennon have 18 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 48.2.
Yet Evans has still managed to haul in 59 balls for 948 yards and become one of the most dangerous deep threats in the entire league. Evans ranks first in catches (18) and yards (579) and second in touchdowns (six) on passes thrown at least 20 yards down field.
It's too tough for me to choose just one signature catch for Evans, so instead enjoy this clip of him blowing up cornerback Terence Newman on a hellacious block.
Honorable Mentions
WR Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers
WR Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills
G Zach Martin, Dallas Cowboys
