Midseason Superlatives for Every NFL Team
With the first half of the 2014 NFL season in the books, it's time to hand out some superlatives for each and every team's first half.
Special thanks to Bleacher Report's divisional lead writers who contributed to this article. Though the choices are the mine alone from watching a whole lot of football over the past weeks, the other lead writers provided valuable input and discussion on the choices. Unless otherwise noted, analysis from this group was obtained firsthand.
Some of these categories might be self-explanatory, but let's lay out the criteria we're using. Note, please, that these are awards for the first half, not predictions for season-long awards. Also, some of these picks may overlap for some teams.
First-Half Team MVP: Essentially, who's the straw stirring the drink for this team? "Value" can be a bit of a tricky term, and it might not always be the player who's been playing the best as much as it's the player who is playing the best in a key role his team could not live without.
Needs Improvement: I shied away from "least valuable player" because that can sound like the player who is playing the worst. Instead, this category will focus on players who should be more dependable and upon whom the team's second-half hopes may depend on playing at a higher level.
Top Rookie: No surprises in the criteria here, but let's not focus entirely on box-score stats or simply the buzz around a player. A lot of times rookies can contribute in underrated ways as they get their feet underneath them.
Breakout or Rebound Candidate: I picked one or the other per slide—a player who is playing better than expected either for the first time or after one or more down seasons.
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Calais Campbell, Defensive End
Like a lot of defensive linemen, much of what Campbell does doesn't show up on a box score. He's helped lead the Cardinals' stout rushing defense and has also been one of the few players who generates consistent pass-rushing pressure. If his teammates held up their end of the bargain, he'd likely have more sacks.
Needs Improvement: Patrick Peterson, Cornerback
Peterson did a lot of talking in the offseason about how he deserves to be mentioned among the best cornerbacks in the game (and it was true last season), but this year, he's been one of the worst. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he's allowed more than 60 percent of passes targeted at him to be completed and has allowed five touchdowns with no interceptions. Quarterbacks passing to his area of the field are doing so with a passer rating of 125.5.
Top Rookie and Breakout Candidate: John Brown, Wide Receiver
Wide receiver Michael Floyd was close to being the breakout candidate, but I'm giving it to Brown for coming out of nowhere. He is actually keeping pace with Floyd in targets (48) and leading him in touchdowns (four to two) and yards after catch (115 to 56).
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Matt Ryan, Quarterback
What Ryan has had to put up with in terms of protection and contributions from the running game is astounding. Moreover, he's managed to still be eighth in the NFL in total yardage. It's easy to say that Ryan should be better this season, but he's also just about the only thing going right from week-to-week for the Falcons.
Needs Improvement: Jake Matthews, Offensive Tackle
According to Pro Football Focus, Matthews is the worst tackle in the NFL.
According to my eyes, that is correct.
This isn't to say he can't get better or that the Falcons botched the draft pick they used on him, but Matthews has been a huge part of the problem for them this season.
Top Rookie: Prince Shembo, Linebacker
If Matthews is part of the problem, we certainly had to go elsewhere to find a top rookie out of the first round. I had made this pick before he chimed in, but NFC South Lead Writer Brent Sobleski echoed my sentiments and said this about Shembo: "Limited reps but produces when he's on the field."
Breakout Candidate: Paul Worrilow, Linebacker
I would like Worrilow to be more consistent, and I'm not always impressed by bare tackle stats, which can be manipulated and inflated. Nevertheless, he has become an important part of the Falcons defense as a chase-and-tackle linebacker who can cover quite a bit of ground.
Baltimore Ravens
3 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Marshal Yanda, Offensive Guard
Consistently one of the best guards in football in both the run and the pass games, Yanda has played just about every down for the Ravens this season, as there has been so little consistency or cohesiveness on offense.
Needs Improvement: Lardarius Webb, Cornerback
A few years ago, we were talking about Webb as the next big thing in football. Injuries struck, and now Webb has had some trouble getting back to his previous heights. According to Pro Football Focus, he's allowed almost 70 percent of passes targeted his way to be completed.
Top Rookie: C.J. Mosley, Linebacker
A leading Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate and a clear choice here, Mosley has become a stout piece of a tough Ravens defense. He's third in the NFL with 85 tackles and has been impressive in coverage for a rookie.
Breakout Candidate: Ricky Wagner, Offensive Tackle
Injuries have made the left side of the Ravens' impressive offensive line less than a given all season long, but the former Wisconsin right tackle has been awesome next to Yanda. Between the two of them, they've kept the Ravens offense afloat.
Buffalo Bills
4 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Kyle Orton, Quarterback
Orton sits fourth in the NFL with a 104.0 passer rating. EJ Manuel sits 28th at 80.3. Don't need to go much further than that...
Needs Improvement: Eric Wood, Center
Wood has played every snap for the Bills this season, and that's a good sign of his dependability, but he hasn't done so at the level we're used to seeing him play. Every week, it seems as if he's being pushed back against the pass or unable to move bodies in the run game. The AFC East has some tough interior defensive linemen, and Wood has not been up to snuff.
Top Rookie: Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver
Not only is Watkins putting up numbers (15th in the NFL with 590 yards receiving, five touchdowns), but he's become a dependable piece the offense can lean on. For a rookie receiver, that's almost unheard of.
Rebound Candidate: Jerry Hughes, Defensive End
The Colts gave up on the 26-year-old Hughes, and for good reason, as he failed in the transition to stand-up linebacker and had been absolutely terrible rushing the passer in his time in Indianapolis. Now, at defensive end for the Bills, he's picked up 5.5 sacks so far this season and is part of a defensive line that is driving the team's success.
Carolina Panthers
5 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Greg Olsen, Tight End
Quarterback Cam Newton probably would have slid in this slot just a few weeks ago, but he has had a couple of stinkers right in a row that made me think twice. Still, it's close, and I don't mean this as a slight to Newton, who has had a great season.
As for Olsen, he's been both Newton's security blanket and his best weapon this season. He's leading the Panthers in receptions and first-down catches, is second in yardage and tied for the team lead with five touchdowns.
Needs Improvement: Charles Johnson, Defensive End
The whole defensive line has taken a big step back from last season, but none more so than Johnson. He has only four sacks this season and has been atrocious against the run.
Top Rookie: Kelvin Benjamin, Wide Receiver
This is almost by default, as Benjamin could easily be shifted into the "needs improvement" category while he learns to be an adequate No. 1 receiver on the NFL level. He needs to be more consistent, but his explosiveness has benefited the Panthers greatly.
Breakout Candidate: Philly Brown, Returner
The Panthers actually have two candidates for the "rebound" honor that would've been much clearer last season in linebacker Thomas Davis and center Ryan Kalil. Both rebounded last year but have taken even bigger steps forward this year and have been two of the best players for the Panthers this season.
With those guys set aside, Brown has been a big part of the Panthers' success as one of the better returners this season. He has all the tools to be a factor in the offense down the road but may need time to be fully integrated.
Chicago Bears
6 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Matt Forte, Running Back
Forte leads the Bears in rushing (which is no surprise since he's the team's starting running back), but he's also third in receiving and has amassed a total of 55 first downs (both rushing and receiving), which underscores the fact that he's the straw stirring the drink in that offense. None of this is "new" for Forte, but it deserves recognition.
Needs Improvement: Jay Cutler, Quarterback
Cutler hasn't been terrible all season long, but when he is terrible, the offense cannot shoulder the load, and that's how this team is supposed to operate. When a team spends as much on a QB as the Bears have on Cutler, he can't just be along for the ride, and he certainly can't be part of the problem.
Top Rookie: Kyle Fuller, Cornerback
Calling Fuller "one of the best rookie corners" or even "the best rookie corner" may be true, but it's also insulting, as he's been one of the best corners of any experience level in the NFL this season. Without Fuller, the Bears defense would be a lot worse off. He's collected three interceptions and six passes defensed, but teams have found it even more difficult to throw at him than the numbers suggest.
Breakout Candidate: Willie Young, Defensive End
Young had a good career with the Detroit Lions but came over to the Bears in one of the most frugal deals of this past offseason. He's grabbed seven sacks so far.
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 32
First-Half Team MVP and Breakout Candidate: Giovani Bernard, Running Back
Bernard nominated himself for the second award here when I spoke to him a few weeks ago. While he wasn't a bad player last year, he's become a focal point of the offense this season in terms of both explosiveness and dependability. He's had a few bad games as teams have keyed in on him, but that can be said for everyone in the Bengals offense.
Needs Improvement: Andy Dalton, Quarterback
One of the reasons the offense is so sporadic is the play of Dalton. Now, he probably isn't as terrible as his critics say, but he doesn't have the elite physical tools to win every matchup and tends to make some really mind-boggling throws that set him back as well. He's currently 19th in the NFL in passing yardage and 20th in passer rating.
Top Rookie: Jeremy Hill, Running Back
After Hill had a tremendous 154-yard performance, it's hard to put anyone else here. He may not be featured consistently every week, but he's usually effective whenever he's called on.
Cleveland Browns
8 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle
A lot of people want to put the Browns' offensive resurgence this year on quarterback Brian Hoyer or offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. In reality, it's the impact of Thomas—the best offensive tackle by some margin this season, according to Pro Football Focus—and the top rookie listed below.
With Thomas playing at the level he's playing, he allows the offense to operate a whole lot more effectively.
Needs Improvement: The Cornerbacks
Part of me wanted to single out Joe Haden, who's played completely below his level of expectations this season. Another big part of me wanted to single out Buster Skrine, who has had moments but still struggles from time to time with consistency and physical receivers. Then again, there's also Justin Gilbert, who hasn't yet lived up to his billing of being such a high draft pick.
So, let's lump 'em all together.
Top Rookie: Joel Bitonio, Offensive Guard
What's scary is that Bitonio has tons of room to grow—especially as a run-blocker—as he continues to acclimate to the NFL game and his body continues to mature. As it is, he's been one of the best interior linemen in the league this season.
Breakout Candidate: Tashaun Gipson, Safety
Gipson has already paid dividends on his status as a 2012 undrafted free agent, but has taken it up a notch this season as one of the better safeties in the NFL. He leads all of them with six interceptions, as he has warned teams not to throw deep against him.
Dallas Cowboys
9 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Tony Romo, Quarterback and DeMarco Murray, Running Back
With his 1,133 yards, Murray has been stellar this season, and it's clear that he, the offensive line and the running game overall make up the difference from years past. However, the idea that somehow the success of this team is separate from Romo is ludicrous. He's fifth in the NFL with a 103.6 passer rating.
Needs Improvement: Brandon Carr, Cornerback
Carr was supposed to be one of the best parts of a really terrible defense. Instead, he's been one of the worst parts of an above-average defense. If he was playing as well as his teammates, the Cowboys might be even better than they've been in 2014.
Top Rookie: Zack Martin, Offensive Guard
One of the best rookies in football this year and one of the main reasons this team has taken steps forward, Martin has distinguished himself both as a run-blocker and a pass-blocker. The Cowboys are not scared, in any way, to run behind him for tough yardage.
Rebound Candidate: Rolando McClain, Linebacker
Anyone who says they saw this one coming is a flat-out liar or the luckiest guesser on the planet. McClain hasn't been perfect for the Cowboys this season, but he's been an impact player with 44 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble after being completely written off in the league.
Denver Broncos
10 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Peyton Manning, Quarterback
Manning was the leader in the clubhouse for league-wide first-half MVP up until recent weeks where Patriots quarterback Tom Brady may have pulled ahead. Still, Manning is in the top five in every important passing category.
Needs Improvement and Top Rookie: Bradley Roby, Cornerback
Roby is one of the few rookies really playing in a big role for the Broncos, and he's been as good as can be expected this season. Yet he's also been picked on at times in almost every game, so Denver needs him to improve even more before the end of the season and the playoffs—when his liability may mean a whole lot more.
Breakout or Rebound Candidate: Brandon Marshall, Linebacker
Marshall has come out of nowhere to lead the Broncos in tackles this season. More than just a chase-and-tackle guy, he's become a valuable enforcer who gives the Broncos a level of toughness in run defense they might otherwise only have in pass rushing.
Detroit Lions
11 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Golden Tate, Wide Receiver
Without Tate, the Lions wouldn't be having anywhere near the kind of year they're currently having. Without Calvin Johnson, who's been injured, the offense had a really big chance to stall almost completely. It hasn't been great, but Tate has managed to shoulder the load with 800 yards receiving, which is fourth in the NFL.
Needs Improvement: Matthew Stafford, Quarterback
If Tate has carried the offense, it's because Stafford hasn't. He's regressed since his 5,000-yard season a few years ago and tends to trust far too much in his arm and his receivers rather than making the smart plays. He's had moments of better play this season, but he'll need to figure things out with a tough schedule coming up.
Top Rookie: Eric Ebron, Tight End
Lions fans are expecting more out of Ebron, so they may be surprised to see him here, but when he's been healthy this year, he's been effective. Frankly, there isn't a whole lot of competition in this team's rookie class. Seven of Ebron's 10 catches have been for first downs, and another was a touchdown.
Breakout or Rebound Candidate: DeAndre Levy, Linebacker
Levy broke out to Lions fans last season, but the league is getting a much better look at him this season. He is the best defender on one of the league's best defenses.
Green Bay Packers
12 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback
Just like Denver Broncos passer Peyton Manning, one can sort the passing stats in just about any meaningful way, and Rodgers is going to be near the top. He's managed the further emergence of wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb extremely well and has kept the offense clicking forward (for the most part) after a slow start to the season.
Needs Improvement: Tramon Williams, Cornerback
Sam Shields had a slow start to the season, but since he's started to click, teams have been picking on Williams. According to Pro Football Focus, he's allowed a passer rating of 104.8 toward his zone so far this season.
Top Rookie: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Safety
Other than a really rough game in New Orleans, Clinton-Dix has gotten better every single week. When you insert a young player into a tough position like safety and he's making plays and trending upward, it's hard to ask for anything more.
Breakout Candidate: Nick Perry, Linebacker
Perry has seen his role dialed way back this season with Julius Peppers in town, but he's responded well—applying pressure when he is asked and adding a valuable piece to the rotation. He's playing less but having his best year.
Houston Texans
13 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: J.J. Watt, Defensive End
AFC South Lead Writer Rivers McCown put it best: "Who else?" Watt has been one of the (if not the) best players in football this season. He's had a game or two where he wasn't his usual dominant self, but overall, if one said he deserves the overall MVP award, no one could argue too loudly.
Needs Improvement: Brian Cushing, Linebacker
What has happened to Cushing?
Is it a lingering injury? New role in the defense? Whatever it is, Cushing looks lost and completely ineffective.
Top Rookie: Jadeveon Clowney, Linebacker
Much like Watt, but in a different connotation—who else? Alfred Blue has had some moments, but Clowney on the field brings a different flavor of defense to Houston.
Rebound Candidate: Arian Foster, Running Back
Foster is back healthy after a rough 2013 and has been a lone bright spot in the offense most weeks. He's near the top of the league in rushing with 822 yards, and when one looks at their comparative workloads and blocking, it wouldn't be impossible to make the argument that Foster has been better (at least in some ways) than Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray this season.
Indianapolis Colts
14 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Andrew Luck, Quarterback
If anyone wants to cast their vote for Luck as the first-half MVP for the entire league, I'm not doubting them. He's first in yardage (3,085), first in touchdowns (26) and eighth in passer rating (100.3). Any questions anyone might have had about him have officially been answered.
Needs Improvement: D'Qwell Jackson, Linebacker
Jackson was supposed to be a thumper in the middle of the field and simply hasn't done that for the Colts. Worse yet, in absolute passing situations, he's been more than tempting to pick on.
Top Rookie: Jack Mewhort, Offensive Guard
Mewhort has been one of the more dependable linemen for the Colts and a breath of fresh air, helping left tackle Anthony Castonzo as well. With such great early returns, Indianapolis fans should be really excited about what Mewhort can be.
Breakout Candidate: Vontae Davis, Cornerback
This is a different kind of breakout from some of the other teams. Davis has already been a "good" player in this league, but he's starting to get credibility as one of the absolute best cornerbacks in the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars
15 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Zane Beadles, Offensive Guard
On a week-to-week basis, I'm not sure anyone has been more consistent for a bad Jaguars team than Beadles. Interior linemen may not be sexy, but the Jaguars would be a lot worse off (yes, hard to imagine) if it weren't for Beadles.
Needs Improvement: Blake Bortles, Quarterback
Bortles is a lot better than Chad Henne was, but he hasn't been any sort of solution for the Jaguars this season. Yes, it's early. No, we're not talking about potentially going elsewhere with the position. That said, the Jaguars need to see a clear progression between now and the end of the season.
Top Rookie: Allen Robinson, Wide Receiver
Robinson is 31st in the league with 488 yards receiving. He has become a more reliable target the longer he and Bortles have worked with one another in the lineup.
Breakout Candidate: Denard Robinson, Running Back
With a few more weeks as a starter, it's possible Robinson gets the MVP award for the Jaguars. He's rolled up 329 yards in the past three games and has made the most of the opportunities he's been given.
Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Justin Houston, Linebacker
Lost a bit in the middle of the country on a team that doesn't exactly have the most exciting offense to watch, Houston is slowly turning into one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in the entire league. Right now he's first in the league with 12 sacks.
Needs Improvement: Eric Fisher, Offensive Tackle
For every sack Houston gets, it seems like Fisher is giving one up. He has yet to really get a handle on the NFL game, and though he's had a few games where he's athletically held his own, he is still much rawer than you'd like a first overall pick to be.
Top Rookie: Philip Gaines, Cornerback
Neither Gaines nor DeAnthony Thomas have put together enough of a resume. I'll give Gaines the nod here, as he has played well in a couple of starts.
Breakout Candidate: Travis Kelce, Tight End
Mini-Gronk didn't get a chance last season, but has been the best part of a moribund passing attack this year. He has 419 yards and four touchdowns.
Miami Dolphins
17 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Cameron Wake, Defensive End
Wake has 6.5 sacks right now, which is only 11th in the league, but I've preached all season long that his impact often goes far past the box score. Teams are throwing lineman after lineman after Wake and are still having trouble with keeping him from pressuring their passers.
Needs Improvement: Brian Hartline, Wide Receiver
Hartline was supposed to be one of the best No. 2 receivers in the entire league. Instead, he's fallen to the No. 3 or No. 4 target on Tannehill's radar. Worse yet, for Hartline, it's almost as if the offense runs a lot better when he's less of a focal point.
Top Rookie: Jarvis Landry, Wide Receiver
Who has stepped up in Hartline's absence? Landry is second on the team with 301 yards and two touchdowns. Because of both youth and money on top of talent, Landry could completely replace Hartline sooner rather than later.
Breakout Candidate: Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback
Tannehill is a first-round pick, so "breakout" might be a strong phrase, but he's having the best season of his young career and has started to lead the Dolphins offense in a way he had not in the past.
Minnesota Vikings
18 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Harrison Smith, Safety
Smith is one of the best safeties in football against both the run and the pass. His talent at the back end of the Vikings defense has really kept the team above water through some dark days in recent years. Pro Football Focus has him as the second-best safety in football and the best safety against the run.
Needs Improvement: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle
Kalil has been terrible for the Vikings and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Just about every time a Minnesota quarterback drops back, someone will be pressuring because Kalil hasn't done a job he was once so good at. I'm not sure any young player has regressed quite so spectacularly.
Top Rookie: Anthony Barr, Linebacker
Barr wasn't the rookie most Vikings fans were most excited about (see: Bridgewater, Teddy), but he's played the best and has become an important part of the defense. He is second on the team with 58 tackles and has also shown a lot of promise as a pass-rusher and in coverage.
Breakout Candidate: Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle
Floyd has 3.5 sacks this year and has taken a big step forward as one of the more impressive young defensive linemen in the league.
New England Patriots
19 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Tom Brady, Quarterback
Though he had a slow start to the season, since the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs a few weeks back, Brady has been absolutely electric. He's fifth in the NFL with 2,392 yards passing and has a passer rating of 103.5. The reports of his demise may have been premature.
Needs Improvement: Nate Solder, Offensive Tackle
When left tackle is supposed to be one "known" commodity on the offensive line and continues to be a mixed bag (mostly negative) on a week-to-week basis, that's a big problem. Solder has regressed this season and has become what some critics thought he might be out of college—a heavy-footed waist-bender who allows speed-rushers to get around him.
Top Rookie: Dominique Easley, Defensive Tackle
AFC East Lead Writer Erik Frenz was right when he told me that it would be best to go with "none" for this category, as the Patriots aren't leaning on any rookies this season and aren't getting very good efforts out of the class. We'll go with Easley, though, because he's playing the most and has the best chance to continue to be part of the rotation.
Rebound Candidate: Rob Gronkowski, Tight End
Offense back on track when he's healthy? Check.
Back to being one of the most dominant matchups in all of sports? Double check.
New Orleans Saints
20 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Drew Brees, Quarterback
Brees had a really slow start to the season but has statistically stayed relevant even when the team wasn't winning. At worst, he's still the one guy trying to drag his teammates kicking and screaming into the end zone. He's fourth in the league with 2,524 yards but needs to tick up from his only 15 touchdowns.
Needs Improvement: Kenny Vaccaro, Safety
NFL South Lead Writer Brent Sobleski put it succinctly: "Instead of being all over the field, he's missing plays all over the field." Vaccaro was supposed to be a strength of this defense, but he's been a liability in most games.
Top Rookie: Brandin Cooks, Wide Receiver
Cooks was my Offensive Rookie of the Year pick, so I'm happy to put him here and even happier he deserves it. The Saints passing offense is best when it's running through him almost like a point guard in basketball. He's become key, creating mismatches on intermediate routes. He has 410 yards receiving at this point in the year.
Breakout Candidate: Mark Ingram, Running Back
Not a lot of people expected this from Ingram.
Once written off, Ingram has used 2014 to remind a lot of people of his existence, which is fortunate since it's a contract year and he's likely earning himself a lot of money. Even though he's missed a few games due to injury, he's become a focal point for the offense with 431 yards rushing and a 4.9-yard average.
New York Giants
21 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Eli Manning, Quarterback
There really isn't anyone to pick, even though Manning has been up and down. When he's on, though, this new offense hums. No, throwing for 1,932 yards isn't awesome, and I'm sure he'd like it to be better, but after running back Rashad Jennings, who has been hurt, there's been no one nearly as dependable for the Giants.
Needs Improvement: Weston Richburg, Offensive Lineman
A college center asked to play guard, Richburg recently hurt his ankle, so he may need time off, but before that he was only a Band-Aid at best on the Giants line. There are plenty of excuses to be made here, but the bottom line is this: When he gets back into the lineup, the offense needs him to be better.
Top Rookie: Odell Beckham Jr., Wide Receiver
ODB made a splash after sitting out the first couple of games and has since become Manning's most dependable (and explosive) wide receiver. He only has 262 yards, but of his 18 catches, 14 have been for first downs, and three more were in the end zone.
Breakout Candidate: Robert Ayers, Defensive End
In five seasons with the Denver Broncos, Ayers managed only 12 sacks. This year, he already has three and has become a man possessed with rushing the passer. He's a handful on almost every snap this season.
New York Jets
22 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Muhammad Wilkerson, Defensive End
This could just as easily go to defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, as both have been handfuls for opponents this year. Also, on such a terrible team, the play of center Nick Mangold should be pointed out. As for Wilkerson, he has 4.5 sacks, but that doesn't even begin to portray the pressure he's put on opposing quarterbacks this season.
Needs Improvement: The Quarterback Position
The biggest sports story in New York is consistently (read: sadly) who should be the starter at this position from a week-to-week basis (quarter to quarter if you're on Twitter). Instead, this is the reality: Whoever is playing there has stunk, and the lack of any real production at the position is going to get a lot of people fired by the end of the season.
Top Rookie: Jace Amaro, Tight End
In response to this question, AFC East Lead Writer Erik Frenz wrote: "Ask Jets fans why this is laughable. Three of the 12 draft picks are still on the roster. None of them are really any good." Amaro only has 285 yards and a touchdown, but I'm chalking a lot of that up to the paragraph above.
Breakout Candidate: Chris Ivory, Running Back
Ivory has his good games and bad games, but he's become a household name in those households that play fantasy football and has already met his personal touchdown record (five). He is approaching a career best in yardage—not bad for supposedly being Chris Johnson's backup.
Oakland Raiders
23 of 32
First-Half Team MVP and Top Rookie: Khalil Mack, Linebacker
Most weeks, Mack is the only player worth watching on a terrible Raiders team, and he's well on his way to being one of the most dynamic young players in the entire league. On the season, Pro Football Focus has him as the second-best 3-4 outside linebacker in the league.
Needs Improvement: Derek Carr, Quarterback
Carr has been a light at the end of the tunnel for the Raiders, yes, but he's also been part of the problem in quite a few games this season. The 1,711 yards and 61 percent passing are good, but more connected chances down the field and fewer interceptions have to be the themes in the second half of the season.
Breakout Candidate: Andre Holmes, Wide Receiver
A 2011 undrafted free agent out of Hillsdale College in Michigan, Holmes is on his fourth team. This year, he's become a solid threat for the Raiders with 400 yards and four touchdowns to date.
Philadelphia Eagles
24 of 32
First-Half Team MVP and Rebound Candidate: Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver
After sitting out last season with a torn ACL, Maclin has reminded a lot of people what he can do on a football field with 790 yards and eight touchdowns through the first half of the season. He's well on his way to the best season of his career.
Needs Improvement: LeSean McCoy, Running Back
The offensive line could use a nod here as well, and honestly, things have picked up in recent weeks, but the Eagles are built to run the football. That hasn't been as automatic as it should be, nor as it was in Chip Kelly's first season. McCoy has 622 yards and a touchdown and will need to do much better if the Eagles want to win the NFC East.
Top Rookie: Jordan Matthews, Wide Receiver
Matthews is becoming the tall possession receiver the Eagles needed with 313 yards and three touchdowns on the year. If he becomes a more consistent red-zone threat in the second half of the season, watch out.
Pittsburgh Steelers
25 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback
With all due respect to Antonio Brown, who has been the best receiver in the game this season, it's impossible to ignore Roethlisberger's first half. He's second in the NFL with 2,720 yards and has 22 touchdowns, with 12 of those coming in the past two games.
Needs Improvement: Cortez Allen, Cornerback
Allen has been one of the biggest disappointments of the year in a season where it seems almost every good cornerback is dropping the proverbial ball to some extent. He has more talent than almost anyone on the Steelers defense, but he's also the biggest problem at the moment.
Top Rookie: Ryan Shazier, Linebacker
Wide receiver Martavis Bryant may have a shot at this by the end of the season, but Shazier (when healthy) has been an integral part of the Steelers pass rush and pressure. He's not lighting up the box score, but his opponents certainly know he's there.
Breakout Candidate: Le'Veon Bell, Running Back
Bell looks like a different running back this season after being a plodder for his college career and rookie season. Now? He's dynamic and clearly one of the most explosive backs in the league. He's put up 711 yards and has done so at almost five yards per clip.
San Diego Chargers
26 of 32
First-Half Team MVP: Philip Rivers, Quarterback
For much of the first half of the season, it looked as if Rivers might be the MVP of the whole league, though he's cooled off as of late. Still, his 2,351 yards passing and 20 touchdowns are awfully impressive considering what I'm about to write in the next paragraph...
Needs Improvement: The Offensive Line
Look at Pro Football Focus' page for the Chargers and then sort by overall rating. What do you see? Five of the eight worst grades this season are starting offensive linemen. Now, PFF is just one (well-run, trusted) service, but anyone who has watched tape this season knows that Rivers and co. are succeeding despite the O-line, not because of it.
Top Rookie: Jason Verrett, Cornerback
Verrett fell down draft boards because of his size (5'9"), but he's played big for the Chargers this season. He and Brandon Flowers suddenly look like one of the best corner tandems in football.
Breakout Candidate: Branden Oliver, Running Back
He's a rookie like Verrett, but I couldn't give him the nod above, and I figure being a complete unknown out of Buffalo gives him some room to be a "breakout" star as well. He has 371 yards rushing so far behind a terrible offensive line and has become an important piece of the passing game as well.
San Francisco 49ers
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First-Half Team MVP: Justin Smith, Defensive End
With everything that's gone wrong for the 49ers this season, Smith's presence as an old standby is one of the biggest positives. He doesn't play a position that lights up the stat sheet, but he's commanded the line of scrimmage this season and given the linebackers every chance to succeed.
Needs Improvement: Colin Kaepernick, Quarterback
Kaepernick has every physical tool one might need to succeed in the NFL, but he still has long stretches where he doesn't resemble anything like an NFL passer. Want to blame Jim Harbaugh or Greg Roman? Fine, even though I disagree. Bottom line: The 49ers need Kaepernick to be a much better passer at this stage of his career.
Top Rookie: Chris Borland, Linebacker
With every linebacker on the 49ers either disappointing or missing games, Borland has been a breath of fresh air in relief.
Rebound Candidate: Stevie Johnson, Wide Receiver
After being cast off in Buffalo, Johnson has become a focal point of anything the 49ers call offense this season. Though Anquan Boldin leads the team in receiving, Johnson's 356 yards and three touchdowns are a great sign to see from the former Bill.
Seattle Seahawks
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First-Half Team MVP: Marshawn Lynch, Running Back
The offense has had much wrong with it this season, and Beast Mode's antics may be wearing thin up in the Pacific Northwest, but he ranks ninth in the league with 549 yards rushing and still consistently threatens to break a long run on sheer willpower alone.
Needs Improvement: Russell Wilson, Quarterback
Like Kaepernick, we're looking for steps forward from Wilson that just aren't there. His numbers are all right, but he looks scared to take the reins of the offense. Though he's completing more than 62 percent of his passes, his 6.90 yards per attempt makes you question whether the team even allows him to take shots down the field.
Top Rookie: Justin Britt, Right Tackle
Honestly, this is completely by default. Britt has been a turnstile for the Seahawks' opponents this season, but he's the only rookie playing a major role for Seattle.
Breakout Candidate: Bruce Irvin, Pass-Rusher
A bigger role and more expectations for Irvin this season have resulted in more dominance as a pass-rusher. The Seahawks defense may not be quite as fearsome as last year, but Irvin has improved.
St. Louis Rams
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First-Half Team MVP and Top Rookie: Aaron Donald, Defensive Tackle
Donald was a late-riser in the draft process due to height concerns (6'1"), but he's paid dividends for the Rams' trust in drafting him. As one of the best interior defensive linemen in the game this season, he is consistently pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
Needs Improvement: Robert Quinn, Defensive End
Last season, Quinn provided that consistent pressure for the Rams, and he's just not doing so this season—at least not at the rate he was before. Whether it's just how teams are game-planning for him or something else, the addition of Donald should have improved Quinn's life on the line, not made it worse.
Breakout Candidate: Brian Quick, Wide Receiver
He's out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder, but with 375 yards and three touchdowns, Quick already surpassed his numbers in any other season of his career.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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First-Half Team MVP: Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle
Bare stats might suggest linebacker Lavonte David goes here, and it wouldn't be too far from the truth, but McCoy is a matchup nightmare most teams simply cannot handle, and that makes life easier for just about everyone on the Buccaneers. If the rest of the team had half of McCoy's talent and results, the Bucs would be undefeated.
Needs Improvement: The Quarterbacks
Like the Jets, most people are focused on who is starting without realizing that both starters have been terrible. Whether it's bone-headed mistakes or simply not moving the ball down the field, the quarterback position has started to look an awful lot like it did for much of Lovie Smith's career in Chicago.
Top Rookie: Mike Evans, Wide Receiver
Evans has supplanted Vincent Jackson as the team's best receiver partly because he offers the same positives (size, deep-field ability) and is more explosive with better hands. He has 460 yards so far this season, and that pace should pick up in the second half.
Rebound Candidate: Louis Murphy, Wide Receiver
Murphy was all but out of the league and has found a niche in the Buccaneers offense. With 230 yards already, he's looking like he's going to put together his best season since 2010.
Tennessee Titans
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First-Half Team MVP: Jurrell Casey, Defensive End
Casey is quickly becoming one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the game and easily one of the best pass-rushers from that position not named J.J. Watt. Honestly, the Titans have been so bad that it's almost impossible not to wonder what Casey's numbers could be like on a better team.
Needs Improvement: Michael Oher, Offensive Tackle
AFC South Lead Writer Rivers McCown voted elsewhere for this dishonor, saying about Oher: "I think it's just established he won't be improving." While that's true, the Titans need more out of the right tackle position, and Oher is likely getting his last chance to be an NFL starter.
Top Rookie: Taylor Lewan, Offensive Tackle
Lewan has only played a major role in the last few weeks, but he's done so remarkably well while being thrust into the blind side of the Titans offensive line. As the Titans continue to try to figure out the quarterback position, getting solid play from Lewan can only help.
Rebound Candidate: Wesley Woodyard, Linebacker
Once a breakout player for the Broncos, Woodyard has now become a leader and an impact player for the Titans defense. If Casey is the straw that stirs the drink, Woodyard is the guy who keeps everything in the cup.
Washington
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First-Half Team MVP and Rebound Candidate: Ryan Kerrigan
Though Kerrigan played relatively well last season, he did so with a knee injury that kept him from being at his best. This year, he's reminding people how much of an impact pass-rusher he can be and has been an absolute terror to opposing running games.
Needs Improvement: Ryan Clark, Safety
Clark, now a defensive captain, was supposed to be an impact addition and represent much-needed dependability on the back end of the defense. Instead, he's been a sieve, allowing just about anyone through. He's been even worse against the run.
Top Rookie: Bashaud Breeland, Cornerback
Breeland hasn't set the world on fire or anything, but he's provided tremendous value as a fourth-round pick and has made teams pay for trying to pick on him. He's also spent the entire season getting better almost every week, which is all one can ask from a rookie corner.
Michael Schottey is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Find more of his stuff on his archive page and follow him on Twitter.
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