NFL Honors 2016: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Awards Odds and Predictions

Before closing the weekend with actual football, the NFL will soak up every last bit of exposure by hosting the NFL Honors ceremony on Saturday evening.

The highest honor won't get distributed until the next night, when either the Carolina Panthers or the Denver Broncos will seize the Lombardi Trophy. While waiting for Super Bowl Sunday, the league will announce its yearly award winners in a grand spectacle hosted by Conan O'Brien.

The MVP race dominates the award discussion throughout the year, but Cam Newton is the comfortable favorite to receive the prize and perhaps his first of two MVP awards this weekend. Instead of rehashing a debate nobody is arguing, let's dissect a pair of other intriguing races.

NFL Honors Viewing Info

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, at 9 p.m. ET

TV: CBS (pre-show coverage on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET)

Live Stream: CBS All Access (subscription required)

Award Predictions

Award	Prediction
Most Valuable Player	Cam Newton, QB, CAR
Offensive Player of the Year	Cam Newton, QB, CAR
Defensive Player of the Year	Aaron Donald, DT, STL
Offensive Rookie of the Year	Todd Gurley, RB, STL
Defensive Rookie of the Year	Marcus Peters, CB, KC
Comeback Player of the Year	Eric Berry, S, KC
Fantasy Player of the Year	Antonio Brown, WR, PIT

Top Award Races

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Player	2015 Stats	Odds*
Todd Gurley, RB, STL	1,294 Total YDs, 10 TDs	7-2
Jameis Winston, QB, TB	4,042 Pass YDs, 22 TD, 15 INT	4-1
Amari Cooper, WR, OAK	72 REC, 1,070 YDs, 6 TDs	15-1
David Johnson, RB, ARI	1,038 Total YDs, 12 TDs	20-1

The first quarterback, running back and wide receiver drafted last year each provided immediate dividends, making for the event's most interesting decision.

Jameis Winston didn't post incredible numbers, but he exceeded 4,000 passing yards and transformed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into an 8-8 club a year after it went 2-14. Rookie quarterbacks are graded on a steep curve, and only Andrew Luck and Cam Newton registered more passing yards in their first seasons.

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Amari Cooper is a long shot, and that's saying something about this crop. The Oakland Raiders wideout amassed 1,070 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 72 receptions despite a rough finish.

After surpassing 45 yards in each of the first nine games, the No. 4 overall pick averaged 48.3 yards over the last seven contests. FoxSports.com's Alex Marvez provided an explanation for the late regression:

Recency bias will hurt Cooper's chances. Luckily for Todd Gurley, his missed time came in September. The running back certainly made up for his delayed debut, tallying 1,106 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games and averaging 4.8 yards per run.

On a per-game basis, Gurley is the clear choice among the trio. If he hadn't entered October with nine rushing yards, he'd run away with the vote. Then again, running back David Johnson may have leapfrogged all three guys if the Arizona Cardinals didn't wait until December to give him meaningful reps.

There's a precedent for awarding domination in a condensed sample; New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. won last year despite missing the first four games. Gurley didn't drastically improve his team's record, but he overcame the NFL's worst passing offense to punish expecting defenses all season. He deserves the slight edge over Winston.

Defensive Player of the Year

Player	2015 Stats	Odds*
J.J. Watt, DE, HOU	76 TK,17.5 Sacks, 3 FF, 8 PD	3-1
Aaron Donald, DT, STL	69 TK, 11 Sacks, 1 FR	4-1
Luke Kuechly, LB, CAR	118 TK, 4 INT, 2 FF	7-1
Khalil Mack, DE/LB, OAK	77 TK, 15 Sacks, 2 FF	12-1
Tyrann Mathieu, S, ARI	89 TK, 5 INT, 1 FF, 17 PD	15-1

Here's an idea of how wide-open the Defensive Player of the Year chase is: Among a panel of 16 NFL.com analysts, six different winners emerged.

Reggie Nelson, chosen by Maurice Jones-Drew because of his eight interceptions, isn't a serious contender among a group of monsters. Yet a strong case can be made for the other five candidates.

Before tearing his ACL in Week 15, Tyrann Mathieu might have led the discussion. Yet he still left enough of a lasting impression for four NFL.com voters to stand by his side. The Honey Badger anchored Arizona's offense from the secondary, offering superb coverage, run stuffing and blitzing.

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

The missed time, however, will hurt the versatile safety given the other superstar options. Khalil Mack made the All-Pro Team as a defensive end and linebacker after netting 15 sacks, and even he won't receive much attention above the top three contenders.

If team success pads Newton's MVP case, Luke Kuechly will also garner more buzz for headlining Carolina's defense. Before procuring pick-sixes in back-to-back playoff games, the linebacker collected 118 tackles and four interceptions during the season.

"Luke is my favorite football player," Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart told ESPN.com's David Newton. "Ever since he's came into the league he's been my favorite football player."

J.J. Watt has a permanent spot in this discussion, so star fatigue could hurt the Houston Texans superstar. When a transcendent talent frequents the conversation every year, he needs to tower above the field to get due recognition over a fresh face. His 17.5 sacks led the league but also fell short of 2014's 20.5. A broken hand derailed him into three weeks of playing like a mortal.

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

Aaron Donald isn't a ball-hawking savant or a pass-rushing demigod. Yet the St. Louis Rams defensive tackle quietly bulldozed his way into superstar status. On ESPN.com, Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson listed him as the season's top performer among all positions, offense and defense:

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There aren't enough superlatives to describe Donald's play this season, but the fact that he played as well as we have ever graded J.J. Watt offers some insight into his performance. Donald was a dominant force on the Rams' defense all season, notching 11 sacks, 79 total pressures and 43 defensive stops. He maxed out the PFF rating scale with a 99.9 mark.

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Because of an enhanced sack tally and name recognition, Watt is projected as a slight favorite to win for the third time in four years. He'd make for better TV, as some casual viewers may not be able to pick Donald out of a red-carpet lineup. But he deserves the honor, so let's take a chance on the Associated Press realizing it.