2011 NFL Predictions: Top 10 Offensive Rookie of the Year Candidates

The 2011 NFL draft was very quarterback heavy, which was a surprise because the draft pool wasn't that impressive. Of the several quarterbacks taken, only two of them are on this list.

Most would have Cam Newton as the favorite to win the award, but 68 percent of the winners have been running backs. Only five quarterbacks have ever won the award and four of them have come in the last seven years.

There are the big names and there are a couple sleepers on this list. Here are your top 10 favorites to win the 2011 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

New Orleans Running Back Mark Ingram

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Mark Ingram, #28 overall pick by the New Orleans Saints, holds up a jersey on stage during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Heisman-winner Mark Ingram slipped a little bit in the draft but ended up in a great situation in New Orleans. Ingram will eventually be a workhorse in the NFL, but questions of how many carries he gets his rookie season are still abound.

Reggie Bush is probably out of town, but what about Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory? New Orleans signed Thomas to a four-year deal and Ivory is coming off a season were he averaged 5.2 yards a carry.

Ingram will be a beast in the league, but the Rookie of the Year award will depend on how much action he sees.

Detroit Lions Running Back Mikel Leshoure

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs on his way to a 339 yard rushing performance against the Northwestern Wildcats during a game played at Wrigley Field on November 20, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated

The Detroit Lions have their two-headed monster at running back now with Mikel Leshoure and Jahvid Best. Leshoure had almost 1,900 yards and 20 touchdowns last season for the Fighting Illini.

With Best's injury history, Leshoure could see some major playing time for the Lions this season. Regardless, he is expected to get at least 150 touches as they split carries.

This is another player that's chances get hurt of winning the rookie of year due to sharing playing time. One bright spot for him is he is the bigger back and will probably get majority of the goal-line touches, which means more touchdowns.

Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver Julio Jones

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Julio Jones, #6 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons, holds up a jersey on stage during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Jones is probably the favorite to win the award heading into the regular season. Jones is arguably the most NFL-ready receiver in the draft and had 179 receptions for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns in 40 career starts at Alabama.

Julio Jones is a physical receiver who's fast and picks up lots of yards after the catch. He is also going to be paired up with Roddy White, which means lots of one-on-one opportunities for him.

The downside is, he is on a team that is loaded with offensive talent and he won't be the No. 1 option. He still should have a great season.

Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver A.J. Green

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 20: A.J. Green attends the NFL PLAYERS Premiere League Flag Football Game at UCLA on May 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

A lot of people think A.J. Green is better than Julio Jones. Green had a great career at Georgia, hauling in 166 passes for 2,542 yards and 23 touchdowns as a Bulldog. He is a tall, fast receiver with great hands.

There is one major question that could hold Green back from any chance of winning the Rookie of the Year.

The question is, who will be the quarterback in Cincinnati?

If it is Carson Palmer, Green is in good shape with a veteran quarterback throwing him the ball. If it's rookie Andy Dalton, we may have a problem.

He's a talented player with bright future, but his quarterback will play a major factor.

Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 20: Cam Newton attends the NFL PLAYERS Premiere League Flag Football Game at UCLA on May 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

Cam Newton will have the most eyes on him out of all the rookies. The flashy quarterback from Auburn did everything last year for the Tigers, including winning a Heisman and the national championship.

This Carolina Panthers team is not going to win anything anytime soon. So, will Newton start right away or will he hold a clipboard for a year and watch Jimmy Clausen?

You can't win Rookie of the Year if you're on the bench the whole season.

Newton is still very raw at the quarterback position and the Panthers have limited weapons on offense. Even if Newton starts Week 1, will he be able to be impressive enough to win Rookie of the Year?

Sure, he can make plays with his feet, but that can't possibly be enough.

Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Jonathan Baldwin

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 05: Jonathan Baldwin #82 of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers catches a pass against the Cincinnati Bearcats on December 5, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Baldwin is one of the few players on this list that will not have to fight for playing time. He is expected to start right away alongside pro bowl wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.

This tall, quick receiver had over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns as a Pittsburgh Panther. He will give the Chiefs offense a much-needed spark at the wide receiver position and is just another weapon to add to their No. 1 running game.

The low expectations on Baldwin could be a good thing. He doesn't have as much pressure on him as some of the other guys do. He is a playmaker, and if he plays nearly as good as he did in college, watch out.

Miami Dolphins Running Back Daniel Thomas

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BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 20: Daniel Thomas #8 of the Kansas State Wildcats rushes with the ball against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on November 20, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Kansas State 44-36. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty

Running backs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown are both free agents, so it looks like Thomas is going to be the starter heading into Week 1.

Even if one them comes back, the Dolphins traded three draft picks for him, so he is going to get his touches.

Thomas lead the Big 12 the last two years in rushing yards, running for 2,850 yards in just 24 starts. Thomas is going to be the starter on a team that likes to run the ball behind an improved offensive line.

I like his chances.

Arizona Cardinals Running Back Ryan Williams

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MIAMI - NOVEMBER 20: Ryan Williams #34 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs for a touchdown during a game against the Miami Hurricanes at Sun Life Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Ryan Williams is a beast, but just how much playing time will he see his rookie season?

Of course he will get playing time—he was drafted in the second round—but the Cardinals still have Beanie Wells, Tim Hightower and even LaRod Stephens-Howling on the roster.

That depth isn't bad at the running back position.

Williams ran for over 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns his two years at Virgina Tech.

There is no question he will be a solid running back, but having to fight for playing time may hurt his chances for the award.

Tennessee Titans Quarterback Jake Locker

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies passes against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The Tennessee Titans reached by taking Jake Locker with the eighth pick. He is a talented quarterback, though, who threw for over 7,000 yards with 50 touchdowns at the University of Washington.

He has a rocket arm and incredible toughness, but accuracy is a major issue. 

The Titans are a run-first team and are going to lean heavily on their star running back Chris Johnson.

Jake Locker is probably going to be a game manager and only be asked to make plays when he has to until his game improves. He'll have a season like Mark Sanchez had when he was a rookie, and the Titans hope it's good enough to get them back to the playoffs.

Unfortunately, it won't be good enough to win the Rookie of the Year.

Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Titus Young

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 04: Titus Young #4 of the Boise State Broncos looks on against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 4, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty

This fast receiver from Boise State is the sleeper in this whole thing. Young had over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in his four-year career at Boise.

Now he is on a team loaded with offensive weapons, including one of the top wide receivers in the game in Calvin Johnson. Young will be the third wide receiver behind Johnson and Nate Burleson.

He is still very raw as a route-runner and needs to become more consistent at catching the ball, but he is an amazing athlete and has great playmaking ability. He will also be playing special teams, which improves his chances of shining and winning the award.

If quarterback Matthew Stafford stays healthy the whole season, I like his chances.