NFL Honors 2012: Examining Fantasy Player of the Year and Other Non-AP Awards

Seven AP awards will be given out at the first ever NFL Honors show on the eve of Super Bowl XLVI. 

These are the awards we've grown accustomed to over the years: MVP, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. 

However, a handful of players will win non-AP awards, most notably the Fantasy Player of the Year, the Play of the Year and the Madden Most Valuable Protectors.

Let's take a closer look at these more overlooked awards.

Fantasy Player of the Year 

There are a slew of candidates for this distinction due to the variety of differing rules and point systems in fantasy leagues across the nation. Something tells me these guys deserve some recognition. 

Drew Brees

All he did was throw for 5,476 yards with 46 passing touchdowns and even one on the ground. He had 13 300-yard passing games and eclipsed the 400-yard mark twice. He did have 14 interceptions and threw three of them in his final two games.

Come on, Brees. You're better than that. 

I had him on my fantasy squad. He and Calvin Johnson carried my team all season with their ridiculousness.

Aaron Rodgers 

The Green Bay Packers quarterback is likely the league's MVP, and he wouldn't be a bad choice as the fantasy player of the year either. He threw for 4,643 yards with 45 touchdowns to only six interceptions. 

Only Brees was more reliable on Sunday afternoons in terms of fantasy production. 

Calvin Johnson

Yeah, about Megatron. He entered the "fantasy god" realm in 2011. He started off the year with two touchdowns in four straight games and had eight games of 100 or more receiving yards. His 16 touchdowns weren't bad either. 

The Lions stud had 96 catches, great for those ever-popular points-per-reception leagues. 

Ray Rice

Rice led the NFL with 2,068 yards from scrimmage in 2011. As the heartbeat of the Ravens offense, he racked up 1,364 yards with 12 rushing touchdowns. He also added 76 catches for 704 yards with three receiving touchdowns. If it wasn't for the few games in which Baltimore foolishly did not give him the ball nearly as much as they should have, Rice would be a stronger candidate for this award. 

Cam Newton 

In most leagues, rushing touchdowns count more than passing touchdowns do. The Panthers rookie threw for 4,051 yards with 21 touchdowns and ran for 14 more. The only thing at irritated fantasy owners were his 17 interceptions. 

Prediction: Drew Brees

Play of the Year 

Is there any question here? It's got to be this astounding demonstration of athleticism by Cincinnati Bengals wideout Jerome Simpson, right?

Even though I've seen it about 200 times, I don't ever get sick of it.  

Calvin Johnson's borderline unfair touchdown catch in triple coverage is really the only legitimate competition. 

Sorry, Sebastian Janikowski. You made kicking a football accurately 63 yards look far too easy, but in the end, it's a field goal. 

Next year, let's see you kick it from at least 70. 

Prediction: Jerome Simpson's Flip TD

Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award 

The New England Patriots offensive line seems to be the most deserving of this award each year. Seriously, can Tom Brady get anymore time in the pocket?

However, looking at the stats from this year and realizing how much their quarterback threw the pigskin, I'm going with the New Orleans Saints offensive front. 

Brees attempted 657 passes in 2011, which averages out to a shade above 41 tosses per game. 

They were easily the underrated heroes in Mr. Brees' assault on Dan Marino's single-season passing yard record.

Prediction: New Orleans Saints

Follow @ChrisTrapasso