Top 5 Candidates for NFL Offensive ROY

With the first five weeks of the 2011 NFL season now in the books, it's time to start looking at early ROY candidates for this year.

This '11 rookie class has already done some great things in the first few weeks as Cam Newton is setting all kinds of records for Carolina, and wideout A.J. Green has been making a living with taking the tops off of defenses this year.

Here are my top five candidates for Offensive ROY heading into week six of the season.

5. QB Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton was one of the most sought after QBs in April's NFL Draft.

Five games into the '11 season, Dalton hasn't been anything spectacular, but he also has looked good at times in his rookie season with the Bengals.

The former TCU star has thrown for six TDs and five INTs, while completing around 59 percent of his passes on the year.

He will have to improve upon his average of about 200 passing yards per game if he wants to have a legitimate chance of being winning the Offensive ROY award in 2011.

4. WR Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks

When you first see this name, you might be thinking, who is that?

After watching him play some this season, the name Doug Baldwin should be very familiar.

The undrafted wide receiver from Stanford has been lighting it up for Seattle in 2011.

He has 20 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns, and is a legitimate dark horse to win the Offensive ROY award this season.

3. WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

The former University of Alabama wideout has busted onto the scene in a big so far in the '11 season.

Through his first five contests, Jones has 25 catches for 358 yards, in a pass-heavy Falcons offense.

He looks to be the real deal, as Atlanta was really banking on him after trading several draft picks to land him.

Jones is the total package of speed and size as an NFL receiver and he could be in for a big rookie season after it's all said and done.

2. WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Green has been very impressive in his first season in the Bengals offense.

He already has over 400 receiving yards and three TDs, while shredding secondary after secondary in the process.

He looks to be every bit of the player that Cincinnati thought that they were getting when they took him fourth overall in April's draft.

It should be fun to watch how he and fellow SEC receiver Julio Jones perform as each continues to adapt to the speed of the NFL game.

1. QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Newton is one of the most talented QBs to enter the NFL in a long time.

Through five games this season, he has already amassed over 1,600 passing yards, which ranks him No. 4 among quarterbacks in the NFL.

He can also run the ball as well, as the former Auburn star already has 160 rushing yards and five rushing TDs in his rookie campaign.

If he can continue to put up big numbers in the passing game and keep his interceptions down, he will walk away with the Offensive ROY award after this season is over.