NFL Awards Predictions: Sleeper Picks for All the Major Hardware

With the 2011 NFL season about to end, the NFL awards will be handed out shortly. While some of these awards have clear favorites, such as Coach of the Year and MVP,  there is always the possibility of a "sleeper" coming in and stealing the award.

Here are sleeper picks for all the major NFL hardware for the 2011 season.

MVP: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

Front-runner: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

The MVP Award has pretty much been Mr. Rodgers' since the first month of the season.

However, his past three weeks haven't been extremely impressive, which has slightly opened the door for others to sneak into the conversation.

One player who is quickly rising in MVP talks is LeSean McCoy.

McCoy has 1,274 rushing yards, which ranks third in the league, and 17 rushing touchdowns, which is six more than the next running back. He's also a threat as a receiver, adding another three receiving touchdowns.

There is no doubt that he has been the best player on the Philadelphia Eagles' roster this year. If he has two more games like he did last week (100 rushing yards, three touchdowns) he could sneak away with the MVP trophy.

Offensive Player of the Year: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Front-runner: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees is not only having one of the best offensive seasons in 2011, he's having one for the ages.

Dan Marino's record for passing yards in a single season could be broken in Week 16, leaving Week 17 for Brees to simply decimate the record.

However, as impressive as Brees has been this year, what Rob Gronkowski has done from the tight end position has been equally impressive.

Never before has a tight end won Offensive Player of the Year, but it could be justified with Gronkowski.

He currently leads the NFL in touchdown receptions with 15, and it isn't crazy to think that he could add another five or six to that total in the next two weeks. Even with teams constantly double-teaming him in the red zone, Gronkowski still finds a way to score points.

While it's unlikely that this award will be lost from Brees' hands, should Gronkowski hit 20 receiving touchdowns on the year, it might fall into his hands.

Defensive Player of the Year: Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers

Front-runner: Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

If Allen was playing for a winning team, there wouldn't be any other names thrown around in Defensive Player of the Year talk.

He's been that dominant and that much of a game-changer all year long.

Unfortunately, the Vikings are one of the worst teams in the league, and it is rare that this award goes to a player on an awful team.

Enter Charles Woodson, who plays for the 13-1 Green Bay Packers.

While the overall defense has been putrid for Green Bay, Woodson is actually having an eerily similar season to his 2009 campaign, in which he won Defensive Player of the Year. He's currently tied for the league-lead in interceptions with seven, and his 73 tackles, two sacks and one defensive touchdown just add to his impressive season.

It's a long-shot for Woodson, especially if Allen breaks Michael Strahan's single-season sack record, but if Woodson adds a couple interceptions, and maybe another touchdown, he could win the award for the second time in three years.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Front-runner: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

From the first game of the season, Newton has been the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Sure, Andy Dalton has had some consideration, but most of the talk has been about Newton.

The problem is that Dalton isn't even the best offensive rookie on his own team. That title goes to A.J. Green, who has already established himself as one of the better receivers in the NFL.

Green has more than 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on the season. While those numbers aren't overly impressive, they become more impressive when you consider that Dalton only has 3,000 passing yards and 18 touchdowns on the season.

That means that Green is receiving one-third of Dalton's passing yards, and nearly half of his touchdowns. Just imagine the type of season Green would be having for a guy like Tom Brady or Drew Brees.

One thing that is working against Green is the fact that Newton has been winning games lately.

However, if the Cincinnati Bengals sneak into the playoffs, the award could go to Green.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

Front-runner: Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers is another hot name for Defensive Rookie of the Year, but Miller is having a better overall season, so he gets the nod.

Now, before you start going all crazy about Patrick Peterson being a sleeper pick, let me explain why he could win this award.

First, it has nothing to do with his ability to play cornerback.

Sure, he's gotten better as the year has progressed, but he hasn't been as dominant at his position as either Miller or Smith. However, what he has dominated at is returning punts. He has four touchdowns, and he currently leads the league in punt return yards.

Those numbers are deserving of some type of award, and since there isn't a major award for Punt Returner of the Year, and since Peterson's position is cornerback, he could come away with Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Comeback Player of the Year: Nick Barnett, Buffalo Bills

Front-runner: Plaxico Burress, New York Jets

Look, a player getting back on the field after a prison sentence is a sexy pick for Comeback Player of the Year.

While Burress hasn't been superb this year, he does have eight touchdown receptions, and oh yeah, he was in prison at this time last year.

If the decision-makers for this award can look past the prison bars, they would see Nick Barnett, who missed the majority of last season due to an injury.

Not only is Barnett having an impressive season, he's having one of the best seasons of his career.

He's got 113 total tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown. There's no doubt that he has been the best defensive player for the Buffalo Bills, and truthfully, he's been one of the better middle linebackers in the AFC this year.

Barnett is deserving of this award, but he may not win it since he hasn't been in prison.

Coach of the Year: John Fox, Denver Broncos

Front-runner: Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers

I can't remember the exact date that Harbaugh had Coach of the Year locked up, but I'm thinking that it happened pretty quick.

What he has done to turn around the 49ers this year is amazing, and he deserves this award.

However, John Fox is quietly sneaking up behind him and could steal away some votes.

The reason that Fox is even considered for Coach of the Year has nothing to do with Tim Tebow. It has to do with.....okay, it has everything to do with Tebow.

Fox has taken a team led by Tebow and turned them into a playoff contender. Sure, his defense is playing outstanding football right now, but it still has everything to do with Tebow.

Heck, if Fox doesn't win this award, it's likely that Tebow will.