Fantasy Football Midseason Awards: Tyreek Hill or Christian McCaffrey for MVP? Jordan Addison or Puka Nacua for Top Offensive Rookie?

The NFL season is halfway through, which means it’s time to hand out some fantasy honors and then project which players might win those same honors in the second half of the season.

We’ll name a Fantasy MVP, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and an Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year.

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Fantasy MVP

A few names immediately come to mind, but the decision becomes a bit more clear as you dig deeper into the numbers. I would say that Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill is the Fantasy MVP so far, narrowly edging out San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey. 

Why Hill over McCaffrey? It’s simple. Hill only specializes in catching the football, which makes his fantasy numbers more impressive to me than McCaffrey, who can get his numbers as a ball carrier or a receiver. McCaffrey also has his fantasy numbers boosted heavily by touchdowns, while Hill is doing most of his damage with simply yardage. Those aren’t knocks on McCaffrey at all though, this is just how I view fantasy players.

In terms of who can win this honor in the second half of the season, I think Hill has a pretty good chance to repeat. It's boring to pick him again though, so I’m going to give you another name instead. I’m sticking with the wide receiver position and saying that Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown is the Fantasy MVP in the second half of the year.

Other guys that could win the honor: Hill, McCaffrey, Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Travis Etienne and Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb.

Offensive Player of the Year

Since I didn’t use him as the Fantasy MVP, I can name McCaffrey as the Offensive Player of the Year so far. 

He’s third in the league in scrimmage yards and tied with Dolphins’ Raheem Mostert for most touchdowns so far. If it seems like he’s scoring every week, that’s because he has. It’s really amazing that he continues to be so reliable despite every opposing defense making him the focal point of their efforts.

I think McCaffrey has a pretty good chance to repeat here as well, but I think his touchdowns dip a bit. I’m going to say that Etienne is the Offensive Player of the Year in the second half of the season.

Other guys that could win the honor: Hill, McCaffrey, Brown, Diggs and Lamb. A couple dark horses would be: Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor and Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs.

Defensive Player of the Year

Using several fantasy sites lists of Individual Defensive Players (IDP), I’m going to name Jaguars’ Foyesade Oluokun as the Defensive Player of the Year so far.

Oluokun is up to 92 combined tackles (62 solo) for the season. He also intercepted a pass, which he returned for a 24-yard touchdown. He’s got five passes defenses, forced one fumble and recovered two others. Oluokun has four tackles for losses.

Oluokun would be my favorite to win the honor in the second half of the season, but again I’m going to change things up. I’ll take Colts’ Zaire Franklin as the Defensive Player of the Year in the second half of the year.

Other guys that could win the honor: Oluokun, New York Jets’ Quincy Williams, Seattle Seahawks’ Jordyn Brooks, Raiders’ Maxx Crosby and Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

I love that there’s so many names to choose for this honor. That means the NFL is in good hands in the coming years. This pick might surprise some, but I’ll say the Minnesota Vikings’ Jordan Addison is the Offensive Rookie of the Year so far.

There’s an argument that can be made for several other players, but I like Addison’s consistency this season. He’s only got two games under 50 receiving yards and is among league leaders in touchdown receptions. He’s filled in well as Justin Jefferson has missed time and looks like a true No. 1 receiver himself.

For the second half of the season, I could see several rookies playing big roles. I’m going to say Dolphins’ De’Von Achane is the Offensive Rookie of the Year in the second half. he’ll quickly become a focal point for the team’s offense coming off his injury and return to his game-changing ways in short order.

Other guys that could win the honor: Addison, Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud and Tank Dell, Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis, Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and Detroit Lions’ Sam LaPorta.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

There’s not as many names here than on the offensive side of the ball, but several rookies are starting to make differences for their teams. I’d go with Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon as the Defensive Rookie of the Year so far.

He’s racked up 39 combined tackles (29 solo tackles) from his cornerback position, including two for losses. Witherspoon has intercepted one pass, which he took back 97 yards for a touchdown. He’s got nine passes defensed and two sacks to his name also.

As for the rest of the season, I like Eagles’ Jalen Carter to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year in the second half. He has four sacks on the season, and I think he continues to make more big plays as the season progresses.

Other guys that could win the honor: Witherspoon, Lions’ Brian Branch, Texans’ Will Anderson and Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr.