Breakout Player of the Year

Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Le’Veon Bell reached elite running back status after a decent rookie season. The Steelers signed LeGarrette Blount in the offseason to help the young running backs’ transition to the NFL. After the two were busted together for possession of marijuana, the Steelers realized they didn’t need Blount anymore and released the veteran. Bell went on to dominate NFL defenses: 1,361 rushing yards/4.7 YPC, 83 receptions/854 receiving yards, and 11 total touchdowns.

NFC Alternative: Rolando McClain, Cowboys

NFL Most Valuable Player

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Before you scoff and argue that Tony Romo wasn’t even the MVP of his own offense, look past your hatred of the Cowboys more closely at their season; focusing more on the true meaning of the most valuable player to their respective team.

Earlier this season DeMarco Murray looked like a MVP candidate as he trampled defenses on a weekly basis. Although, in the one game that Tony Romo missed, the Cardinals saw an opportunity to stack the box and contained Murray to only 79 rushing yards.

Tony Romo quickly returned from a fractured back and cracked rib to take the Cowboys offense to another level as they closed out the season as the hottest team in the NFL.

The December woes that have plagued the Cowboys during Romo’s career were not only avoided in 2014, they completely flipped the usual script and Romo had the best December of any QB in the league: 12 touchdowns, 987 passing yards, completed 74.8% of pass attempts, and only 1 interception.

In DeMarco Murray’s worst game of the season (vs Colts; 22 carries for 58 yards, 2.6 YPC), he played through a broken hand that was surgically repaired days before. Even with an ineffective running game, Romo proceeded to have one of his best games of the season, throwing for 4 touchdowns and a 90% completion percentage.

Tony Romo didn’t break any major NFL records in 2014 as past MVP QBs have, but he has a handful of notable accomplishments this season:

- 113.2 Passer Rating (6th in NFL history)

- 1st QB in NFL history with four straight road games with 3 TD’s and 0 INT’s

- 1st QB in NFL history with a 135.0+ passer rating in 6 games in a season

- 15 games with a completion percentage above 60% (ties NFL record)

- 1 of 5 NFL QBs to finish a season with 70%+ completion

While Tony Romo is a bonafide MVP candidate for his 2014 performance, the Cowboys QB will likely split votes with Murray and Aaron Rodgers will win the actual AP MVP Award for the second time in his career.

NFLRT Preseason Prediction: Aaron Rodgers, Packers

AFC Alternative: JJ Watt, Texans