AFC West "most likely to" awards

[AL_Royalty 489]

Player most likely to chase NFL rushing title:

Darren McFadden- This guy will definitely lead the division in rushing, and at the pace he's on, possibly the entire league. He's the NFL's top rusher coming into this week with 468 yards on 6.2 YPC. He's the only back in the league averaging over 100 yards per game, and he leads the no.2 back by 77 yards.

 

Player most likely to make the Pro Bowl:

Philip Rivers- He always seems to throw for a ton of yardage, no matter who he has to throw to, and he's currently fifth in the NFL in passing yards this season while completing 68 percent of his passes. The league loves this guy,too. Pencil him in.

 

Player most likely to lead the division in sacks:

Tamba Hali- He's already gotten 4—tied with Denver's Von Miller—and he's got history on his side. Miller may fall off at some point due to hitting the "rookie wall." Hali just got paid this season to do just this sort of thing, and he'll have a chance to rack some more up in the next few weeks.

 

Player most likely to be cut or traded by year's end:

Knowshon Moreno- He's still listed as the Broncos' starting RB on the depth chart, but he's taken the back seat to Willis McGahee already. With only ten carries on the season, I don't see him winning his starting spot back any time soon.

 

Team most likely to win the division:

San Diego Chargers- They had a bit of a hiccup last season losing the title to the Chiefs, and the Raiders will probably stay on their heels all of this year. Still, the Chargers have the most talent in the West. It's theirs to lose.

 

Team most likely to pick in the top ten in the 2012 draft:

Kansas City Chiefs- At the quarter mark, the Chiefs have been outscored 126-49. That's the worst point differential in the NFL. They've beaten one team in their first four games, and that team hasn't beaten anyone at all. Once they get through the next four games, their schedule gets brutal.

 

Honorable mention:

Receivers to watch- Vincent Jackson (S.D., if health permits-20 catches 374 yards 3 TDs), Dwayne Bowe (K.C., 16 catches 292 yards 2 TDs), Brandon Lloyd (Den, 18 catches 263 yards), Eric Decker (Den, 20 catches 270 yards)

 

Defensive backs- Eric Weddle (S.D., 2 picks 19 tackles), Brandon Flowers (K.C., 2 picks 8 passes defended), Tyvon Branch (Oak, 32 tackles 2 passes defended 1 pick)

 

Linebackers- Wesley Woodyard (Den, 36 tackles 1 pass defended), Takeo Spikes (S.D., 32 tackles 1 sack 2 passes defended), Tamba Hali (K.C., 4 sacks 17 tackles), Von Miller (Den, 4 sacks 16 tackles)

 

That's just a little insight as to what's been going on in the AFC West for the first quarter of the 2011 season. Keep an eye on these players in the weeks to come, and we'll check in at the halfway point!