Winner
SAQUON BARKLEY, RB:
2018 Stats: 1,307 Rushing Yards/ 91 REC/ 721 Receiving Yards/ 15 Total TD
In this day and age, it’s really hard for a running back to win an award over a quarterback provided their qualifications are relatively equal. But that’s just what Barkley did in winning over Browns QB Baker Mayfield. Whether their qualifications were equal is the matter of opinion, but in the voters’ eyes, Barkley’s all-around play ended up getting the nod. The Giants rookie proved to possess a once-in-a-generation type mix of inside/outside running and pass catching out of the backfield.
“Sheesh” – Saquon Barkley upon accepting his Rookie of the Year award pic.twitter.com/yLCkz7YqMV
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 3, 2019
Other Candidates
BAKER MAYFIELD, QB:
2018 Stats: 3,725 Yards/27 TD/14 INT/93.7 Rating
Now that the award has officially been given to Barkley, one must wonder how much stronger Mayfield’s case would have been had the rookie quarterback started for Cleveland out of the gate instead of backing up Tyrod Taylor. Either way, Mayfield has nothing to be ashamed of. Despite not winning Rookie of the Year, the Oklahoma product had one of the best first seasons for a quarterback in recent memory. There are a few things to improve upon here. The turnovers could be cut down. But then again, every turnover could be cut down, no matter who you’re talking about. All in all, though, for perhaps the first time since Cleveland got their NFL team back, the Browns have a legitimate franchise quarterback calling plays.
PHILLIP LINDSAY, RB
2018 Stats: 1,037 Rushing Yards/ 35 REC/ 241 Receiving Yards/ 10 Total TD
This was pretty much always a two-person race. But Lindsay was without a doubt the best of the rest of the remaining rookie field. Despite a fantastic year, he was never a legit threat to win this award. However, his status as an undrafted free agent means his return on investment in his first season was through the roof. Considering he became the first undrafted rookie named to the Pro Bowl in league history, Lindsay has a case to be made that he’s one of the most valuable players in NFL history in the context of what kind of asset (in terms of draft pick), or lack of, a team had to give up in relation to production that team got. Unfortunately, though, that distinction and Rookie of the Year are two different things.
