Here are my leading candidates for each of those awards ahead of Week 15 (check out the last edition of NFL Honors Watch here<\/a>):<\/p>\n As running back Jonathan Taylor<\/a> and the Colts<\/a> continue to slow down, Smith-Njigba has maintained a dominant pace.\u00a0<\/p>\n The star receiver caught seven passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns in Seattle\u2019s 37-9 rout of Atlanta, his second multi-touchdown game in three weeks. Though his 94.0 receiving yards per game mark in that span is down from his season average (109.8), Smith-Njigba remains on track to surpass 1,800 yards receiving.<\/p>\n Jaxon Smith-Njigba is keeping up a dominant pace for the Seahawks, who have the league’s best point differential (+161) entering Week 15. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n The Titans<\/a> did a marvelous job slowing down Garrett on Sunday, holding him to just one pressure on his 24 pass rushes. The All-Pro defensive end’s 4.2% pressure rate tied his season-low, according to Next Gen Stats. But he did post a sack, putting him at 20.0 through 13 games. Garrett has four weeks to get three more sacks, which would set a new NFL single-season record.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the Panthers enjoyed their bye week, neither the Bucs<\/a>\u2019 Emeka Egbuka<\/a> nor the Colts\u2019 Tyler Warren<\/a> did enough to eat into McMillan\u2019s lead for OROY. Both Egbuka and Warren had a season-low 15 yards on two catches in losses.\u00a0<\/p>\n Carolina\u2019s No. 1 receiver, McMillan leads all rookies in catches (57) and receiving yards (826), and is tied for first with six receiving touchdowns.\u00a0<\/p>\n Defensive Rookie of the Year: Browns LB Carson Schwesinger<\/a><\/p>\n The reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month, Schwesinger has thrived as the green dot of the Browns\u2019 defense. The second-round pick ranks seventh in the NFL with 119 tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he leads all qualified rookie linebackers in stops (44), pressures (15), hits (4), hurries (9), and passer rating allowed (97.0).\u00a0<\/p>\n In 13 games, Schwesinger also has two sacks, three pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and six quarterback hits.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger may be flying below the radar of many NFL fans, but he’s making a big impact on the Browns’ defense. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n Before the Niners\u2019 bye, McCaffrey had just 74 scrimmage yards in San Francisco\u2019s Week 13 win over Cleveland, including a season-low 21 receiving yards. He does, however, remain on pace to surpass 1,000 yards rushing and receiving for the second time in his career, which keeps him as a favorite for this award.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cowboys<\/a> quarterback Dak Prescott<\/a> is in the mix here, but a two-interception performance against Detroit in Week 14 took some of his momentum.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Coach of the Year: Patriots<\/a> HC Mike Vrabel\u00a0<\/p>\n The Jaguars<\/a>\u2019 Liam Coen, the Bears<\/a>\u2019 Ben Johnson and the Seahawks\u2019 Mike Macdonald have all done outstanding coaching jobs this season, but what Vrabel has accomplished in Year 1 with New England makes him the heavy favorite for this award.\u00a0<\/p>\n His Patriots have won 10 straight games, tying a league-high, with their last loss coming in Week 3. If New England wins out, its victory total would be one shy of the team\u2019s past three seasons\u00a0combined.\u00a0<\/p>\n Assistant Coach of the Year: Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak\u00a0<\/p>\n Expect Kubiak\u2019s name to make the rounds in the 2026 cycle for head coach interviews.\u00a0In Kubiak\u2019s first season as the Seahawks\u2019 offensive playcaller, Seattle ranks second in scoring (28.8 points per game) and ninth in total offense (353.5 yards per game). The team also ranks first in passing yards per play (8.2) and has allowed the second-fewest pressures (109), according to Next Gen Stats.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean\/USA TODAY Network, where he was the\u00a0Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the\u00a0Seattle Seahawks<\/a> for SeattlePI.com for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at\u00a0@benyarthur<\/a>.<\/p>\n Want great stories delivered right to your inbox?\u00a0Create or log in to your FOX Sports account<\/a>, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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