Eric WilliamsSep 7, 2026
In the first edition of FOX Sports' Awards Ballot, Williams predicts the top five finishers for each major NFL award: Jahmyr Gibbs for Offensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett to repeat as Defensive Player of the Year, DeMeco Ryans for Coach of the Year, Jadarian Price for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Rueben Bain Jr. for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Patrick Mahomes to win their third MVP.
Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original
What Eric Williams said
I like him (and the Chiefs) to rebound from a poor performance last season to win his third MVP award.
- Where it was published
- Fox Sports
- The piece
- NFL Award Predictions: Will Matthew Stafford Or Patrick Mahomes Win MVP?
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Player Season Numbers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Top Player Lists | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Coach Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
How each call scored
19 checkable claims — 5 award picks, 5 coach award picks, 5 top player lists, 2 depth chart calls and 2 player season numbers — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
A.J. Brown · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. Eric Williams said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Depth Chart Calls2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jadarian Price to be 1st on the depth chart
“So, Price will start the season as the workhorse back.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
A.J. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
“he should be by far the most targeted player in New England's offense”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Player Season Numbers2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jahmyr Gibbs to record 2,000 rushing yards
“Gibbs finished with 1,223 rushing yards last season, but could push for 2,000 yards in Petzing's scheme.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rueben Bain to record 10 sacks
“I believe Bain has a chance to reach double-digit sacks playing for a team that should compete for an NFC South title”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Award Picks5 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Offensive Player Of The Year ... 1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Myles Garrett to win Defensive Player of the Year
“1. Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams ... there's a good chance Garrett could repeat as defensive MVP.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Patrick Mahomes to win Most Valuable Player
“1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs ... I like him (and the Chiefs) to rebound from a poor performance last season to win his third MVP award.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jadarian Price to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“1. Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks ... The scenario sets up nicely for Price to win this award.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“1. Rueben Bain Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers ... Ten or more sacks would cement Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Top Player Lists5 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“Offensive Rookie of the Year: 5. Fernando Mendoza ... 4. KC Concepcion ... 3. De'Zhaun Stribling ... 2. Jeremiyah Love ... 1. Jadarian Price”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Defensive Rookie Of The Year: 5. Akheem Mesidor ... 4. Caleb Downs ... 3. Sonny Styles ... 2. David Bailey ... 1. Rueben Bain Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Most Valuable Player: 5. Lamar Jackson ... 4. Justin Herbert ... 3. Matthew Stafford ... 2. Josh Allen ... 1. Patrick Mahomes”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Defensive Player Of The Year: 5. Trey Hendrickson ... 4. Devon Witherspoon ... 3. Will Anderson Jr. ... 2. Pat Surtain II ... 1. Myles Garrett”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Offensive Player Of The Year: 5. A.J. Brown ... 4. Christian McCaffrey ... 3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba ... 2. Puka Nacua ... 1. Jahmyr Gibbs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Coach Award Picks5 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Ben Johnson to win Coach of the Year
“2. Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
John Harbaugh to win Coach of the Year
“4. John Harbaugh, New York Giants”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brian Schottenheimer to win Coach of the Year
“3. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Demeco Ryans to win Coach of the Year
“Coach Of The Year ... 1. Demeco Ryans, Houston Texans”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kevin O'Connell to win Coach of the Year
“5. Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.Jordan Dajani · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
After reporting that Colts receiver Josh Downs requested a trade, they identify five clubs as plausible landing spots for them: the Rams, Patriots, Falcons, Chiefs and Raiders, and suggests Las Vegas could also give them a long-term extension.Mike Kadlick · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Kadlick names the Chiefs, Patriots and 49ers as the three best trade landing spots for Colts wide receiver Josh Downs ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.
More coach award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Matt Hasselbeck · Coach Award Picks · Miss 0
Hasselbeck agreed on the Bills and Ravens as AFC division winners, picked the Colts (with Daniel Jones) to win the AFC South, the Broncos to win the AFC West, the Seahawks to win the NFC West, and tabbed Brian Flores for a Coach of the Year-type honor. They also said the Patriots would make a big jump and potentially reach the playoffs, and named Minnesota, Las Vegas, New England and Chicago as offseason winners.Richard Sherman · Coach Award Picks · Hit 100
Sherman picked the Eagles, Vikings, Ravens and Bills in their wild-card games, named Lamar Jackson MVP, Patrick Surtain DPOY, Kevin O'Connell Coach of the Year, put Jared Verse in the top three of Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, and gave a Week 18 power ranking with Kansas City first.Pat Gustavson · Coach Award Picks · Miss 0
Gustafson picked the Bears, Eagles, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, the Rams and Bears in the NFC, the Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, and the Patriots to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. Their awards slate included Stafford for MVP, Puka for OPOY and Liam Cohen for Coach of the Year.Brandon Carney · Coach Award Picks · Hit 100
Carney made a full playoff bracket, picking the Bears, Niners, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, then Seahawks and Rams in the NFC divisional, Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, with the Rams beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. They also gave award picks including Stafford for MVP and Vrabel for Coach of the Year.Rich Eisen · Coach Award Picks · Hit 100
Eisen gave their Week 13 power rankings, with the Rams first, Patriots second and the Cowboys entering at No. 10, and also named New England and Philadelphia as the first teams to clinch playoff spots, picked Seattle to beat Minnesota, and tabbed Drake Maye as an MVP finalist and Mike Vrabel as Coach of the Year.