Eric Williams· Sep 17, 2026
In his Week 2 NFL awards ballot, Williams lists his top three for each major award, with Josh Allen leading MVP (Trevor Lawrence second, Lamar Jackson third), Jahmyr Gibbs atop Offensive Player of the Year, Aidan Hutchinson atop Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Johnson for Coach of the Year, Jadarian Price for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Josiah Trotter for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“Lawrence's impressive play to start the year at least makes things interesting, as it's not just a two-man race between Jackson and Allen.”
published in writing · Fox Sports · read the original →
18 checkable claims — 15 award picks and 3 coach award picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 27 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Maxx Crosby
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Josh Allen
- Buffalo Bills
- Antonio Williams
- Washington Commanders
- Lamar Jackson
- Baltimore Ravens
- Caleb Downs
- Dallas Cowboys
- Trevor Lawrence
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Seattle Seahawks
- T.J. Watt
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Josiah Trotter
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Anthony Hill
- Tennessee Titans
- Derrick Henry
- Jadarian Price
- Jeremiyah Love
- Arizona Cardinals
- Aidan Hutchinson
- Detroit Lions
- Jahmyr Gibbs
18 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Award PicksMaxx CrosbyLas Vegas RaidersSep 17, 2026
Maxx Crosby to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Defensive Player Of The Year ... 2. Maxx Crosby Las Vegas Raiders”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJosh AllenBuffalo BillsSep 17, 2026
Josh Allen to win MVP
“MVP ... 1. Josh Allen Buffalo Bills”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksAntonio WilliamsWashington CommandersSep 17, 2026
Antonio Williams to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Offensive Rookie Of The Year ... 3. Antonio Williams Washington Commanders”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksLamar JacksonBaltimore RavensSep 17, 2026
Lamar Jackson to win MVP
“MVP ... 3. Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksCaleb DownsDallas CowboysSep 17, 2026
Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Defensive Rookie Of The Year ... 2. Caleb Downs Dallas Cowboys”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksTrevor LawrenceJacksonville JaguarsSep 17, 2026
Trevor Lawrence to win MVP
“MVP ... 2. Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville Jaguars”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJaxon Smith-NjigbaSeattle SeahawksSep 17, 2026
Jaxon Smith-Njigba to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Offensive Player Of The Year ... 3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seattle Seahawks”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksSep 17, 2026
Ben Johnson to win Coach of the Year
“Coach of the Year ... 1. Ben Johnson Chicago Bears”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksSep 17, 2026
John Harbaugh to win Coach of the Year
“Coach of the Year ... 2. John Harbaugh New York Giants”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksT.J. WattPittsburgh SteelersSep 17, 2026
T.J. Watt to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Defensive Player Of The Year ... 3. T.J. Watt Pittsburgh Steelers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJosiah TrotterTampa Bay BuccaneersSep 17, 2026
Josiah Trotter to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Defensive Rookie Of The Year ... 1. Josiah Trotter Tampa Bay Buccaneers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksAnthony HillTennessee TitansSep 17, 2026
Anthony Hill to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Defensive Rookie Of The Year ... 3. Anthony Hill Jr. Tennessee Titans”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksDerrick HenryBaltimore RavensSep 17, 2026
Derrick Henry to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Offensive Player Of The Year ... 2. Derrick Henry Baltimore Ravens”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksSep 17, 2026
Matt LaFleur to win Coach of the Year
“Coach of the Year ... 3. Matt LaFleur Arizona Cardinals”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJadarian PriceSeattle SeahawksSep 17, 2026
Jadarian Price to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Offensive Rookie Of The Year ... 1. Jadarian Price Seattle Seahawks”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJeremiyah LoveArizona CardinalsSep 17, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Offensive Rookie Of The Year ... 2. Jeremiyah Love Arizona Cardinals”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksAidan HutchinsonDetroit LionsSep 17, 2026
Aidan Hutchinson to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Defensive Player Of The Year ... 1. Aidan Hutchinson Detroit Lions”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJahmyr GibbsDetroit LionsSep 17, 2026
Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Offensive Player Of The Year ... 1. Jahmyr Gibbs Detroit Lions”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Nick Wright expects the Bills to beat the Lions comfortably in the Thursday night home opener, with Josh Allen shredding a depleted Detroit secondary, and he also picks a workmanlike Chiefs win over the Colts on Sunday night. He further predicts Tyreek Hill will end up on the Chiefs by around Halloween.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandMiss · 0Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Joel CorryTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldMiss · 0The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause.
- Seth WalderTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver.
- Garrett PodellTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100A CBS Sports report frames Stefon Diggs as filling Washington's vacant No. 2 receiver role opposite Terry McLaurin after his reported one-year deal, expecting him in that spot in the 2026 passing game with Jayden Daniels.
- Fernando Alfaro-DonisTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option.
More award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jourdan RodrigueAward Picks · Josh SimmonsMiss · 0Rodrigue picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Jared Verse for Defensive Player of the Year, Ja'Marr Chase for Offensive Player of the Year, Mike Vrabel for Coach of the Year, TreVeyon Henderson for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Abdul Carter for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with Jesse Minter for Assistant Coach of the Year and Penei Sewell for Protector of the Year.
- Brandon SneideAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Snyder picks the Seahawks to beat the Patriots 31-23 in Super Bowl 60, believing Seattle pulls away late, and says Drake Maye will finish second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford.
- Eric ManginiAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as his dark horse MVP.
- Chris BroussardAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as his dark horse MVP.
- Pat McAfeeAward Picks · Matthew StaffordHit · 100McAfee predicted Matthew Stafford will win his first MVP award this season, saying he'll be on stage at the NFL Honors regardless of whether the Rams reach the Super Bowl. He also picked the Bills over the Broncos, the Patriots over the Texans, and said the Rams will win a close one in Chicago (while taking the Bears on the spread).
- Rich EisenAward Picks · Sam DarnoldMiss · 0Eisen reaffirms his pick of the Rams to win the NFC West despite Seattle's current lead, expects Buffalo to land as the 2 or 3 seed in the AFC, names Josh Allen as his MVP with Sam Darnold finishing top five, floats the Saints picking in the teens, and calls Puka Nacua possibly the best receiver in the league.