By DJ Harding
For 20 years FedEx every week of the season has fans vote on the best quarterbacks and running backs of the week. At the end of the season the fans get to vote for a FedEx Air (Quarterback) and Ground (Running Back) player of the year. This year FedEx on top of that gave money to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to help give money to Historically Black College and University (HBCUs). A $2,000 donation was made each week in the name of both the winning Quarterback and Running backs name ($4,000 total). The winning Quarterback and Running Back of the Year will get to make a $20,000 donation to the HBCU of their choice. Now here are the 3 Nominees for both awards.
Patrick Mahomes QB Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes had a MVP caliber season as he led the league in passing yards 5,250 and Touchdowns 41. He led the Chiefs to the number 1 seed in the AFC. The Chiefs QB also set some records on the way with the most total yards in a season passing Drew Brees for the mark. Mahomes also became the 2nd person with 5,000 plus passing yards along with 300 rushing yards. He also joined Brees, also the only other QB to throw for 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in multiple seasons. Mahomes won Air Player of the week in week 1
Joe Burrow QB Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow and the Bengals didn’t start off hot , starting 0-2 but still finished top 5 in both passing yards (4,475) and touchdowns (35). Specifically 5th in yards and tied for 2nd in touchdowns. Burrow did this despite missing a game and not playing all 17. The Bengals are now the 3 seed and stay in the playoff picture. Burrow has the most Air Player of the Week wins with 3 (6,7,11)
Josh Allen QB Buffalo Bills
Allen and the Bills have their ups and downs this season but overall the Bills are the number 2 seed. The Bills QB finished 7th in passing yards with 4,283 and tied for 2nd in touchdowns 35. Allen won Air player of the week in week 5 along with last week to finish out the season.
Derrick Henry RB Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry nicknamed The King came into this season off a foot injury that made many question if The King could come back. Henry answered the questions pretty well with a season that had him place 2nd in both yards (1,538) and touchdowns (13) despite missing a game. Henry became the 5th player ever with 3 seasons of at least 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Titans season ended in week 18 with a loss to the Jaguars
Nick Chubb RB Cleveland Browns
Chubb finished the season 3rd in yards (1,525) and tied for 5th in touchdowns (12). A very productive season for Chubb posting both career highs wasn’t the same for the Browns themselves as they missed the playoffs and had a 7-10 season.
Josh Jacobs RB Las Vegas Raiders
Jacobs posted his best season by a mile leading the league in rushing posting a career high 1,653 yards, 500 more than his previous best. He also added 12 Touchdowns which was tied for 5th. Jacobs also earned first Team All-Pro honors this season and is the only Ground Player of Year nominee with a player of the week win. He won twice in weeks 12 and 13.
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