Very good point. Rethinking my decision, you do have a point. He wasn't really coming back from anything, he has just benefited tremendously from extra touches due to Ronnie Brown being hurt. Ricky proved last year he could still be effective if he got the touches and this year is now capitalizing on the opportunity.
Is Austin vs Rice a legit argument for most improved? Yes.
Is Austin way ahead? Um, no.
Id take Rice any day, not only has he ran for over 1000 yards. He averages over 5 YPC and has caught 73 passes out of the backfield and has added another 669 receiving yards.
Id take
1128 rush yards
5.3 YPC
73 catches
9.2 YPR
669 receiving yards
8 TD's
from a RB
Rather then:
65 catches
1138 yards
17.5 YPR
11 TD
from a WR.
Why they could be argued as which one has improved the most, how the hell is Austin "miles ahead of Rice".
lol
Anyway,
MVP: Peyton
Defensive player of year: Darren Sharper.... Woodson in close 2nd.
Offensive ROY: Hakeem Nicks
DROY: Brian Orakpo
Comeback player of the year: Ricky Williams
QB of year: Peyton
RB of year: Chris Johnson
WR of year: Andre Johnson
TE of year: Dallas Clark
Breakout player of year: Ray Rice
Bust of year: Cutler
I wouldn't say Tex and Fielder are better then Miggy, their career OPS, OBP and slg% is almost identical, if anything, those guys are as good, but I wouldn't say their better.
Id think that if Gonzalez is acquired Lowell would either share DH time with Ortiz or he'd be traded again for however, much lesser value then someone like Max Ramirez who would of been acquired if Lowell was actually healthy.
C - Bengie Molina
1B - Carlos Delgado
2B - Orlando Hudson
SS - Marco Scutaro
3B - Adrian Beltre
OF - Matt Holliday
OF - Chone Figgins
OF - Rick Ankiel
DH - Jason Bay
SP - John Lackey
SP - Erik Bedard
SP - Rich Harden
SP - Andy Pettite
SP - Vicente Padilla
RP - Mike Gonzalez
RP - Fernando Rodney
CP - Rafael Soriano