The Rams Take Over the Red Carpet NFL Honors: Matthew Stafford is the MVP Favorite, Puka Nacua is an OPOY Finalist, and Here is Who Else Made the Cut
The NFL announced the finalists for the 2026 NFL Honors this morning, and for Los Angeles Rams fans, it looks like a coronation.
While the league is full of young stars, the “Old Man” of LA, Matthew Stafford, isn’t just a NFL Honors nominee—he is the heavy betting favorite to take home the biggest prize of the night. Meanwhile, Puka Nacua has officially cemented himself as a top-tier superstar with a massive NFL Honors nomination of his own.
Here is the “Daily News Edit” breakdown of who is in, who is the favorite, and who got snubbed.
The Rams’ NFL Honors Nominations
1. Matthew Stafford (MVP Finalist)
- The Status: THE FAVORITE.
- Stafford isn’t just on the list; he is expected to win. After being named the PFWA MVP (a major predictor of the AP award) earlier this week, Vegas odds have shifted heavily in his favor. He led the league in passing yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46).
- The Competition: Josh Allen (Bills), Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars), Drake Maye (Patriots), Christian McCaffrey (49ers).
2. Puka Nacua (Offensive Player of the Year Finalist)
- The Status: The Underdog.
- Nacua had a monster season (1,715 yards, 129 catches), but he is running into a buzzsaw named Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks receiver led the league in yards (1,793) and has already won the PFWA version of this award. Puka has a chance, but JSN is the safe bet.
- The Competition: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks), Christian McCaffrey (49ers), Bijan Robinson (Falcons), Drake Maye (Patriots).
The Rest of the Field (Who Else is Nominated?)
Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)
- The Favorite: Myles Garrett (Browns). He set the single-season sack record. It’s his to lose.
- The Finalists: Will Anderson Jr. (Texans), Nik Bonitto (Broncos), Aidan Hutchinson (Lions), Micah Parsons (Packers).
Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY)
- The Favorite: Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers). The PFWA winner is the clear frontrunner here.
- The Finalists: Jaxson Dart (Giants), Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers), TreVeyon Henderson (Patriots), Tyler Shough (Saints).
Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY)
- The Favorite: Carson Schwesinger.
- The Finalists: Abdul Carter (Giants), Nick Emmanwori (Seahawks), and others.
Comeback Player of the Year (CPOY)
- The Favorite: Joe Burrow (Bengals) or Sam Darnold (Vikings).
- The Finalists: J.K. Dobbins (Chargers), Christian Gonzalez (Patriots), Damar Hamlin (Bills).
- Note: Despite his age and resurgence, Stafford was NOT nominated for this specific award.
MVP Trophy
Get your popcorn ready for February 5. Expect Matthew Stafford to finally get his flowers with his first-ever MVP trophy. But for Puka Nacua, the “JSN” wall might be too high to climb this year.
Poll: Who deserves OPOY more? Puka Nacua or Jaxon Smith-Njigba? Vote in our story.
