We are now in the final week of the NFL season, and it has been a year for big numbers, especially on the offensive end. Patrick Mahomes has taken the league by storm, Todd Gurley looks like the most complete back in the past few years, and Drew Brees is having a career year on the back end of 30.

Week 17 will be the final showcase for the league before the Associated Press votes on the league awards. Some of these races are closer than expected this season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes

Offense has not been hard to come by this season, especially from the quarterback position. Patrick Mahomes electrified the league early this season, with his explosive arm and ability to dominate the league’s best defenses. Not a week passes by that Mahomes doesn’t contort his body in some odd manner making a miraculous throw that makes fans wonder what they just witnessed.

Mahomes has already established himself as one of the leagues best signal callers, throwing a league-leading 48 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions in his first year as a starter for the Kansas City Chiefs. His strong arm mixed with the ability to keep plays alive and find receivers makes him a threat every week. The Chiefs culture has already changed under the tandem of Mahomes and QB whisperer Andy Reid, and the team is primed for a deep playoff run. Look for Mahomes name to mentioned in many MVP races for years to come.

Honorable Mention: Todd Gurley

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald

Aaron Donald has changed the defensive tackle position just five years into the league. Usually, known for stuffing the run, and taking up space, Donald has become more than your average interior lineman. Donald has already recorded 19.5 sacks this season, the most by a defensive tackle since sacks were first recorded in 1982. The Ram’s defense is full of big names and good defenders, but none as important or game-changing as Donald.

The Pitt product is constantly in opposing team’s backfield’s terrorizing quarterbacks. The defensive tackle leads the league in hurries, and with one game remaining has the chance to become just the 11 players to record 20 sacks in NFL history. Donald has already etched his name in with some of the best defenders in league history, and he looks primed to break a number of records.

Honorable mention: Khalil Mack

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Baker Mayfield

Before the season, and even midway through this year I would have said this award would belong to Saquan Barkley. The running back from Penn State has been explosive, giving the Giants the consistency they needed from the backfield position. With 1,886 total yards and 14 touchdowns on the year, Barkley has been everything the Giants hoped for this year.

But as the season progressed I started to look at this award as a testament of improvement for a team, and not so much a statistical achievement. Once the Browns let Mayfield take the reigns in week 3, the team looked different. From that point forward Mayfield and the Browns look confident and reeled off seven wins after last years abysmal zero. Mayfield has looked great, showing his accuracy from college, completing 65% of his passes this season. He has lead rookie QBs with 3,349 yards and 24 passing touchdowns on the season. Mayfield will continue to tear apart defenses with his arm and his trash talk for years to come, and the Browns can rest assure that they got their guy.

Honorable Mention: Saquan Barkley

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Leighton Vander Esch

While most of the attention has been on the Offensive ROY the defensive award has been a tight race throughout the season. The Chargers had one of the steals of the draft with Derwin James and Bradley Chubb has made one of the best defensive lines in football even better out in Denver.

The Cowboys though may have found their long-term answer at the linebacker position, for a team that struggles in the front seven. With the 19th pick, the Cowboys hoped taking Leighton Vander Esch from Boise State would help take pressure off Sean Lee. Lee has missed a number of games each of the past few seasons, and his absence has hurt the Cowboys. Vander Esch this season has racked up 131 total tackles and has been involved in the passing game intercepting two passes along with 7 passes defended. Vander Esch was a steal at the back half of the draft and graded out as the highest first rounder in the draft by Pro Football Focus.

Honorable Mention: Bradley Chubb, Derwin James

MVP: Drew Brees

This race has been one of the closest in recent history, with Patrick Mahomes taking over the league in just his second year and Drew Brees in his 18th, finding new success in the later part of his career. The two different backgrounds and career points make the race exciting to watch. Both have electrified their teams, as both sit atop their respective conferences.

While Mahomes has dominated the statistical battle this season, which will garner him the OPOY award, Brees has shown he is one of the most important pieces to not only his team but in the league. Brees is completing a career-high 74.4% of his passes to go along with 32 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He has been brilliant, leading one of the most explosive offenses and helping the Saints to a league-best 13-2 record. The Saints look primed to win another super bowl with Brees under center.

Honorable Mention: Patrick Mahomes