Buccaneers Midseason Awards: MVP, breakout player and more
Most Valuable Player: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Quarterback
Can you imagine where the Buccaneers would be this season with a lesser back-up than Ryan Fitzpatrick?
The longtime veteran has managed to keep the Buccaneer season afloat by some strange measure of…magic. With Jameis Winston out for the first three games, Fitzpatrick led the team to a shocking 2-1 record.
Then, with Jameis Winston floundering in a horrific showing against the Bengals, Fitzpatrick very nearly led the Bucs all the way back to victory, if not for a last-second Bengal kick.
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It’s hard to explain or quantify, but the Bucs have been objectively better with Fitzpatrick on the field than they have with assumed franchise quarterback Winston. T
he proof can be seen entirely in the Bengals game, and it’s why Fitzpatrick will be starting for at least the next few weeks.
In roughly five games of action, Fitzpatrick has racked up thirteen touchdowns and five interceptions with 1500 yards thrown for, including a record three games with 400 yards to open the 2018 season.
The vet seems to have a lot left in the tank with the Bucs employing an air-raid attack that emphasizes the strengths of Fitz.
There is, of course, the ever-present possibility that he returns to the Fitzpatrick of old where turnovers become an expected thing, but thus far those concerns have only popped up in the first half of the Steelers game. For now, Buccaneer fans should be excited to see what type of magic Fitzpatrick has left to deliver.
Next. Buccaneers Should Have Acquired Landon Collins. dark
To wrap up, our rookie of the year was Carlton Davis; our breakout player was O.J. Howard, Mike Evans the offensive player of the year, Jason Pierre-Paul the defensive player of the year, and Ryan Fitzpatrick the MVP. How would you go about giving out the awards, Buccaneer fans? Sound off in the comments with your take.