It is just about the halfway mark of the 2016 NFL season, so that means it is time to start considering which players are deserving of the Pro Bowl. For this series, we will look at the three most deserving candidates for each team. Obviously, some teams will have more or less than three players selected to the Pro Bowl, but for simplicity purposes, we will discuss the top three either way. Here are the New York Giants Pro Bowl candidates.
Top Midseason New York Giants Pro Bowl Candidates
Odell Beckham Jr.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Odell Beckham Jr. has been a premier wide receiver in his first two seasons after exploding onto the scene in 2014. He has posted a stat line of 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two seasons. This season he has been quieter, and at almost the halfway mark, Beckham has 630 yards and three touchdowns. At this pace, he will finish with around 1,440 yards and seven touchdowns. Even though his touchdown total would be lower than his career average, it would still rank him as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. Few wideouts can do what Odell Beckham does, and even after a slow start, he is still a top five receiver in the NFL.
Landon Collins
Landon Collins has been a pleasant surprise for the New York Giants. After playing out of position last season, Collins has thrived in the strong safety position. Wherever the ball is, no matter where it is, one can see number 21 right in the mix of things. Collins is now also used in blitz packages, and he has thrived in this new and unexpected role. He has recorded two sacks and a lot of confusion for the quarterback when he is blitzing. On the season so far, he has 57 tackles as well as two interceptions. If he keeps up this pace, Collins will end the season with 130 tackles and around four interceptions. Those are Pro Bowl numbers for the second year safety out of Alabama. Out of all defensive backs, he is second in tackles, tied for first in sacks, and tied for sixth in interceptions. If Collins keeps up this production, it would come as a shock to see him snubbed for a spot on the Pro Bowl roster.
Justin Pugh
Justin Pugh has been an anchor on the New York Giants offensive line since they drafted him back in 2013. However, this season he has proved just how valuable he is to a struggling offensive line. Pugh has a Pro Football Focus rating of number one at the left guard position through week six. Giants fan wish he could play all five of the offensive line positions because of how dominant he is. Even though Pugh has yet to make the Pro Bowl, he has been deserving of this honor since last year. If Pugh is snubbed, it would come as a complete shock, since he has been debatably the best guard in the league. Expect to see him in the Pro Bowl in many seasons after this one as well.
