The NFL's Players of the Week honors are out and it was a rookie sweep on the offensive side of the ball, as the Colts' Andrew Luck and the Bucs' Doug Martin captured the awards in their respective conferences. Luck shredded the Dolphins pass defense in Week 9, boosting the Colts to a 5-3 record at the midpoint of their season. His 433 yards passing were the most by a rookie in the history of the NFL and a season-high in the AFC. Luck already has four 300-yard passing games in his first season in the league, but this is his first AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
Andrew Luck, Doug Martin named AFC, NFC Players of the Week
Two rookies captured Player of the Week honors in their respective conferences after record-setting performances in Week 9.
Gregory Shamus
Martin continued his strong rookie campaign with another rookie record-setting day. The "Muscle Hamster" had fantasy owners delighted in Week 9, as he rolled for 251 yards and four touchdowns against the Raiders. Martin broke out in the primetime spotlight against the Vikings, and built on that with his game in Oakland, Every time you turned around, he was breaking one to the house for the Bucs. He became the first player in NFL history to have three touchdown runs of 40 yards or more in one game. The Boise State product is the first rookie rusher to earn the NFC award since Adrian Peterson in 2007.
Unlike the offensive awards, it was two veterans in Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor and Chicago's Brian Urlacher who earned the honors on the defensive side of the ball. Taylor has struggled at times in recent seasons, but he was instrumental in stifling the Eli Manning-led Giants passing game in the Steelers Week 9 win. Urlacher continues to lead one of the league's top units and they crushed the hopes of the Titans early for a rout in Nashville.
Trindon Holliday's 105-yard kickoff return in the Broncos game against the Bengals was enough to earn him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. The former LSU track star found a seam against Cincinnati and was never touched as he set the tone for the Broncos at the start of the 2nd half. In the NFC, it was another Bear, with Sherrick McManis earning the special teams distinction. McManis blocked a punt and also registered two tackles.
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