Apologies for the slightly misleading headline, but it seemed fitting. Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen really should have been a shoe-in for the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but Saturday night we found out he did not win it.
Allen finished a distant second to Packers running back Eddie Lacy, receiving just 12 of the 50 votes (Lacy got 35 votes). The Green Bay workhorse had a solid year, and helped ease the sting of losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a time, but his impact on the Packers offense was simply not as dramatic as the one Allen had on the Chargers offense.
Keenan did not even play until the second game of the season, and only after Malcom Floyd was lost to an injury. Still, he led all NFL rookies in catches, yards, touchdowns, and first downs. He is the reason the Chargers passing game did not fall completely apart after losing Malcom and Danario Alexander to injuries.
Lacy averaged 20 yards more per game than Allen did. However, Lacy also touched the ball 284 more times than Allen did!
This is like Shakespeare In Love beating Saving Private Ryan in the Oscars Best Picture vote all over again.
