Everyone thinks they know how the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award works until they actually look at the voting history. You’d assume it’s just the "MVP runner-up" trophy, right? Honestly, that’s the biggest misconception in sports. While the MVP has turned into a quarterback-only club, the OPOY is where the real chaos—and the best statistical seasons—actually live.
The NFL is a quarterback league. We know this. But the OPOY award is often the only place where a truly historic season from a running back or a wide receiver gets any respect. Take a look at the 2024 season. Saquon Barkley went absolutely nuclear for the Philadelphia Eagles, putting up over 2,000 rushing yards. He was the engine. In any other era, he’s the MVP. But because we live in a world where passing stats are king, the MVP went elsewhere, and Barkley "settled" for the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award.
The Weird Logic of the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
Why do we even have two awards? It feels redundant.
Basically, the AP voters use the OPOY to reward the "best" offensive player, while the MVP is about who is the most "valuable." It sounds like a distinction without a difference, but it matters. If a quarterback leads a team to a 14-3 record, he’s likely the MVP. But if a wide receiver breaks the all-time reception record on a 9-8 team, the voters use the OPOY to tip their cap to him.
Since 1972, this award has acted as the "stat-chaser" prize. It’s less about winning games and more about the box score.
Take 2021. Cooper Kupp had the "Triple Crown"—leading the league in catches, yards, and touchdowns. It was one of the greatest seasons by a human being in the history of the sport. He didn't win MVP because, well, he doesn't throw the ball. He did, however, walk away with the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award.
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The voting process changed recently, too. It’s not just a "pick one" system anymore. Since the 2022 season, the 50-person panel of sportswriters uses a weighted system. They rank their top three choices. This was designed to prevent those weird ties we used to see and to give a more nuanced look at who the league’s writers actually value.
Who Actually Wins This Thing?
If you aren't a running back or a quarterback, you’re basically fighting an uphill battle.
For the longest time, wide receivers were completely ignored. Jerry Rice won it twice—once in 1987 and again in 1993. Then, there was a massive drought. A receiver didn't win again until Michael Thomas in 2019. Now, the tide is turning. We’ve seen Kupp and Justin Jefferson take it home recently, proving that the modern NFL’s obsession with the passing game is finally trickling down to the trophy cases.
- Running Backs: 26 wins
- Quarterbacks: 20 wins
- Wide Receivers: 5 wins
The "Three-Timer" club is tiny. Only two guys have ever won this award three times: Earl Campbell and Marshall Faulk. Both did it in consecutive years. Think about that for a second. To be the most dominant offensive force in the world for three straight years while everyone is game-planning specifically to stop you is legendary.
The 2025 Season and the Puka Nacua Phenomenon
As we look at the most recent 2025 results, the trend of rewarding "transcendent" skill over just "quarterback value" continued. Puka Nacua, the Rams' young superstar, absolutely dominated the conversation. While his teammate Matthew Stafford put up massive numbers, Nacua broke PFF records with a 96.3 overall grade.
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He didn't just catch the ball; he destroyed man and zone coverage with equal efficiency.
Critics often argue that the award should exclude quarterbacks entirely. They say "just give the QB the MVP and let the OPOY be for everyone else." It’s an interesting thought, but the AP hasn't bitten yet. Quarterbacks still win it about 40% of the time. When Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady has a season that's so far beyond the norm, the voters find it impossible to leave them off either ballot.
Why the OPOY Still Matters to Players
Don't let the "second place" talk fool you. Players care about this.
For a guy like Saquon Barkley or Christian McCaffrey, winning the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is a massive legacy booster. It’s a stamp of approval that says "at your peak, nobody could stop you." It’s often the difference-maker for Hall of Fame resumes.
Think about Terrell Davis. His career was short due to injuries, but he won two OPOYs and an MVP. That condensed dominance is why he’s in Canton. Without those OPOY trophies to prove he was the best back of his generation, his case would have been a lot tougher.
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Making Sense of the Future
If you’re trying to predict who wins next, stop looking at the standings.
Look at the records.
Is someone on pace to break 2,000 yards? Are they threatening the touchdown record? That's your winner. The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is, and likely always will be, the award for the player who made the most highlight reels, not necessarily the one who won the most games.
Actionable Insights for NFL Fans:
- Watch the "Triple Crown" Stats: If a player leads the league in two or more major categories (yards, TDs, receptions), they are the immediate favorite.
- Ignore Team Record: Unlike the MVP, you can win OPOY on a losing team. If a player is historically good on a bad team, they have a better shot here than anywhere else.
- Track the Target Share: For wide receivers, look for guys like Nacua or Jefferson who are seeing 30% or more of their team's targets. That volume is the fast track to the hardware.
- Follow the AP All-Pro List: Usually, the OPOY winner is a lock for First-Team All-Pro. If a player misses that list, they aren't winning the trophy.