Bengals 2017 season awards: Most Valuable Player

We conclude the series of Bengals’ 2017 season awards with the biggest of them all. Many of the team’s longtime stars are worthy of a nomination, but there is also a new name who appears to have a bright future ahead of him.

Cast your vote for the Bengals’ 2017 team Most Valuable Player and sound off on your winner!

Defensive tackle Geno Atkins: The ninth-year man just keeps getting it done. Atkins was a force for the Bengals defense again in 2017, racking up a team-leading nine sacks and 46 total tackles. He made his sixth Pro Bowl in eight accrued seasons this last year.

Quarterback Andy Dalton: It wasn’t the strongest year of No. 14’s career, but it definitely was an impressive one with all that he had to deal with in 2017. Even with the injuries, an in-season change at offensive coordinator and a terrible line, Dalton threw 25 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions. Dalton also recorded his seventh 3,000-yard passing season in as many years in the league.

Wide Receiver A.J. Green: Like Atkins, Green ages like a fine wine. There were a couple of big drops by the great receiver, but he went over 1,000 yards once again and had eight touchdowns on the season—two of which were over 70 yards.

Punter Kevin Huber: Can’t forget special teams, right? Huber arguably had his best season as a pro in 2017, as he notched career-highs in total punting yards and net punting yards. He and the special teams crew downed 24 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

Edge rusher Carl Lawson: It may seem odd to put a backup player on the team MVP list, but Lawson was one of the league’s most efficient players on a per snap basis. He racked up 16 total tackles and 8.5 sacks as a rotational player for the defense.

Defensive End Carlos Dunlap: The big defensive end came on strong in the second half of the year. All but one of his 7.5 sacks came in the final eight weeks and he continued to bat down passes at the line with frequency. He also had one of the biggest plays of the year with a pick-six against the Colts, as he volleyed the football to himself and scored.