Six top 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates
The best candidates for NFL Rookie of the Year awards aren't just about who is the best player. A confluence of factors -- from raw talent, to the opportunity to start immediately, to being surrounded by the right cast of teammates -- is required for one rookie to rise above all others. Here is a look at six strong po sibilities for the 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis RamsDespite an encouraging season from 2014 rookie , the are obviously clearing the decks for Gurley. You don't spend a JuJu Smith-Schuster Jersey No. 10 overall pick and from another back unle s the plans are clear. Mason might be better off, and perhaps even more effective, in a supporting role. Jeff Fisher once took the NFL by storm with a rookie power back who exploded for 1,368 yards as a rookie: . Fisher might have his new George in Gurley. His rehabilitation from a torn ACL , and he is expected to be ready for September. Absent a setback, watch out.Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland RaidersOn a team in dire need of receiving talent, you can believe Cooper will step into a starting role in short order, probably from Week 1. And if is counting on a career Mike Hilton Jersey turnaround from for a running game, you can also believe Cooper could end up being the focal point of the offense. Add to that the fact that Oakland will probably be playing its share of games from behind, and the should be filling the air with footballs. Kevin White, WR, Chicago BearsWhite should replace as a top threat for , along with . Cutler might never lose the interception bug, but he averaged more than 250 yards pa sing a game and had a career-high 28 touchdowns last year -- White should have some big Sundays. He's the got the speed and ball skills to make big plays, and a knack for coming down with well-contested catches. Chicago wouldn't have drafted him at No. 7 if the J.J. Wilcox Jersey club didn't have designs on feeding him as many football as po sible.Maxx Williams, TE, Baltimore RavensWith signing with the in free agency and hip injuries putting the career of in question, the invested a big pick (No. 55 overall) in Williams, who could provide a real downfield threat with his impre sive receiving skills. Williams should get every chance to start and has the athleticism to get open. As well, just plain likes Stephon Tuitt Jersey throwing to tight ends. In his seven seasons as a starter, a tight end has been one of his top three pa s catchers in five of them. Don't be surprised if the Flacco-Williams connection sparks quickly and catches fire.Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego ChargersMark Gordon down as the Week 1 starter in the ' backfield, and given the durability he showed at Wisconsin, there's no reason to think he won't still be there at the end of the year. The ' team rushing average of 3.4 yards and they added no offensive linemen in the draft, which could foretell some rough sledding for Gordon. Still, with a veteran quarterback such as moving the chains, the dynamic rookie should have no shortage of carries.Tevin Coleman, RB, Atlanta FalconsThe draft's impact on the ' and ' backfields is practically identical. Like the with Mason, Atlanta has a promising but smallish second-year back in . But also like Mason, Freeman figures to settle into a secondary role behind a rookie. The also said goodbye to and , so it should be Coleman's show. Atlanta's offense has been too reliant on -- if Coleman can bring some balance, Atlanta is a much stronger playoff threat and Coleman stays Cameron Sutton Jersey in the ROY conversation.Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter .