NFL Minnesota Vikings

Is Minnesota Vikings Linebacker Anthony Barr Front-Runner for Defensive ROY?

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Anthony Barr

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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr stripped Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the football early in overtime last week and then picked up his own forced fumble for a game-winning 27-yard touchdown run. This is hardly the first time Barr has made a game-changing play for the Vikings this season, but it may be the play that pushes him to the front of the Defensive Rookie of the Year race.

Barr is currently third among rookies in tackles (54), but his three sacks set him apart from Preston Brown and C.J. Mosely, the two rookies who have more tackles than Barr, but have combined for zero sacks on the year. Barr also has an advantage from his fumble return for a touchdown last Sunday, which marked the seventh time in eight weeks Barr has registered a positive grade from Pro Football Focus, a website that documents and grades players on every snap. Barr has the second-highest cumulative grade (+5.3) of any outside linebacker, trailing only the fifth overall pick Khalil Mack.

Mack, however, has yet to register a forced fumble or sack this season, and has really earned his worth by focusing on stopping the run. Barr, on the other hand, has spent more time in pass coverage than ever before, and has exceeded expectations with his three pass defenses through eight games. Barr also plays more of a role in the pass rush than Mack, especially this past week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he rushed the passer on 11 of the Vikings’ 16 blitzes.

While Mack has found a niche stopping the run on the strong side of the field, Barr is becoming an all-around force for the Vikings and has even surprised head coach Mike Zimmer with how quickly he’s developed. While Barr must improve his pass coverage skills if he wants to become one of the best all-around linebackers in the league, he’s already shown flashes of greatness and has made the plays to be considered a front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Nick Baker is a contributing writer for Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and add him to your network on Google.

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