Mel Kiper Selects Keenan Allen as Rookie of the Year

Dec 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) is brought down by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Akeem Jordan (55) in the 4th quarter during the Chargers 27-24 overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego Chargers WR Keenan Allen is one of the favorites for the rookie of the year award in the league. The award will be between Keenan Allen and Eddie Lacy in Green Bay.
Mel Kiper shared his selection for the rookie of the year award and he says that Allen deserves it:
Offensive rookie of the year: Keenan Allen, San Diego
Don’t just look at what Allen did — look at what his quarterback did. At age 32, Philip Rivers just put together the best season of his career in terms of accuracy and efficiency, and Allen was a big part of that rebound. Allen had 71 catches, led the Chargers in receiving yardage with 1,046 and tied for the team lead in touchdown catches with eight. He had just five dropped passes on 105 targets. Allen was a player I had on my Big Board for most of 2012, but he was slowed during the draft process because of a lingering knee injury. He ended up as a steal in Round 3 and should be a key element in the Chargers’ offense going forward.
What Allen has done as a receiver in this league in his first year and what he has meant to the Chargers offense, he has to be the rookie of the year. Jumping into the league as a receiver is a tough transition that usually takes some time for players to adjust, but Allen has come out and excelled at the position.