Jameis Winston listed as a sleeper MVP candidate for 2016 season

The second-year quarterback took home the NFL Rookie of the Year honors last season.

Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up for the 2016-17 NFL season. With a new head coach in Dirk Koetter, and a franchise quarterback coming off an incredibly successful rookie season, the expectations are very high. One NFL.com writer, columnist Adam Schein believes in Jameis so much that he thinks he can contend for an MVP award this season. He adds that he thinks there's a real possibility that the Bucs could go 9-1 and earn a playoff spot. Here's some of what he had to say about Winston.

"I believe Winston, who enjoyed a very solid rookie campaign, will take an even bigger step forward." Schein writes. "The game slows down in Year 2. He's on the same page with Dirk Koetter, who not only remains Jameis' play-caller but now assumes head-coaching duties. The coaching change will equal more wins in Tampa. I think Winston will post a very impressive touchdown-to-interception ratio, as his rapport with the receiving corps (particularly third-year man Mike Evans) continues to improve."

Schein admits that he was one of the few media members who believed Winston shouldn't have been selected No. 1 overall by the Bucs, citing his alleged sexual assault investigation and the crag legs incident, but Schein credits Winston for being able to keep off the field issues nonexistent since he's arrived in Tampa.

Read the rest of Schein's sleeper candidates for the 2016 NFL season by clicking here.