Who are the NFL's best players?
Who is the best quarterback? Top pass rusher? Receiver?
The debate is settled with my 2018 list of Top 100 NFL players, a list that looks back at the 2017 season, but also ahead to 2018.
That means injured players from a year ago, players like the Houston Texans' J.J. Watt and Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants, are still featured prominently near the top of the rankings since they appear to be healthy again – or will be by the time camp rolls around.
The one player who continues to have injury concerns is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who still hasn't thrown a football after shoulder surgery, so I left him off this list. If healthy, he's in the middle of it.
The top overall player for the second straight year is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He missed time last year with a shoulder injury, but he's the best player in in the league when on the field.
He edges out Tom Brady, who is right there in the second spot. The rest of the top 10 features a lot of usual suspects, but there are a lot of new entries this year throughout the top 100.
If you're wondering what team has the most players, it's the Jacksonville Jaguars with eight in the top 100 – six of them defensive players -- just edging out the Los Angeles Rams, who have seven.
1 |
Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay Packers QB
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When he's on his game, and on the field, there is nobody better. I know he doesn't have the rings of Tom Brady, but right now he is the NFL's best – even coming off an injury-marred season. | |
2 |
Tom Brady
New England Patriots QB
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To be doing what he's doing at his age is unreal. The man is the gold standard when it comes to franchise quarterbacks and might be the best ever. | |
3 |
Aaron Donald
Los Angeles Rams DE
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The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is a force on the inside and should be even better this year with more help next to him in Ndamukong Suh. The Rams need to make him the highest-paid defensive player in the league. | |
4 |
Von Miller
Denver Broncos OLB
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He remains the game's best edge rusher, a player who can also play the run. Miller's ability to disrupt games is why he's near the top of the list. | |
5 |
Antonio Brown
Pittsburgh Steelers WR
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He continues to put up amazing numbers for the Steelers. There is no sign at all of him slowing either as he led the NFL in receiving yards last season. | |
6 |
Jalen Ramsey
Jacksonville Jaguars CB
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He is now the NFL's best corner, a big, long player who can play either man or zone and excel at it. He plays with the swagger of a Deion Sanders. | |
7 |
Rob Gronkowski
New England Patriots TE
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He is the standard by which tight ends are measured. Gronkowski is on his way to Canton, but injuries have been a concern. | |
8 |
Khalil Mack
Oakland Raiders DE
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His season wasn't quite as good as the year before, but he remains one of the top edge rushers in the league. A new defense should help his sack numbers. | |
9 |
J.J. Watt
Houston Texans DE
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He's coming off a season shortened by injury, which has been a recurring theme for him lately. But when he's healthy – and he reportedly is that now – he is still a player who can ruin an offense. | |
10 |
Cameron Jordan
New Orleans Saints DE
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For some reason, he doesn't seem to get the due he deserves as one of the league's best down players. He had his best season in 2017 with 13 sacks. |
11 |
Luke Kuechly
Carolina Panthers MLB
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He remains a game-changing player in the middle of Carolina's defense. He is good against the run, but also really good against the pass. | |
12 |
Todd Gurley
Los Angeles Rams RB
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He was special in 2017, putting up big numbers running it and catching it out of the backfield. He should again be a legitimate MVP candidate. | |
13 |
Julio Jones
Atlanta Falcons WR
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He remains one of the top receivers in the league. But he does need to catch more touchdowns. | |
14 |
Odell Beckham
New York Giants WR
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He played in just three games because of a broken ankle last season, but when he's on the field he is one of the game's best and a player who can change a game with one catch and run. | |
15 |
Calais Campbell
Jacksonville Jaguars DT
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In his first season with the Jaguars, he could have easily been the Defensive Player of the Year with 14½ sacks. He was even better off the field for a young group of defenders. | |
16 |
Harrison Smith
Minnesota Vikings FS
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He is a playmaking safety who can do it all, rush, cover and play the run. His versatility is perfect for the modern NFL. | |
17 |
Joey Bosa
Los Angeles Chargers DE
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Entering his third season, he is one of the league's best edge rushers. Watch for him to be higher on this list next year. | |
18 |
DeAndre Hopkins
Houston Texans WR
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Now that he finally has a quarterback in Deshaun Watson, Hopkins should be even better. He's put up big numbers with below-average passers, so look out. | |
19 |
Le'Veon Bell
Pittsburgh Steelers RB
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He can do it all, run it, catch it and he's a good blocker. His contract situation shouldn't overshadow how great he is as a player. | |
20 |
Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints QB
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Closing in on the age of 40, he remains one of the league's best quarterbacks. The help from the running game last season cut his numbers some, but not the production. |
21 |
David Johnson
Arizona Cardinals RB
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When he's healthy, he's right near the top of the list of backs. He missed most of last season with a broken wrist, but he is healthy and again should be a big part of the Arizona offense. | |
22 |
Tyron Smith
Dallas Cowboys T
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Back issues limited him to 13 games last season, which is a concern moving forward. When he's on the field, he's the best left tackle in the game. | |
23 |
Marshal Yanda
Baltimore Ravens G
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He was lost in the second week with a broken ankle in 2017. He is expected to be ready to go for camp and when he's on the field he's one of the best guards in the league. | |
24 |
Casey Hayward
Los Angeles Chargers CB
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He quietly had one of the best corner seasons in the league last year. He's been a real steal for the Chargers in free agency. | |
25 |
Bobby Wagner
Seattle Seahawks MLB
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He was the best middle linebacker in the league last season. On a defense hit with injuries, he was their best player. | |
26 |
Zack Martin
Dallas Cowboys G
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His ability to dominate inside is why the Cowboys have been so good running the ball with him as a starter. He's about to get a huge contract. | |
27 |
Xavier Rhodes
Minnesota Vikings CB
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He is an elite cover corner who plays on one of the best defenses. Rhodes is just now getting to his peak. | |
28 |
Travis Kelce
Kansas City Chiefs TE
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He is the second-best tight end in the league. He is a physical presence who puts a lot of pressure on a defense. | |
29 |
Patrick Peterson
Arizona Cardinals CB
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Peterson continues to be an outstanding cover player who travels with the opposition's best receiver. | |
30 |
Chris Harris
Denver Broncos CB
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Early in his career he was underrated, but is now one of the better cover corners in the league. He can play inside or outside and with Aqib Talib now with the Rams, he is the top dog by far in their secondary. |
31 |
Ezekiel Elliott
Dallas Cowboys RB
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When he's on the field, he's one of the best runners in the league. Missing time due to suspension last season really hurt the Cowboys. | |
32 |
A.J. Bouye
Jacksonville Jaguars CB
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He is the "other" corner on the Jaguars roster, but that doesn't mean he's not one of the league's best. | |
33 |
Marshon Lattimore
New Orleans Saints CB
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As a rookie, he was outstanding as a cover corner, helping to fix a position that has been a major problem for the Saints for years. He had five interceptions and showed the ability to play the ball in the air. | |
34 |
Michael Thomas
New Orleans Saints WR
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In his second season, he became the go-to player for Drew Brees with 104 catches. Scary thought: He might just be scratching the surface of what he can do. | |
35 |
A.J. Green
Cincinnati Bengals WR
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He had 77 catches with eight touchdowns on an offense that was hit hard by injuries and had bad line play last season. Are his best years going to waste? | |
36 |
Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles DT
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He is a disruptive force inside for the Eagles, a guy who plays the run really well is also a good pass rusher. | |
37 |
Melvin Ingram
Los Angeles Chargers OLB
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Playing opposite Joey Bosa, he is a premier pass rusher in his own right. Ingram plays with a nasty style and had his best season in 2017. | |
38 |
David DeCastro
Pittsburgh Steelers G
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He plays the game with power and has improved greatly as a pass protector. He has lived up to the first-round hype. | |
39 |
David Bakhtiari
Green Bay Packers T
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He is outstanding protecting the blind side for the Packers. In pass protection, he's as good as any left tackle. | |
40 |
Geno Atkins
Cincinnati Bengals DT
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Atkins was back looking like the young Atkins last season. He is a power player with unreal quickness. |
41 |
Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcons QB
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His numbers were down some from his 2017 MVP season, but there were reasons for it, including a new offensive coordinator. He played better than the perception of his game. | |
42 |
Russell Wilson
Seattle Seahawks QB
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His ability to turn bad plays into great ones is as good as any quarterback in the league. This year, the offense should be his, which will help his numbers go up. | |
43 |
Jadeveon Clowney
Houston Texans OLB
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With injuries to J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus last season, Clowney lived up to his pre-draft hype for the first time. Injuries do remain a concern. | |
44 |
LeSean McCoy
Buffalo Bills RB
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He was the main reason why the Bills somehow snuck into the playoff last season. Imagine if he had more help around him? | |
45 |
Alvin Kamara
New Orleans Saints RB
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As a rookie he was special, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. This season he will get more carries, which is a good thing. | |
46 |
Demarcus Lawrence
Dallas Cowboys DE
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He had his breakout season in 2017 after overcoming a back injury. Now comes the tough part: Doing it again. | |
47 |
Chandler Jones
Arizona Cardinals OLB
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He led the NFL in sacks last season with 17 and emerged as one of the better edge rushers. | |
48 |
Travis Frederick
Dallas Cowboys C
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His ability to block for the run is a big part of the Cowboys offense. He remains one of the two or three best centers in the game. | |
49 |
Tre'Davious White
Buffalo Bills CB
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As a rookie, he was impressive in coverage. He didn't back down from any challenge thrown his way. He was one of the true bright spots on the Bills defense. | |
50 |
Jurrell Casey
Tennessee Titans DE
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He can push the pocket in the passing game, but he's also good against the run. Plays with quickness and power. |
51 |
Ndamukong Suh
Los Angeles Rams DT
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He never lived up to the money in Miami, but he was still a heck of a player on their line. Now he gets to play next to Aaron Donald, which might make him even better. | |
52 |
Philip Rivers
Los Angeles Chargers QB
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He threw for 4,515 yards, with 28 touchdown passes and 10 picks, which was down from 21 the year before. His yards-per-attempt average of 7.9 was his highest since 2013. | |
53 |
Grady Jarrett
Atlanta Falcons DT
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He has emerged as one of the best inside players in the NFL. His quickness is as good as any down player in the league. | |
54 |
Brandon Graham
Philadelphia Eagles DE
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He doesn't pile up huge sack numbers – getting 9½ last season -- but his presence is felt with the way he consistently pressures the quarterback. | |
55 |
Gerald McCoy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT
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His six sacks last season were his lowest total since 2012, but he didn't have much help around him. He is still a disruptive force inside. | |
56 |
Andrew Norwell
Jacksonville Jaguars G
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With Carolina last season, he was one of the top guards in the game. He will amp up the Jaguars' run game in a big way. | |
57 |
Damon Harrison
New York Giants DT
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The man they call "Snacks" is a power player inside who dominates against the run. He doesn't get the due he deserves. | |
58 |
Mike Daniels
Green Bay Packers DE
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He continues to be a dominant down player on a defense that doesn't have many playmakers. He certainly stands out. | |
59 |
Marcus Peters
Los Angeles Rams CB
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He plays a cocky brand of corner, but he usually backs it up. A change of scenery will be good for him. | |
60 |
Eric Berry
Kansas City Chiefs SS
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He is coming off a season where he was lost in the first week with a torn Achilles tendon. He's overcome so much in the past, so why not expect him back playing at a high level again this season? |
61 |
Kawann Short
Carolina Panthers DT
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He's by far their best defensive lineman, dominating against the run and with his ability to push the pocket inside. He had 7½ sacks last season. | |
62 |
Lavonte David
Tampa Bay Buccaneers OLB
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He was one of the few bright spots on a bad Tampa Bay defense. His speed makes his game work. | |
63 |
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers QB
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He remains a player who can beat a team with his arm, but is really dangerous when the play breaks down. Since his impressive 2014 season, his numbers haven't been as good. | |
64 |
Kareem Hunt
Kansas City Chiefs RB
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He was the leading rusher in the league last season as a rookie, which was impressive for a third-round pick. He should be even better in 2018. | |
65 |
William Jackson
Cincinnati Bengals CB
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He emerged as a shutdown corner last season, his first on the field after missing his rookie season in 2016. He had two impressive games against Antonio Brown. | |
66 |
Alex Mack
Atlanta Falcons C
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He had another good season for the Falcons, especially blocking for the run. He turns 33 this year, so he's getting up in the years. | |
67 |
Eric Weddle
Baltimore Ravens DB
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He finished tied for third in interceptions with six last season and is still a top-tier safety. | |
68 |
Matthew Stafford
Detroit Lions QB
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He had another good season in 2017, throwing 28 touchdown passes and 10 picks. He also threw for 4,446 yards. | |
69 |
Aqib Talib
Los Angeles Rams DB
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This 32-year-old showed last season he still has the tools to be an outstanding cover player. He will be a nice fit with the Rams. | |
70 |
Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles QB
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He was in the MVP conversation last season before he was lost with a torn ACL. He's expected back for the opener, and he should be back to his winning ways. |
71 |
Leonard Williams
New York Jets DE
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He wasn't as dominant as he was in 2017, but he remains a big-time force on the Jets line. He just needs more help around him. | |
72 |
Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles C
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His smarts and quickness are imperative to the Eagles offense as he remains one of the top centers. | |
73 |
Tyreek Hill
Kansas City Chiefs WR
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The NFL's fastest player showed what he's capable of doing when he settled in as a receiver last season. He averaged 15.8 yards per catch. | |
74 |
Darius Slay
Detroit Lions CB
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He tied for the league lead in interceptions with eight, showing the ability to handle the league's best receivers. | |
75 |
Andrew Whitworth
Los Angeles Rams T
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In his first season with the Rams, he helped steady a line that was in need of it. He continues to be one of the best in the league. | |
76 |
Telvin Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars OLB
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He is a run-and-chase linebacker who knows how to get to the football. He is one of the leaders on one of the NFL's best defenses. | |
77 |
Malik Jackson
Jacksonville Jaguars DT
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He had a better second season with the Jaguars than in 2016, when he signed as a big-ticket free agent. His ability to push the pocket inside is a big part of their defense. | |
78 |
Earl Thomas
Seattle Seahawks FS
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Injuries have slowed his career some, but when he's on the field he's still a game-changing player on the back end. | |
79 |
Yannick Ngakoue
Jacksonville Jaguars DE
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On a dominant defensive line, he had his breakout season in 2017. Watch for a lot more from him in 2018 and for him to be much higher on this list next year. | |
80 |
Keenan Allen
Los Angeles Chargers WR
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He had 102 catches (fourth in the league) for 1,393 yards (third in the league). He showed how good he could be when he's healthy. |
81 |
Leonard Fournette
Jacksonville Jaguars RB
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He fought through some injuries last season and was still a productive rookie. With a better line in front of him this season, his numbers will go up. | |
82 |
Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles TE
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He was a big reason why the Eagles' offense was able to help the team win a Super Bowl. He had 74 catches with eight touchdowns. | |
83 |
Landon Collins
New York Giants DB
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He wasn't quite as good as he was in 2016, but he continued to be a playmaker on their defense. Look for a better year from him in 2018. | |
84 |
Cameron Heyward
Pittsburgh Steelers DT
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He had his best season in 2017 with a career-best 12 sacks. He's also outstanding against the run in their scheme. | |
85 |
Joe Staley
San Francisco 49ers T
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At the age of 33, he is coming off another good season at left tackle for the 49ers. He's the rock on their line. | |
86 |
Mike Evans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR
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His numbers dropped from 2016, but he still had 71 catches and averaged 14.1 yards per catch. His touchdowns fell from 12 in 2016 to five last season. | |
87 |
Larry Fitzgerald
Arizona Cardinals WR
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All he does is continue to catch passes. He was second in the league with 109 catches and had six touchdowns. He's become more of a possession receiver, but he can move the chains. | |
88 |
Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles DB
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He is a versatile player who can do a lot of things and is a big reason why the Eagles are the Super Bowl champs. | |
89 |
Deion Jones
Atlanta Falcons MLB
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He made big strides in his season season. I would expect an even bigger jump in 2018. | |
90 |
Kevin Byard
Tennessee Titans DB
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He tied for the league lead in interceptions with eight last season. Even though Deion Sanders might not know who he is, his opponents sure do. |
91 |
Micah Hyde
Buffalo Bills SS
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In his first season with the Bills, he showed why they made the move to sign him as a free agent. He was all over the field and had five picks. | |
92 |
Adam Thielen
Minnesota Vikings WR
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He was fifth in the league in receiving yards with 1,276 on his 91 catches last season for an average of 14.0 per catch. | |
93 |
Adrian Amos
Chicago Bears SS
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This young safety was impressive in his third season with the Bears. He's good against the run and the pass. | |
94 |
Davante Adams
Green Bay Packers WR
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He had another good season for the Packers in 2017, catching 74 passes with 10 touchdowns. | |
95 |
DeForest Buckner
San Francisco 49ers DT
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In his two seasons, he has become a force for the 49ers. I expect his sack numbers to rise this season. | |
96 |
Kendall Fuller
Kansas City Chiefs CB
|
He was much more than a throw-in in the Alex Smith trade to the Redskins. He was special as a slot player last year. | |
97 |
Jared Goff
Los Angeles Rams QB
|
After a slow start in his rookie season, he really came on under Sean McVay last year in his second. He will be much higher up this list next year. | |
98 |
Everson Griffen
Minnesota Vikings DE
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All he does is continue to pressure the quarterback. He had 13 sacks last season for the Vikings. | |
99 |
Trey Flowers
New England Patriots DE
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He's the best defensive player on a defense that doesn't have enough good players. | |
100 |
Chris Jones
Kansas City Chiefs DE
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This is a rising player who will be much higher on this list next season. He really came on last season for the Chiefs. |
Just missed
Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings; Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers; Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots; Myles Jack, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars; Linval Joseph, DT, Minnesota Vikings; Devin McCourty, S, New England Patriots; Michael Bennett, DE, Philadelphia Eagles; Vic Beasley, DE-OLB, Atlanta Falcons; Takkarist McKinley, DE, Atlanta Falcons; Jack Conklin, T, Tennessee Titans; Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons; Lamarcus Joyner, S, Los Angeles Rams; Glover Quin, S, Detroit Lions; Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks; Trent Williams, T, Washington Redskins; David Andrews, C, New England Patriots; Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders; Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans; Taylor Lewan, T, Tennessee Titans; Akiem Hicks, DT, Chicago Bears; Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs; Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings and Keanu Neal, S, Atlanta Falcons.
Graphic illustrations created by Mike Meredith.