Ask ten different football fans who is the best player in the game and you may truly get ten different answers. That’s not to say there’s not enough elite talent in the National Football League because there certainly is. But it’s worth noting that there’s in fact so much elite talent that a handful of players can stake their claim as the game’s best player.
Similar to the yearly NFL Network countdown, I ranked the best players in the game, choosing the top 50 and counting down from 50 to 1.
I did not, I repeat did not, factor in the player’s position. So while a quarterback is more important than an edge-rusher who is more important than a running back, every player was treated equally here. There’s still a handful of quarterbacks in the top 50, but I would rather have a great safety like Harrison Smith make the list over a quarterback like Matt Ryan, who isn’t as good but is much more valuable.
The list below includes 29 offensive players and 21 defensive players, and realistically any of the top five or six players could stake his claim as the best player in the National Football League.
51-75: Lavonte David, Robert Quinn, Marcus Peters, Eric Berry, Allen Robinson, Kawann Short, Demaryius Thomas, Jordy Nelson, Jamie Collins, Desmond Trufant, Jason Verrett, Linval Joseph, Malcolm Jenkins, Reshad Jones, Jordan Reed, DeAndre Levy, Ronald Darby, Sammy Watkins, Calais Campbell, Chandler Jones, Delanie Walker, Richie Incognito, Ryan Kalil, Xavier Rhodes, Cameron Jordan
The Top 50:
50 – Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
From 2012 to 214, Larry Fitzgerald appeared to be completely washed up. Bad quarterback play certainly didn’t help, but Fitzgerald’s inability to even top 1000 receiving yards suggested that the former top-three pick was nearing the end of his career. Then came a dramatic career resurgence in 2015, as Fitzgerald caught 109 passes for 1215 yards and nine touchdowns, making him one of the most prolific receivers in the league. Fitz topped 1000 receptions and will undoubtedly score his 100th touchdown in 2016, which could clinch him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
49 – Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
I’m fascinated to see how Andrew Luck bounces back from the most disastrous season of his career. He posted career-lows in yards per attempt, interception percentage and passer rating, while missing nine games with shoulder, abdominal and kidney injuries. After leading the Colts to identical 11-5 records in each of his first three seasons, his 2-5 record as a starting quarterback left much room for questions surrounding his intent to earn the highest contract in NFL history. However, anyone watching Colts games can see how valuable Luck is to that team. He’s helped to make up for a complete lack of a running game and an offensive line and still remains one of the game’s top quarterbacks as he enters his age-26 season.
48 – Andrew Whitworth, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
One of the more consistent yet unheralded players over the last decade, the Bengals’ left tackle has to be nearing the end of his career as he enters his 11th season in the league. He’ll be 35 in December, but he’s still performing at an elite level, earning his third All-Pro selection in 2015. There’s not a Bengals player who deserves a postseason victory more than Whitworth.
47 – Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers has become criminally underrated as the San Diego Chargers continue to become one of the league’s least exciting football teams. A 4-12 record last season was more about a slew of injuries to the offensive line than a poor season by Philip Rivers, who led the league in completions (at a 66.3 percent clip) with 4792 yards and 29 touchdowns. If the Chargers can somehow win a Super Bowl in Rivers’ final seasons, the former top-five pick will probably end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
46 – Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
How does a veteran quarterback go from good over the first decade of his career, to arguably the best in the league, during his age-36 season? Yes, coaching helps. Bruce Arians is one of the best. And receivers like Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and Michael Floyd would make any quarterback step up his game. But Palmer was quite possibly the league’s most efficient signal caller in 2015, finishing first in yards per attempt, yards per completion and QBR. It could be the result of a multi-talented offense. Or it could be a former Heisman winner and number one overall pick finally perfecting his game, even as his career nears the end.
45 – Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets
You can make a legitimate argument that Brandon Marshall has been the best wide receiver in the NFL since he began his career as a fourth-round pick in 2006. All he does every season is catch more than 100 passes for 1200 yards and double-digit touchdowns. In 2015, he turned in the best year of his career with journeyman veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. At 32 years old, you have to wonder how many more years he can sustain top production, but right now, he’s as good as it gets.
44 – Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
When he’s healthy, Tony Romo is still one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, even as he enters his 14th season. But three broken collarbones and a back that is one devastating hit away from the end of his career have put Romo’s future in jeopardy. The regular-season numbers have always been there for Romo, who ranks third all-time in career passer rating, but the lack of shiny hardware keeps him lower than some of the league’s other veteran quarterbacks.
43 – Harrison Smith, S, Minnesota Vikings
It’s taken a few years, but Harrison Smith has finally earned the respect he deserves as one of the league’s best safeties. In 2015, he allowed the second-lowest passer rating in the NFL, just 43.3. Just 27 years old, he’s the lynchpin of a Vikings defense that is quickly becoming one of the best units in the league.
42 – Gerald McCoy, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite his selection as the third overall pick in the 2010 draft, four consecutive Pro Bowls and a contract that guarantees him more than $50 million, Gerald McCoy still isn’t recognized as one of the best defensive linemen in the National Football League. That’s because McCoy plays for a team that has finished in last place in five consecutive seasons, so he rarely has an opportunity to play in front of a national audience.
41 – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Miami Dolphins
Ndamukong Suh wasn’t the free-agent disappointment many pegged him to be in 2015. He still collected 60 tackles and six sacks, playing in every game for the fourth consecutive season. His 18 penalties were one of the more disastrous numbers in the league, but there’s every reason to believe Suh can maintain his elite level for the next few seasons as he becomes more familiar with the Dolphins’ defensive scheme.
40 – Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Throw away Dez Bryant’s 2015 season. He broke his foot, returned too early and played just one full game with Tony Romo. That’s not a reflection of who he is as a player. Look from 2012-2014 when he averaged 91 catches, 1312 yards and 14 touchdowns per season. He’s better than any of the league’s other great receivers at reaching the end zone and there’s no reason to believe he won’t return to elite form in 2016.
39 – Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
I’m just not as high on Ben Roethlisberger as the rest of the league. He’s a great quarterback, but he’s not in the elite tier with Rodgers and Brady, and he’s probably not in the second tier with guys like Wilson and Newton. Roethlisberger is blessed with arguably the best running back and receiver in the league, and a slew of other weapons. It’s hard for me to overlook Roethlisberger’s extremely mediocre 21 to 16 TD-to-INT ratio, although he did average 328 passing yards per game and there’s every reason to believe he’ll take Pittsburgh into the postseason for the third straight season. He’s a great quarterback and a future Hall of Famer. He’s just not quite as consistent and elite as you may think.
38 – Justin Houston, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Following the 2014 season, you could argue that Justin Houston was the second-best defensive player in the NFL, obviously behind JJ Watt. Houston had just recorded 22 sacks, and at the age of 25, looked poised to challenge for many sack titles over the next half-decade. But a down year in 2015, with just 7.5 sacks in 11 games, led to what will very likely be a forgettable 2016 campaign. Houston underwent offseason surgery for his ACL and PCL and will likely miss the majority, if not all, of the 2016 season.
37 – AJ Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Arguably the most consistent receiver in the NFL since he entered the league in 2011, AJ Green just produces every single season. Pencil him in for 90 catches, 1300 yards and 10 touchdowns, and expect those numbers to perhaps be even higher this year as his team’s second and third receivers both left via free agency. Green is as important to the Bengals’ offense as any non-quarterback in the league.
36 – Trent Williams, OT, Washington Redskins
A top-five pick in 2010, Trent Williams has been one of the league’s elite offensive tackles through his first six seasons. He doesn’t register the publicity of a Tyron Smith or Joe Thomas, but all Williams has done is reach four consecutive Pro Bowls. He’s the cornerstone of the new Redskins’ offense, just 28 years old and on track to one day reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
35 – Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
Fletcher Cox pretty much flew under the radar during the first four seasons of his career. He’s a dominant defensive lineman, but he doesn’t post eye-popping sack totals and he hasn’t regularly played in the postseason. That all changed when the Eagles inked Cox to the most expensive contract in NFL history, quarterbacks excluded, a $102.6 million deal with $63.299 million guaranteed. Cox, the primary pass-rusher in new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s wide-nine scheme, has double-digit sack potential as he enters his peak seasons. You could even call him a sleeper candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
34 – Michael Bennett, DE, Seattle Seahawks
There are some who consider Michael Bennett to be the most irreplaceable player on a Seahawks defense that features incredible talent like Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner. While I wouldn’t go that far, I do agree that Bennett hasn’t received his due over the years, partially because he hasn’t been a 12-15 sack player. The 2015 campaign brought home his first Pro Bowl appearance, setting career-highs with 52 tackles and 10 sacks.
33 – Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys
The only complaint about Zack Martin is that the All-Pro guard is older than current teammate Tyron Smith, who was drafted three years earlier. Through two seasons, Martin has been as consistent as any offensive lineman in the league, starting all 32 games, earning a pair of Pro Bowl selections and paving the way for a pair of 1000-yard rushers. It would be a big surprise if Martin didn’t earn his third Pro Bowl selection while helping a third different running back reach the four-digit mark in 2016.
32 – NaVorro Bowman, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Bowman hasn’t received enough credit for his inability to return from a potentially career-ending injury, suffered in the 2013 NFC championship game loss to the Seattle Seahawks. After missing the entire 2014 season, Bowman returned to elite form in 2015, collecting 154 combined tackles and 2.5 sacks. With Chip Kelly joining the 49ers, Bowman should be the heavy favorite to lead the NFL in tackles in 2016. He’s clearly a big plan of the 49ers moving forward, as indicated by the massive contract extension he signed last week.
31 – Marshal Yanda, OG, Baltimore Ravens
As NFL’s top-rated guard in 2015, per Pro Football Focus, we’ve reached the point where Marshal Yanda deserves serious consideration for the Hall of Fame. He’s been selected to five straight Pro Bowls, missing just two games in that span. Along with Joe Flacco, he’s been the one constant on the Ravens’ offense for nearly a decade.
30 – Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Geno Atkins finally returned to elite form last season, collecting 11 sacks and 54 quarterback hurries. Constantly wreaking havoc on NFL’s interior offensive lineman, Atkins still flies under the radar of higher-paid players like Ndamukong Suh and younger phenoms like Aaron Donald. However, his five-year, $55 million deal, signed before the 2013 season, stands as one of the best individual player contracts in the National Football League.
29 – Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
Peterson rebounded from a disastrous 2014, albeit hindered by issues with diabetes, to post another All-Pro campaign in 2015. Peterson allowed the third-lowest completion percentage in the league, plus just two touchdown passes. He’s one of a select few players to earn a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first five seasons in the league, and at just 26 years old, there’s every reason to believe that Peterson is on his way to the Hall of Fame.
28 – Josh Norman, CB, Washington Redskins
Casual football fans think Josh Norman burst onto the scene in 2015, but diehards know that he was a very good cornerback even in 2014. Last year, Norman allowed just a 54.0 completion percentage and a ridiculous 9.3 yards per completion. For much of the season, Norman was surrendering a passer rating so low that quarterbacks would have been better throwing the ball into the ground against him. Now in Washington on the largest deal for a defensive back (in terms of guaranteed money) in NFL history, Norman will be on a mission to show that he is truly an elite cornerback and not a product of Carolina’s defensive scheme.
27 – Tyrann Mathieu, DB, Arizona Cardinals
It’s amazing that Tyrann Mathieu, even with the character concerns, wasn’t a first-round pick in 2013. Or a second-round pick. Mathieu is the most versatile defensive back in the game, able to succeed at both cornerback and safety. In 2015, he recorded five interceptions, 17 passes defensed and 89 tackles before missing the final two games of the season with a torn ACL. Clearly the Cardinals have no concerns over his injury or they wouldn’t have awarded him with a contract extension that guarantees him $40 million.
26 – Ziggy Ansah, DE, Detroit Lions
Other than JJ Watt, there’s no defensive lineman in the NFL with a higher ceiling than Ziggy Ansah. It wasn’t until 2010 when 21-year-old Ansah even stepped onto a football field, but a dominant college career led to Ansah’s fifth overall draft selection in 2013. Now Ansah appears ready to challenge for the sack title every season, as he recorded 14.5 in 2015, along with four forced fumbles. And he’s only played football for six seasons.
25 – Chris Harris, CB, Denver Broncos
Von Miller stole the show for the Denver Broncos throughout the 2015 postseason, but it’s hard to imagine this team winning the Super Bowl without former UDFA corner Chris Harris. The second-rated corner in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, Harris has missed just one game in five seasons and is earning just $42.5 million over his current five-year deal – easily one of the best value contracts in the NFL.
24 – Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets
The talk about Darrelle Revis slowing down is laughable. Now 31 years old, Revis was as good as ever last season. He led the NFL in completion percentage surrendered, recorded five interceptions and helped the Jets’ defense improve from 24th in 2014 (without him) to 9th in 2015 (with him). If he can maintain his elite pace for several more seasons, he truly has a chance to become the best cornerback in NFL history.
23 – Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
Someone tell me why Drew Brees isn’t regularly named among the best quarterbacks in league history. He’s as efficient and consistent as it gets, a player who just produces year in and year out despite never having an elite receiver or adequate defense. Over his last ten seasons, Brees has AVERAGED 4856 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and a 99.0 passer rating. It’s simply mind-boggling that he hasn’t won an MVP award because he’s quite simply one of the three or four most valuable players in the game every single season.
22 – Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
In 2015, Adrian Peterson led the NFL in carries, yards and touchdowns, a feat he had never before done, at the age of 30. He’s shown no signs of slowing down and he’s reached the point where any list of the ten best running backs in league history must include Peterson. However, it’s impossible to ignore his fumbling problem, which just has not gone away. Last year, he fumbled a ridiculous seven times, plus an eighth in a pitiful showing during the Vikings’ wild-card playoff loss. As a pure runner, Peterson is as good as it gets, even entering his 10th season. But factor in the complete package, and I’ll take other backs like Bell and Charles over Peterson.
21 – Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks
The league’s best safety for the last six seasons, Earl Thomas doesn’t receive the publicity that teammates Russell Wilson or Richard Sherman do. Yet the tape shows that Thomas is as important to the Seahawks as any defensive back to his team in the game. He collected five interceptions and 61 tackles in 2015, and he still hasn’t missed a game in six full seasons.
20 – Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
Von Miller etched himself in postseason lore with a pair of games against the Patriots and Panthers that included five sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a Super Bowl MVP award. One of the most disruptive pass-rushers in the game, Miller now has more guaranteed money than any defensive player in the history of the sport. His next task is upping his single-season sack rates from the low teens to the high teens like he did when he wreaked havoc on the league in 2012.
19 – Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys
There’s no obvious choice for the best offensive lineman in the game. Gone are the days of borderline MVP candidates like Orlando Pace, Jonathan Ogden and Walter Jones. Right now, the best of the best is still Joe Thomas, but in a year or two, it will likely be Tyron Smith, a top-10 pick in 2011 who is somehow just 25 years old as he enters his sixth season. Smith ranked second among tackles in 2015, per Pro Football Focus, and has a chance to become a household name if rookie Ezekiel Elliott turns into the player the Cowboys expect.
18 – Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams
It’s a massive understatement to call Todd Gurley the only weapon on the Rams’ offense last season. He was literally the only player worth game-planning for. Surrounded by offensive ‘help’ such as Nick Foles, Kenny Britt and Jared Cook, Gurley still managed to post eye-popping numbers in his debut season. Although he missed the season’s first month, the 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft still rushed 229 times for 1106 yards and 10 touchdowns. That’s 4.8 yards per carry against defenses regularly stacking the box with eight men. If number one overall pick Jared Goff can turn into even an average starting quarterback, Gurley could become the league’s best running back for years to come.
17 – Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Richard Sherman is still the best cornerback in the NFL, even with the emergence of players such as Josh Norman and Tyrann Mathieu. It’s Sherman who is the best player on what has been the league’s lowest-scoring defense for a ridiculous four straight seasons. His 48.4 completion percentage allowed was the fourth-lowest mark in 2015, and just two receivers reached the end zone against Sherman. At age 28, Sherman is well on his way to establishing himself as one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history.
16 – Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland Browns
Still the best left tackle in the game, Joe Thomas enters his 10th NFL season with likely no shot at a postseason berth in any of the next few seasons. You’ve got to feel for the guy, who has been the best player for the Browns for almost a full decade. Even in 2015, his age 31 season, he was rated the best tackle in the game by Pro Football Focus. He’s an absolute lock for the Hall of Fame, with nine straight Pro Bowls to open his career.
15 – Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
A second torn ACL doesn’t affect Jamaal Charles’ ranking as one of the best running backs in the NFL. He’s as explosive as any back in the game, a player who has averaged at least five yards per carry in all eight seasons, even those that were cut short by injuries. At 29, Charles is nearing the closing stretch of his career, but he’s still among the game’s best ballcarriers. If he can return to elite form for several more seasons, he’ll find his way in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
14 – Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
When Le’Veon Bell is on his game, he’s a poor man’s LaDanian Tomlinson or Marshall Faulk, a multi-dimensional weapon who is a legitimate threat to score every time he touches the ball. Bell accumulated more than 2200 total yards in 2014, and he hasn’t fumbled in more than 500 touches. Bell has proven himself to be the most complete back in the NFL. Now the only question is whether he can stay healthy and stay out of trouble. He’s missed each of the Steelers’ last two postseason runs after season-ending injuries and he’s accumulated suspensions to open both the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Those are some major warning signs for his future, and it’ll be fascinating to see how the Steelers react as Bell enters free agency this offseason.
13 – Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Heading into the 2015 season, one of my complaints for Russell Wilson was that he hadn’t improved since he was a rookie. Then he turned in the best year of his career, throwing for 34 touchdowns, including a second-half stretch where he was as effective as any quarterback in the NFL. Wilson is practically flawless as a passer, he’s a legitimate weapon as a runner and he’s as consistent as any signal caller in the league. Just 28 years old, there’s every reason to believe Wilson’s best years are still ahead of him.
12 – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
111 catches for 1521 yards and 11 touchdowns… with Brian Hoyer as the best of four quarterbacks throwing to him? If Brock Osweiler turns into even an average quarterback, Hopkins could turn the elite trio of receivers (Brown, Jones and Beckham) into a quartet.
11 – Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
It took just two years for Aaron Donald to supplant players like Geno Atkins and Ndamukong Suh as the best defensive tackle in the league. Just 25 years old, Donald followed up his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign with a season that could have won Defensive Player of the Year in other years. His 11 sacks and 69 tackles led all interior defensive linemen and the analytics site Pro Football Focus rated Donald as the having the best single-season of any individual player, offense or defense, in the eight-year history of their ranking.
10 – Khalil Mack, LB, Oakland Raiders
Give me Khalil Mack over any other pass-rusher in the NFL not named JJ Watt. After a relatively quiet rookie season, at least as far as sack totals are concerned, Mack exploded onto the scene in 2015. He finished second to Watt with 15 sacks, while adding 77 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. In a three-game span late in the season, Mack collected an otherworldly nine sacks, including five in a single game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos in Week 14. He’s the complete package as both a run-stopper and a pass-rusher.
9 – Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
From 2011 to 2014, Cam Newton was a good but not great quarterback whose flaws as a passer were obvious. But in 2015, everything clicked for Cam Newton. The former number one overall draft pick was the best quarterback in the National Football League, throwing for 35 touchdown passes despite losing number one receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, to a torn ACL in preseason. Newton and the Panthers won 15 games in the regular season, plus two more in the postseason. The next step for Cam is showing that his performance in 2015 is who he really is as a quarterback.
8 – Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
The NFL’s best linebacker over the last four seasons, Kuechly actually flies under the radar because he doesn’t post eye-popping sack totals like JJ Watt and he didn’t run wild in the postseason like Von Miller. Except, well, Kuechly actually did go nuts in the playoffs. He recorded an interception touchdown in both NFC playoff victories and added 10 tackles and a sack in the Super Bowl. He’s capable of covering a tight end one-on-one, dropping a running back for a one-yard loss, blitzing the quarterback, or simply staying put and manning the middle of the defense.
7 – Odell Beckham, WR, New York Giants
Odell Beckham’s ceiling is scary. It’s terrifying for opposing defenses. I don’t believe for a second that he’s come close to his full potential. In two seasons, he’s caught 187 passes for 2755 yards and 25 touchdowns, and for the record, those aren’t two seasons. Those are 27 games’ worth. Beckham is a 5’11, 198-pound receiver who plays like he’s 6’5, 240 pounds. He’s explosive, dynamic and simply uncoverable, even as the only legitimate receiving threat Eli Manning has had over the last two seasons. He’s still just 23 years old and has the potential to one day rank among the elite of the elite receivers in the history of the game.
6 – Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
Gronk has a few years before he should be mentioned in the same breath as Tony Gonzalez for the title of greatest tight end in NFL history, but it’s worth mentioning that Gonzalez was never even remotely as dominant during his peak as Gronk. Serious injuries threatened to derail Gronk’s career at the age of 24, but since 2014, he’s played in 30 of a possible 32 games, averaging a 77-1150-12 stat line. Oh, and he’s also the best blocking tight end in the NFL. It’ll be fascinating to see what type of player be becomes once Tom Brady finishes his career.
5 – Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
It’s incredible that a player could catch 136 passes for 1871 yards and actually be underrated, but that’s what has happened to Julio Jones. Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham steal the headlines for receivers, but it’s Jones who totalled the second-most catches AND yards EVER in a season in 2015. He’s a threat to break the single-season record for receptions, yards, or both, in 2016, or any of the upcoming seasons. Just 28, Jones was worth the massive haul the Falcons gave up to move up 21 spots in the 2011 first-round.
4 – Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
31 touchdowns, 8 interceptions and a playoff victory, and you can get away with calling Aaron Rodgers a MAJOR disappointment last season. Quite simply, that’s how high he has set the bar with a seven-year stretch to open his career that ranks among the best by a quarterback the game has ever seen. A healthy Jordy Nelson and an in-shape Eddie Lacy should go a long way for Rodgers as he attempts to return to his usual elite form in 2016.
3 – Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Brady gets a slight edge over Rodgers as the game’s best quarterback because Brady overachieved in 2015, while Rodgers basically did the opposite. Despite losing virtually every offensive pass-catcher and lineman to injuries at one point during the 2015 season, Brady led the NFL in touchdowns (36) and interception percentage (1.1). The Patriots won their typical 12 games and came within a two-point conversion of forcing overtime against the eventual champion Broncos in the AFC championship game. Even with a four-game suspension looming at the start of 2016, there’s no reason to believe Brady, now 39, will take a step back.
2 – Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Antonio Brown’s last three seasons wouldn’t be out of place on Jerry Rice’s career log. The 5’10, 180-pound receiver is in the midst of the most dominant stretch by a pass-catcher in the history of the National Football League. That is absolutely not an exaggeration. Since 2014, Brown has averaged 125 catches, 1677 yards and 10 touchdowns per season. It took a 36-year-old washed-up Michael Vick to end Brown’s streak of games with at least five catches and 50 yards. And it’s worth mentioning that over his last 16 games with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, Brown has recorded an absolutely astounding 152 catches for 2039 yards. In 2016, he’s going to break the single-season record for receptions. Or yards. Or both.
1 – JJ Watt, DE, Houston Texans
J.J. Watt is the best player in the NFL and has been for the last four seasons. He’s on track to join the likes of Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor among the best defensive players in the history of the league. He’s won Defensive Player of the Year three times in the last four seasons and would have won the award in 2013 if voters didn’t choose to focus on his team’s 2-14 record. He’s essentially an unblockable presence on the defensive line, a player who can single-handedly take over a game the way no other non-quarterback can do. He could line up at defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, and, as he showed with three touchdown catches in 2014, tight end. All Watt did in 2015 was collect 17.5 sacks, 76 tackles, eight passes defensed and three forced fumbles despite playing through a herniated disc, five torn groin muscles and a broken hand. Now battling through offseason back surgery, Watt may miss the first few games of the season, but that has no impact on his ranking. At 27 years old, there’s every reason to believe Watt will remain atop this list for the next half-decade. He’s quite simply a once-in-a-lifetime player.
