Top 50 NFL Players of 2018
Top 50 NFL Players of 2018
With the 2018 NFL season concluded, it’s a good time to reflect on which players made this season so special. This is not a list of the best players in the NFL, these rankings are based solely on 2018 production (including playoffs). Without further ado…
1. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
20.5 sacks for an interior lineman. An interior lineman. That’s an NFL record that probably won’t be touched unless Donald decides to break it himself. It reached the point where I expected Donald to break the sack record even though he was 6 sacks short with two weeks to go. Donald routinely shrugs off double teams and makes an impact even when he doesn’t make it to the quarterback. He led the league in pressures by a wide margin and was the best player on a team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl.
2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
In his first season as a starter, Patrick Mahomes took the league by storm, becoming the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. From no-look passes to tossing left-handed completions, Mahomes seemed to make logic-defying plays on every snap. He started and finished the season on fire, with 13 touchdowns in his first three games and 13 more in his last five. He took home MVP honors, as he should’ve, and led the Chiefs this close to a Super Bowl berth.
3. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
With a viable quarterback under center for the entire season, Hopkins took his game to the next level and earned the title of the league’s best receiver. He recorded nearly 1,600 yards to go along with 11 touchdowns and a trip to the playoffs. Hopkins had 115 catchable targets thrown his way this season (per PFF) and caught every single one. Not a single drop. Even when he was injured in the Wildcard round, he still commanded extra attention, opening things up for other receivers like Keke Coutee (11/110/1).
4. Khalil Mack, OLB, Chicago Bears
Thanks to the arrival of the NFL’s scariest edge rusher, the Bears defense went from good to great. He didn’t waste time terrorizing offense, as he racked up at least one sack and one forced fumble in each of the first four weeks. Mack still had 12.5 sacks despite missing some action (and playing hurt) due to an ankle injury. When Mack was unavailable or gimpy, Chicago’s defense looked drastically different from the elite unit we’d been seeing all year (see Week 6 @ Miami). Mack was a more than welcome addition to a team that enjoyed their first postseason appearance since 2010.
5. Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Just when you thought Bobby Wagner couldn’t become any more efficient than he already was, he upped his game yet again. Wagner missed one tackle the entire season and officially usurped Luke Kuechly as the premier middle linebacker in the game. Wagner was the linchpin of a defense that wasn’t supposed to be any good after the Legion of Boom was dismantled. Wagner also came up with some big plays, most notably a 98-yard interception return touchdown against the division rival 49ers. Wagner capped off his stellar season with a first-team All-Pro spot.
6. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Before the season even began, many wondered if Andrew Luck would ever be able to return to the levels of play that had people hailing him as the league’s next great QB. Luck silenced the doubters by throwing for 4,593, 39 touchdowns, and leading his team from a 1-5 record to a playoff spot. After throwing four touchdowns in a 32-point victory over the Buffalo Bills, Luck never looked back, beginning a streak in which the Colts would win nine of their next ten. He became a hot name in the MVP conversation but had his season end at the hands of the eventual winner.
7. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
In an extremely disappointing season for the Falcons, Julio continued to post video game-like numbers en route to a receiving title. For an NFL-record fifth straight season, he passed the 1,400 yard mark, finishing with 1,677. He also shook off his touchdown problem, ending with eight trips to the end zone. His rapport with Matt Ryan was the reason Atlanta’s offense still ranked so high, even if it didn’t mean much in terms of record.
8. Eddie Jackson, S, Chicago Bears
The second-year safety out of Alabama came out of nowhere to become 2018’s best safety. Jackson locked down the back end for the league’s most ferocious defense, recording big play after big play. He was second in the NFL with six interceptions, and scored three defensive touchdowns. The big play ability showed a little bit last year; he scored two 75+ yard defensive touchdowns in one game against the Carolina Panthers. Jackson also paced all safeties with eight passes defended. His season was so stellar that he was even generating some defensive player of the year buzz.
9. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
Anyone questioning the Giants decision to take a running back second overall was silenced by the Offensive Rookie of the Year’s amazing rookie season. Barkley was second in the NFL in rushing yards and took the top spot in yards from scrimmage. Barkley, a running back, also totaled an astonishing 91 catches, first on the team. What makes this season even more impressive is the fact that he was running behind a patchwork offensive line and had a quarterback that scared nobody. Everyone knew Barkley was going to get the ball, yet nobody could stop him. “SaQuads” was a nightmare in the open field with his unfair combination of speed, agility, and power unseen since Adrian Peterson in his prime.
10. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
Brees likely would’ve secured a top-3 spot on this list if his play didn’t tail off at the end of the season. Though not as prolific, Brees gave Patrick Mahomes serious competition for the MVP award for the better part of the season. Brees led his squad to the first seed in the NFC, tossing for a shade under 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Even though those numbers are below Brees’ usual level, his efficiency reached unreal heights. Brees broke his own completion percentage record by completing 74.4% of his pass attempts and posted an NFL-high passer rating of 115.7. He also only threw five picks in his 15 starts. He fell down the list because of his four-game streak where he failed to hit 205 yards, but that doesn’t take away from another great season by the NFL’s all-time leading passer.
11. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
After being vastly underrated in his first two years as a pro, Thomas placed first in receptions, sixth in yards, and earned a first-team All-Pro nod. One of the reasons for Drew Brees statistical brilliance was the sure grip of Michael Thomas. He caught nearly 85% of the passes thrown his way, an astonishing number for someone receiving as many targets as he was. Thomas set the Saints record for receiving yards in a game during a Week 9 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. Thomas went off for 211 yards, most of them coming against former All-Pro CB Marcus Peters. He also tallied 171 yards in a playoff game against the Eagles, showing that he produces when it matters.
12. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Gurley was having another monster season until injury struck and he flamed out in the postseason. At a certain point, it looked like a real possibility that he was going to take LaDainian Tomlinson’s touchdown record. Gurley likely would’ve taken the rushing title if he didn’t sit out of a couple of games at the end of the season. While TG was in the MVP conversation for a good chunk of the season, 45 rushing yards total in the NFC Championship (where he was benched) and Super Bowl tarnished his season a little bit.
13. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Last season, Tyreek Hill flexed his ability as an able wide receiver as well as a returner. This season, he took his game to another level, piling up almost 1,500 yards at an astonishing 17 yards per reception. Hill’s big-play ability was a huge reason that Mahomes posted the kind of numbers he did in his sophomore season. Hill was always around in big games, scoring three touchdowns against New England and racking up 215 yards in a Monday Night classic against LAR. In the AFC title game, the Patriots were forced to give Hill extra attention because they understood he was the key to the offense. Along with being the most explosive player in the game, Hill has officially proved that he belongs in the conversation of the best receivers in the NFL.
14. Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
It must’ve been a special season for interior linemen, with DTs placing first and second on the pressures list. Cox is another player who didn’t receive as much recognition thanks to the absolute dominance of Aaron Donald. Cox single-handedly wrecked opposing offensive lines, forcing them to double-team him to no avail. His impact on the game goes beyond sacks, and any questions about his performance should be answered by the film of WAS v. PHI Week 17.
15. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Regardless of the impact that Amari Cooper had on the Cowboys offense, it still runs through their young workhorse. For the second time in three seasons, Ezekiel Elliott took the rushing crown. Elliott turned it on down the stretch, pairing with a young defense to fuel a Dallas playoff run. After falling to 3-5, Elliott tallied 187 total yards in a pivotal divisional matchup against Philly and broke 120 yards rushing the two weeks following that. He also racked up 40 touches in the second game against Philly and added 30 more in the Wildcard round. His role is even more important because his quarterback isn’t scaring anyone.
16. Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots
Gilmore joined the ranks of the NFL’s shutdown cornerbacks and justified the mega-contract he was given last season in the process. Gilmore consistently erased the opposing team’s top receiver, culminating in a first-team All-Pro selection. Gilmore came up in the biggest moment, sealing the Super Bowl with an interception off of Jared Goff. When quarterbacks did look his way, Gilmore made them pay with 20 passes defended on the season.
17. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
George Kittle broke out as a YAC monster, setting the NFL record for most single-season receiving yards by a TE in his second year. Kittle led the league in yards after the catch (ALL receivers, not just tight ends) and averaged 15.7 yards per grab. Against the Denver Broncos, Kittle went off for 210 (!) receiving yards in one half, nearly breaking Shannon Sharpe’s single-game record for TEs. Kittle should’ve been a first-team All-Pro, doing all of this with Nick Mullens starting most of San Fran’s games at QB, but the more recognized Travis Kelce (who will make an appearance on this list) bumped him down to the second team.
18. Philip Rivers, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Philip Rivers solidified his case for the Hall of Fame with an MVP-level performance this season for the LA Chargers. Behind the right arm of Rivers, the Chargers were finally able to maximize their talent and post a 12-4 record, just falling short of the AFC’s first seed. He threw for 4,308 yards and 32 touchdowns to go along with a sterling 105.5 passer rating. He also led a comeback from a late two-score deficit against the division rival Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers won a playoff game as well, but their season ended at the all too familiar hands of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
19. Quenton Nelson, OG, Indianapolis Colts
The sixth overall pick became the anchor of the NFL’s top pass blocking offensive line. He was perhaps the biggest reason for Andrew Luck’s resurgence, routinely mauling defenders to protect his quarterback. Nelson is one of the few offensive linemen with a highlight reel, but that just goes to show the kind of things he was doing to opposing players with regularity. He captured a spot on the first team All-Pro roster to cap off his excellent performance.
20. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
Watt bounced back from another major injury and it seemed like the 3x Defensive Player of the Year hadn’t skipped a beat. He racked up 16 sacks and made his fifth appearance as a first-team All-Pro. He and his running mate Jadeveon Clowney terrorized quarterbacks all season long as the Texans made their return to the postseason. Their postseason ended quickly, but Watt still recorded a QB hit against the Colts dominant offensive line.
21. Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
While Bobby Wagner gets all of the attention thanks to his insane tackling efficiency, Kuechly remains near the top of his position. The league’s best middle linebacker since he was drafted, Kuechly added 130 tackles to his career totals. With his team in danger of missing the playoffs, Kuechly delivered a dominant performance against the Saints with 13 tackles, a pass defense, and two tackles for loss. The man in the middle was the one responsible for holding New Orleans to only 12 points. The injuries that have plagued him recently haven’t slowed him down at all.
22. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce received his third consecutive All-Pro nod by taking his game to the next level with Patrick Mahomes manning the show. He broke Rob Gronkowski’s single-season TE yardage record, but Kittle came along and took it the very same day. Kelce had 1,336 receiving yards (Kittle: 1,377; Gronk: 1,327) and three multi-TD games. Kelce was impossible to remove from the equation, recording less than five receptions only once in the regular season. Even if he wasn’t as prolific as Kittle, Kelce still averaged 13 yards per reception.
23. Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Aaron Donald wasn’t the only interior lineman racking up historic sack totals. After going sackless for the first four weeks, Jones recorded a takedown in eleven consecutive games, an NFL record. He finished with 15.5 sacks and scored a touchdown as well. The Chiefs defense wasn’t a good unit as a whole, but Jones more than held up his end of the bargain inside. He and Dee Ford formed one of the league’s best pass-rushing tandems this past season.
24. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers ignored the committee approach and kept McCaffrey on the field for nearly every play, every game. McCaffrey responded by rushing for 1,098 yards at 5.0 yards a clip, disproving any theories that he wasn’t a true runner. The thing that set CMC apart was his receiving prowess. He caught a running back single-season record 107 passes for 867 yards and six touchdowns (13 total). The Panthers fell apart after Cam Newton’s shoulder injury, but they should be happy to know that the running back position is stabilized for the first time since DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were running roughshod on NFL defenses.
25. Darius Leonard, LB, Indianapolis Colts
The second round pick out of South Carolina quickly became the centerpiece of the Colts revamped defense in his first season. He led the league in total tackles and finished with nearly a 20 tackle advantage on the second place finisher. He didn’t waste time making an impact, totaling 54 tackles in his first four games in the NFL. Leonard wasn’t just a one-trick pony, he also tallied 7 sacks, 2 picks, and four forced fumbles, affecting every facet of the game. He took home the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a spot on the All-Pro first team.
26. Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets
The second-year man should’ve been a first-team All-Pro, but the hype train following Derwin James was too fast to overtake. Even if he played for a bad team, he brought an infectious energy to the field on every play. Adams racked up an astonishing 115 tackles from the safety position to go with 12 passes defended and three forced fumbles. Adams was also an extremely effective pass rusher when blitzing, pacing all safeties in quarterback pressures.
27. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons offense wasn’t the issue this season, but thanks to their atrocious overall team performance, Matt Ryan’s amazing season flew under the radar. Ryan flirted with a 70% completion percentage and came this close to hitting the 5,000-yard mark. He tossed 35 touchdowns to only seven interceptions the entire season. Ryan was a giant snub from the Pro Bowl in a season that eerily resembled his 2016 MVP campaign.
28. Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
Miller continued being an elite pass rusher, notching 14.5 sacks this season. It’s basically expected for Miller to play at such a high level, so most of the attention went to his rookie counterpart, Bradley Chubb. He took home a spot on the All-Pro second team and likely would’ve been higher if not for the absolute dominance of J.J. Watt and Khalil Mack this season.
29. Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Ertz had a historic season of his own that was overshadowed by the performances of Kittle and Kelce. Ertz broke Jason Witten’s TE record for single-season receptions by racking up 116 catches. Ertz was the most reliable pair of hands for Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, acting as their main option and checkdown. Ertz averaged a smooth ten yards per catch, basically picking up a first down every time he touched the ball. He had five games with over ten receptions (Michael Thomas the league’s reception leader had six, for comparison) including a 14/145/2 outing against Dallas.
30. Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers
Derwin James made a serious case for Defensive Rookie of the Year, proving to be a draft steal for the Chargers. He was an integral part of an impressive defense that ranked ninth in the league. James made 105 tackles and similar to Adams, was an impressive pass rusher, totaling 3.5 sacks. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley uses James everywhere on the field, moving him around like a chess piece. In addition to both safety spots, he’s played at corner, edge rusher, and linebacker. He’s the definition of versatile, but he’s great at everything he does.
Best of the Rest:
31. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson put up similar stats to Ryan (35 TD, 7 INT, 8.1 Y/A) but with a lot fewer yardage thanks to being aided by the league’s top rushing offense.
32. Desmond King, CB, Los Angeles Chargers
King locked down the slot and was one of the league’s top returners in his second year.
33. David Bakhtiari, LT, Green Bay Packers
Bakhtiari put up another stellar season, protecting the most important blindside in football and landing on the All-Pro first team.
34. Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Goff was in the MVP conversation for a nice portion of the season and ran Sean McVay’s offense with extreme efficiency.
35. Grady Jarrett, DT, Atlanta Falcons
Jarrett chose the perfect time to take his game to the next level and will be paid accordingly.
36. Kyle Fuller, CB, Chicago Bears
He allowed some yards in coverage, but his ball-hawking was an important part of a defense that led the league in takeaways.
37. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles
The NFL’s most athletic center took home consecutive first-team All-Pro honors.
38. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings
He slowed down as the season went on, but we shouldn’t forget his historic streak to kick off the year.
39. Akiem Hicks, DT, Chicago Bears
The third Bears defender on this list put up a career year in the middle of arguably the most talented defensive front in football.
40. Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Dallas Cowboys
The rookie made Dallas forget about the oft-injured Sean Lee, and along with Jaylon Smith ushered in a new era of Cowboys football.
41. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
The Patriots heavily relied on the run game and defense as the season went on, but the six-time Super Bowl champion continued to put up good numbers and most importantly, win games.
42. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints
Jordan continued to be an elite pass rusher while helping the Saints finish as the second-ranked run defense.
43. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
In a down season for the QB, he still posted a 25:2 TD: INT ratio but couldn’t get much done under Mike McCarthy.
43. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
The main receiver for the man above him racked up 1,386 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.
44. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Mixon led the AFC in rushing during a lost campaign for his team.
45. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Even if he didn’t lead his team, he still had 1,297 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns (tops in football). He opened things up for emerging star JuJu Smith-Schuster.
46. Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
Peterson made the Pro Bowl again, making it 8 straight years he’s been invited. That’s every year of his career.
47. Dee Ford, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Even if the lasting memory of his season will be the boneheaded offsides penalty, Ford was among the best pass rushers in football.
48. C.J. Mosley, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Mosley was a second-team All-Pro and will look to cash in during free agency.
49. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
He led the league with 5,129 passing yards, but the 16 interceptions hurt his placement.
50. Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
Last year’s #1 overall pick notched 13.5 sacks to go with three forced fumbles.
-By: Micah Jimoh