Top NFL Players of the 2016 Season at Each Position

Matthew Kirshenbaum
The Ticket
Published in
6 min readJan 22, 2017

The NFL Conference Championship games are scheduled for tomorrow and they’re, without a doubt, going to be offensives marathons with all four teams being league leaders in total offensive yards per game (YPG). First, at 3:05, you’ve got the Falcons, 2nd in YPG, and the Packers, 3rd in YPG, in the Georgia Dome for the last time. Then at 6:40 you’ve got the Steelers, 4th in YPG, playing the Patriots, 5th in YPG, playing yet again in Gillette Stadium. But as we are 2 weeks away from the Super Bowl, let’s take a look back at the best players at each position this season (in my opinion):

Quarterback:

Tom Brady (Getty Images)
  1. Tom Brady (New England Patriots: 14–2): 3,554 Yards, 28 Total TD’s, 2 Interceptions, 112.2 Passer Rating
  2. Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons: 11–5): 4,944 Yards, 38 Total TD’s, 7 Interceptions, 117.1 Passer Rating
  3. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers: 10–6): 4,428 Yards, 44 Total TD’s, 7 Interceptions, 104.2 Passer Rating
  4. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints: 7–9): 5,208 Yards, 39 Total TD’s, 15 Interceptions, 101.7 Passer Rating
  5. Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders: 12–4): 3,937 Yards, 28 Total TD’s, 6 Interceptions, 96.7 Passer Rating
  6. Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers: 11–5): 3,819 Yards, 30 Total TD’s, 13 Interceptions, 95.4 Passer Rating
  7. Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys: 13–3): 3,667 Yards, 29 Total TD’s, 4 Interceptions, 104.9 Passer Rating
  8. Kirk Cousins (Washington Redskins: 8–7–1): 4,917 Yards, 29 TD’s, 12 Interceptions, 97.2 Passer Rating
  9. Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks: 10–5–1): 4,219 Yards, 22 Total TD’s , 11 Interceptions, 92.6 Passer Rating
  10. Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers: 6–10): 3,509 Yards, 24 Total TD’s, 14 Interceptions, 75.8 Passer Rating

Running Backs:

Le’Veon Bell (Getty Images)
  1. Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers: 11–5): 1,268 Rushing Yards, 616 Reception Yards, 9 Total TD’s, 4 Fumbles, 4.9 Yards Per Carry
  2. David Johnson (Arizona Cardinals: 7–8–1): 1,239 Rushing Yards, 879 Reception Yards, 20 Total TD’s, 5 Fumbles, 4.2 Yards Per Carry
  3. Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys: 13–3): 1,631 Rushing Yards, 363 Reception Yards, 16 Total TD’s, 5 Fumbles, 5.1 Yards Per Carry
  4. LeSean McCoy (Buffalo Bills: 7–9): 1,267 Rushing Yards, 356 Reception Yards, 14 TD’s, 3 Fumbles, 5.4 Yards Per Carry
  5. DeMarco Murray (Tennessee Titans: 9–7): 1,287 Rushing Yards, 377 Reception Yards, 12 Total TD’s, 3 Fumbles, 4.4 Yards Per Carry
  6. LeGarrette Blount (New England Patriots: 14–2): 1,161 Rushing Yards, 38 Reception Yards, 18 Total TD’s, 2 Fumbles, 3.9 Yards Per Carry
  7. Devonta Freeman (Atlanta Falcons: 11–5): 1,079 Rushing Yards, 462 Reception Yards, 13 Total TD’s, 1 Fumbles, 4.8 Yards Per Carry
  8. Jordan Howard (Chicago Bears: 3–13): 1,313 Rushing Yards, 296 Reception Yards, 7 Total TD’s, 2 Fumbles, 5.2 Yards Per Carry
  9. Jay Ajayi (Miami Dolphins: 10–6): 1,272 Rushing Yards, 151 Reception Yards, 8 Total TD’s, 4 Fumbles, 4.9 Yards Per Carry
  10. Melvin Gordon (San Diego Chargers 5–11): 997 Rushing Yards, 419 Reception Yards, 12 Total TD’s, 2 Fumbles, 3.9 Yards Per Carry

Wide Receivers:

(Antonio Brown) Getty Images
  1. Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers: 11–5): 106 Receptions, 1,284 Yards, 12 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 12.1 Yards Per Reception
  2. Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons: 11–5): 83 Receptions, 1,409 Yards, 6 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 17.0 Yards Per Reception
  3. Odell Beckham Jr (New York Giants: 11–5): 101 Receptions, 1,367 Yards, 10 Total TD’s, 2 Fumbles, 13.5 Yards Per Reception
  4. Jordy Nelson (Green Bay Packers: 10–6): 97 Receptions, 1,257 Yards, 14 Total TD’s, 1 Fumbles, 13.0 Yards Per Reception
  5. Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9–7): 96 Receptions, 1,321 Yards, 12 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 13.8 Yards Per Reception
  6. T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts: 8–8): 91 Receptions, 1,448 Yards, 6 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 15.9 Yards Per Reception
  7. Julian Edelman (New England Patriots: 14–2): 98 Receptions, 1,106 Yards, 3 Total TD’s, 2 Fumbles, 11.3 Yards Per Reception
  8. Jarvis Landry (Miami Dolphins: 10–6): 94 Receptions, 1,136 Yards, 4 Total TD’s, 1 Fumble, 12.1 Yards Per Reception
  9. Amari Cooper (Oakland Raiders: 12–4): 83 Receptions, 1,153 Yards, 5 Total TD’s, 2 Fumbles, 13.9 Yards Per Reception
  10. Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints: 7–9): 92 Receptions, 1,137 Yards, 9 Total TD’s, 2 Fumbles, 12.4 Yards Per Reception

Tight Ends:

Travis Kelce (Getty Images)
  1. Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs: 12–4): 85 Receptions, 1,125 Yards, 4 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 13.2 Yards Per Reception
  2. Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers: 6–10): 80 Receptions, 1,073 Yards, 3 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 13.4 Yards Per Reception
  3. Jimmy Graham (Seattle Seahawks: 10–5–1): 65 Receptions, 923 Yards, 6 Total TD’s, 2 Fumbles, 14.2 Yards Per Reception
  4. Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota Vikings: 8–8): 83 Receptions, 840 Yards, 7 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 10.1 Yards Per Reception
  5. Zach Ertz (Philadelphia Eagles: 7–9): 78 Receptions, 816 Yards, 4 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 10.5 Yards Per Reception
  6. Delanie Walker (Tennessee Titans: 9–7): 65 Receptions, 800 Yards, 7 Total TD’s, 1 Fumbles, 12.3 Yards Per Reception
  7. Martellus Bennett (New England Patriots: 14–2): 55 Receptions, 701 Yards, 7 Total TD’s, 0 Fumbles, 12.7 Yards Per Reception
  8. Jordan Reed (Washington Redskins: 8–7–1): 66 Receptions, 686 Yards, 6 Total TD’s, 1 Fumble, 10.4 Yards Per Reception
  9. Cameron Brate (Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9–7): 57 Receptions, 660 Yards, 8 Total TD’s, 1 Fumble, 11.6 Yards Per Reception
  10. Eric Ebron (Detriot Lions: 9–7): 61 Receptions, 711 Yards, 2 Total TD’s, 0 Fumble, 11.7 Yards Per Reception

Team Defenses:

Von Miller (Getty Images)
  1. Denver Broncos (9–7): 1044 Tackles, 42.0 Sacks, 14 Interceptions, 17 Forced Fumbles, 4 Total TD’s, 316.1 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  2. Minnesota Vikings (8–8): 987 Tackles, 41.0 Sacks, 14 Interceptions, 13 Forced Fumbles, 4 Total TD’s, 314.9 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  3. New York Giants (11–5): 1128 Tackles, 35.0 Sacks, 17 Interceptions, 17 Forced Fumbles, 3 Total TD’s, 339.7 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  4. Houston Texans (9–7): 1004 Tackles, 31.0 Sacks, 11 Interceptions, 8 Forced Fumbles, 1 Total TD, 301.3 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  5. Baltimore Ravens (8–8): 996 Tackles, 31.0 Sacks, 18 Interceptions, 17 Forced Fumbles, 1 Total TD, 322.1 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  6. Kansas City Chiefs (12–4): 970 Tackles, 28.0 Sacks, 18 Interceptions, 19 Forced Fumbles, 5 Total TD’s, 368.5 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  7. Seattle Seahawks (10–5–1): 1103 Tackles, 42.0 Sacks, 11 Interceptions, 18 Forced Fumbles, 1 Total TD, 318.7 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  8. Arizona Cardinals (7–8–1): 988 Tackles, 48.0 Sacks, 14 Interceptions, 25 Forced Fumbles, 3 Total TD’s, 305.2 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  9. Philadelphia Eagles (7–9): 953 Tackles, 34.0 Sacks, 16 Interceptions, 18 Forced Fumbles, 3 Total TD’s, 342.8 Total Defense Yards Per Game
  10. New England Patriots (14–2): 1020 Tackles, 34.0 Sacks, 13 Interceptions, 19 Forced Fumbles, 0 Total TD’s, 326.4 Total Defense Yards Per Game

Kickers:

Justin Tucker (Getty Images)
  1. Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens: 8–8): 38–39 on Field Goals, 27–27 on Extra Points
  2. Matt Bryant (Atlanta Falcons: 11–5): 34–37 on Field Goals, 56–57 on Extra Points
  3. Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts: 8–8): 27–31 on Field Goals, 44–44 on Extra Points
  4. Matt Prater (Detroit Lions 9–7): 31–36 on Field Goals, 31–33 on Extra Points
  5. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots: 14–2): 27–32 on Field Goals, 46–49 on Extra Points
  6. Dan Bailey (Dallas Cowboys: 13–3): 27–32 on Field Goals, 46–46 on Extra Points
  7. Cairo Santos (Kansas City Chiefs: 12–4): 31–35 on Field Goals, 30–31 on Extra Points
  8. Nick Novak (Houston Texans: 9–7): 35–41 on Field Goals, 22–25 on Extra Points
  9. Steven Hauschka (Seattle Seahawks: 10–5–1): 33–37 on Field Goals, 29–35 on Extra Points
  10. Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers: 10–6): 26–30 on Field Goals, 44–47 on Extra Points

--

--