NFL Top 100 Players of 2018

Season of television series
NFL Top 100 Players of 2018
Tom Brady, the #1 ranked player
Country of originUnited States
Release
Original networkNFL Network
Original releaseApril 30 (2018-04-30) –
June 25, 2018 (2018-06-25)
Season chronology
← Previous
2017
Next →
2019

The NFL Top 100 Players of 2018 was the eighth season in the series. It ended with reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady being ranked #1, making him the only player to be voted #1 three times,[1] already being the only player to be voted first more than once. For the second time in the list's history, the Super Bowl MVP (Nick Foles) failed to rank.

Episode list

Episode
No.
Air date Numbers
revealed
1 April 30 100–91
2 April 30 90–81
3 May 7 80–71
4 May 7 70–61
5 May 14 60–51
6 May 14 50–41
7 May 21 40–31
8 May 21 30–21
9 May 27 20–11
10 June 25 10–6
11 June 25 5–1
June 25 110–101[2]

The list

Rank Player Position 2017 team 2018 team Rank change Reference Year accomplishments
1 Tom Brady Quarterback New England Patriots Steady 0 1
2 Antonio Brown Wide receiver Pittsburgh Steelers Increase 2 2
  • 6th Pro Bowl selection
  • 4th First-team All-Pro selection
  • First player to ever record 100+ receptions, 1200+ receiving yards and 5+ receiving touchdowns in 5 consecutive seasons.
3 Carson Wentz Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles NR 3
4 Julio Jones Wide receiver Atlanta Falcons Decrease 1 4
5 Le'Veon Bell Running back Pittsburgh Steelers Increase 4 5
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • 2nd First-team All-Pro selection
  • Most average scrimmage yards per game since 2013 (129.0)
  • Most scrimmage yards by a Steeler in his first 5 seasons (7,996 yards)
6 Todd Gurley Running back Los Angeles Rams NR 6
7 Aaron Donald Defensive tackle Los Angeles Rams Increase 8 7
  • 4th Pro Bowl selection
  • 3rd First-team All-Pro selection
  • AP DPOY
  • Leads all DT's with 11 sacks and 27 quarterback hits in 2017
  • Only player with 25+ quarterback hits, 10+ sacks and 5 Forced fumbles in 2017
8 Drew Brees Quarterback New Orleans Saints Increase 8 8
9 Von Miller Linebacker Denver Broncos Decrease 7 9
10 Aaron Rodgers Quarterback Green Bay Packers Decrease 4 10
  • Highest ever career Passer rating (103.8) and Touchdown-Interception Ratio (313-79)
11 Russell Wilson Quarterback Seattle Seahawks Increase 13 11
12 Luke Kuechly Linebacker Carolina Panthers Increase 8 12
  • 5th Pro Bowl selection
  • 4th First-team All-Pro selection, first defensive player to do so since 2013
  • Art Rooney Award winner
  • 100+ tackles in all 6 season in NFL
  • Most tackles in NFL since 2012 with 818
13 DeAndre Hopkins Wide receiver Houston Texans NR (Increase 90) 13
14 Calais Campbell Defensive end Jacksonville Jaguars Increase 69 14
15 Rob Gronkowski Tight end New England Patriots Increase 8 15
  • 5th Pro Bowl selection
  • 5th First-team All-Pro selection
  • 76 receiving TD's since 2010, 1st in the NFL
  • 3rd all time in career receiving touchdowns by a tight end
  • NFL leader for receiving yards by a tight end in 2017 (1,084)
16 Khalil Mack Defensive end Oakland Raiders Chicago Bears Decrease 11 16
17 Jalen Ramsey Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars NR 17
18 Ben Roethlisberger Quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers Increase 4 18
  • 6th Pro Bowl selection
  • Most 500+ passing yard games in NFL history (3)
19 Everson Griffen Defensive end Minnesota Vikings Increase 73 19
20 Alvin Kamara Running back New Orleans Saints NR 20
21 Bobby Wagner Linebacker Seattle Seahawks Increase 18 21
  • 4th Pro Bowl selection
  • 3rd First team All-Pro selection
22 A. J. Green Wide receiver Cincinnati Bengals Decrease 5 22
  • 7th Pro Bowl selection
  • 1000 receiving yards in 7 of 8 seasons
23 Patrick Peterson Cornerback Arizona Cardinals Decrease 4 23
  • 7th Pro Bowl selection
  • 5 Career Pro Bowl interceptions
24 Travis Kelce Tight end Kansas City Chiefs Increase 2 24
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • Second team All-Pro selection
  • Led all TE's in catches (83) and yards-after-catches
25 Cam Newton Quarterback Carolina Panthers Increase 19 25
  • Career-high in rushing yards (754 yards)
  • 3rd All-time in rushing yards by a quarterback
26 Cameron Jordan Defensive end New Orleans Saints NR 26
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st First team All-Pro selection
  • 13 sacks in 2017
27 Larry Fitzgerald Wide receiver Arizona Cardinals Increase 18 27
  • 11th Pro Bowl selection
  • 2nd in Pro Bowl appearances amongst active player on the Top 100 list (Tom Brady, 13)
  • Oldest player to record 100-catch and 1000+ receiving yard and 5+ touchdown season, 3rd consecutive season to reach the mark.
28 Chandler Jones Defensive end Arizona Cardinals Increase 57 28
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st First team All-Pro selection
  • NFL Sacks leader (17) and Tackles-for-losses leader (28)
29 Matt Ryan Quarterback Atlanta Falcons Decrease 19 29
  • Fastest player to reach 40,000 passing yards (151 games)
30 LeSean McCoy Running back Buffalo Bills Decrease 3 30
  • 6th Pro Bowl selection, with 5th in a row
  • 30th NFL player to rush for 10,000 yards in their career
31 Matthew Stafford Quarterback Detroit Lions Steady 0 31
  • 31,947 passing yards, 2nd in NFL since 2011 (Drew Brees, 35,179 yards)
32 Jadeveon Clowney Defensive end Houston Texans Increase 17 32
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • Career high in sacks (9.5), quarterback hits, tackles, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries
  • 1 of 2 players with 20+ quarterback hits and 20+ tackles for losses (Chandler Jones)
  • 2nd with 21 tackles for losses (Chandler Jones, 28)
33 Kareem Hunt Running back Kansas City Chiefs NR 33
34 DeMarcus Lawrence Defensive end Dallas Cowboys NR 34
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st 2nd-team All-Pro selection
  • Tied 2nd with 14.5 sacks in 2017 (Chandler Jones).
  • Most sacks in a season by a Cowboy since DeMarcus Ware in 2011
35 A. J. Bouye Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars NR 35
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st 2nd-team All-Pro selection
  • 41.7 Passer rating allowed, best amongst CB's with 50+ targets, with no receiving touchdowns allowed
36 Adam Thielen Wide receiver Minnesota Vikings NR 36
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st 2nd-team All-Pro selection
  • 5th in Receiving yards in 2017
  • 1 of 3 undrafted playerswith a season with 90+ receptions and 1200+ season in Super-Bowl Era (Wes Welker, Rod Smith)
  • 2nd in 3rd down receptions with 33 in 2017 (Keenan Allen, 26)
37 Joey Bosa Defensive end Los Angeles Chargers Increase 63 37
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 1 of 2 players with 70+ tackles and 10+ sacks (Khalil Mack)
38 Jared Goff Quarterback Los Angeles Rams NR 38
39 Tyron Smith Offensive tackle Dallas Cowboys Decrease 21 39
  • 5th Pro Bowl selection
  • 2nd straight year as highest-ranked offensive lineman
  • 1 of 2 tackles to make the last 5 Pro Bowls (Trent Williams)
40 Tyreek Hill Wide receiver Kansas City Chiefs Decrease 4 40
41 Keenan Allen Wide receiver Los Angeles Chargers NR 41
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 2017 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
  • 1st player to ever record 10+ Receptions, 100+ Receiving yards, 1+ Receiving TD in 3 consecutive games
  • 1st in NFL in 3rd down receptions in 2016 (26)
42 Earl Thomas Free safety Seattle Seahawks Decrease 12 42
  • 6th Pro Bowl selection
  • 2nd 2nd-team All-Pro selection
  • Only player with 25+ interceptions and 10+ forced fumbles since entering the NFL in 2010
43 Mark Ingram II Running back New Orleans Saints NR 43
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • 230 Carries, 1124 Rushing yards, 12 Rushing Touchdowns, 58 Receptions, 416 Receiving yards
44 David DeCastro Guard Pittsburgh Steelers Increase 53 44
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • 2nd 1st-team All-Pro selection
  • Allowed career-low 0.5 sacks
45 Davante Adams Wide receiver Green Bay Packers NR (Increase 56) 45
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 10 Receiving touchdowns in 2017
  • Lead NFL in receiving touchdowns since 2016 (22)
  • No. 101 in the 2017 chart[3]
46 Harrison Smith Free safety Minnesota Vikings Increase 28 46
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st-team All-Pro
  • 78 tackles, 7 Tackles-for-losses, 5 interceptions, 12 passes defensed
47 Ryan Shazier Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers NR 47
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • 89 tackles, 3 Tackles-for-losses, 3 interceptions, 11 passes defensed
48 Cameron Heyward Defensive end Pittsburgh Steelers NR 48
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection (Listed as Interior Linebacker)
  • 1st First-Team All-Pro
  • 1 of 5 players with 10+ sacks, 15+ Tackles-for-losses and 3 passes defensed
49 Darius Slay Cornerback Detroit Lions NR 49
50 Deshaun Watson Quarterback Houston Texans NR 50
51 Case Keenum Quarterback Minnesota Vikings Denver Broncos NR 51
  • 1st in Passer rating from weeks 10-17 (107.2)
  • 1 of 6 QB's with 20+ passing TD's and under 10 interceptions
52 Jarvis Landry Wide receiver Miami Dolphins Cleveland Browns Decrease 10 52
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • Receptions leader
  • 400 receptions in 4 seasons (NFL record)
  • Only player with 5+ receptions in all 16 games in 2017
53 Aqib Talib Cornerback Denver Broncos Los Angeles Rams Decrease 16 53
  • 5th Pro Bowl selection
  • 4th All-time with 10 Interception touchdowns (Rod Woodson with 12)
  • 2nd with 34 interceptions since 2008
54 Ezekiel Elliott Running back Dallas Cowboys Decrease 47 54
  • Highest rookie debut in the history of the Top 100 chart in 2017.
  • 1 of 3 players to average 20+ carries/game. (Leonard Fournette, Le'Veon Bell)
  • 1st with 98.3 yards per game in 2017
  • 1st in NFL in rushing yards and rushing TD's since 2016 (2,614, 22)
55 Xavier Rhodes Cornerback Minnesota Vikings Increase 11 55
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st First-team All-Pro
  • 5th consecutive season with 10+ passes defensed
56 Philip Rivers Quarterback Los Angeles Chargers Increase 17 56
  • 7th Pro Bowl selection
  • 1 of 9 QB's in history to have 50,000+ career passing yards[4]
  • Longest active starts streak in NFL (192 started)
  • 9 of the past 10 seasons with 4000+ yards
  • 2nd with 4,515 passing yards (Tom Brady with 4,577 yards)
57 Trent Williams Offensive tackle Washington Redskins Decrease 10 57
  • 6th Pro Bowl selection
  • No sacks allowed in 363 pass-blocking snaps in only 10 games played and started in 2017
58 Leonard Fournette Running back Jacksonville Jaguars NR 58
  • Fastest and 2nd fastest recorded speed by RB on 2 carries (22 mph+ vs. Steelers, 21.76 mph vs. Rams)
  • 1 of 3 players to average 20+ carries/game. (Ezekiel Elliott, Le'Veon Bell)
  • Tied 2nd with 6 games with 100+ yards including playoffs (Todd Gurley with 7)
59 Casey Hayward Cornerback Los Angeles Chargers Increase 5 59
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • 2nd-Team AP All-Pro
  • Tied 2nd with 22 Passes defensed (Darius Slay, 26)
  • Lowest completion percentage allowed in 2017 (42%)
  • Tied 1st in interceptions since 2016 with 11 interceptions (Marcus Peters)
  • 1st in passes defensed with 42 since 2016
60 Derek Carr Quarterback Oakland Raiders Decrease 49 60
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • Franchise record 103 Passing TD's in 4 seasons
61 Ndamukong Suh Defensive tackle Miami Dolphins Los Angeles Rams Decrease 6 61
  • Most quarterback hits amongst DT's since entering the league in 2010 (147)
62 Micah Hyde Safety Buffalo Bills NR 62
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st Second-team All-Pro selection
  • Career high in tackles, interceptions and passes defensed (82, 5, 13)
  • 1 of 5 current players with 3 straight seasons of 3+ int
  • Made playoffs in every season in the NFL (4 with Green Bay Packers, 1 with the Bills)
63 Geno Atkins Defensive tackle Cincinnati Bengals Increase 5 63
  • 6th Pro Bowl selection
  • 1 of 2 DT's with 20+ quarterback hits and 9+ sacks (Aaron Donald)
  • Most sacks amongst DT's since entering the league in 2010 (61.0).
64 Richard Sherman Cornerback Seattle Seahawks San Francisco 49ers Decrease 43 64
  • Most interceptions and passes defensed since entering the league in 2011.
  • Lowest completion percentage allowed since 2011 with >300 targets (47.4%)
65 Stefon Diggs Wide receiver Minnesota Vikings NR 65
  • 115.0 Passer rating when targeted by Case Keenum
  • Reached 200 receptions in 40 games played in career
66 Jurrell Casey Defensive tackle Tennessee Titans Increase 20 66
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • Career-high 19 quarterback hits
  • 5 seasons with 5+ sacks
67 Telvin Smith Linebacker Jacksonville Jaguars NR 67
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st Second-team All-Pro selection
  • Most tackles in the first 4 seasons as a Jaguar (447)
  • 1 of 3 players with 100+ tackles and 3 interceptions
68 Zach Ertz Tight end Philadelphia Eagles NR 68
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • Super Bowl champion (1st time)
  • Tied franchise record with 8 receiving TD's in a season (Brent Celek, 2009) in Super-Bowl era.
  • 3 straight seasons with 70+ receptions and 800+ receiving yards
69 Fletcher Cox Defensive tackle Philadelphia Eagles Decrease 31 69
  • 3rd Pro Bowl selection
  • 3rd Second-team All-Pro selection
  • Super Bowl champion (1st time)
  • 2nd best QB pressure percentage amongst DT's on pass rush snaps
70 Devonta Freeman Running back Atlanta Falcons Decrease 29 70
  • 1 of 2 players with 3,000+ rushing yards and 30+ rushing TD's in the last 3 seasons. (Le'Veon Bell)
71 Zack Martin Guard Dallas Cowboys Decrease 13 71
  • 4th Pro Bowl selection
  • 2nd Second-team All-Pro selection
  • Started all 64 regular season games and 3 post-season games in 4 seasons
  • Allowed least QB pressures by a guard (11)
  • Allowed <2 sacks in each of his 4 seasons
  • Became highest paid guard in NFL in June, 2018.
72 Delanie Walker Tight end Tennessee Titans Increase 3 72
73 Thomas Davis Linebacker Carolina Panthers Increase 16 73
74 Cameron Wake Defensive end Miami Dolphins Decrease 12 74
  • 9 straight seasons with 5+ sacks, on Julius Peppers went 10 straight.
  • Led team in sacks (10.5), quarterback hits (27) and tackles for losses (12)
75 Kam Chancellor Safety Seattle Seahawks Decrease 41 75
  • 556 tackles since becoming a starter in 2011 (6th amongst safeties)
  • First retired player to ever feature on the Top 100 list (announced retirement after the complete list was revealed).
76 Melvin Ingram Defensive end Los Angeles Chargers NR 76
77 Odell Beckham Jr. Wide receiver New York Giants Decrease 69 77
  • 1 of 8 players in NFL history to record 300+ receptions, 4,000+ yards and 30+ TD's in the first 4 seasons
  • 2nd in NFL with 38 receiving TD's since 2014 (Antonio Brown)
  • 3rd in NFL with 94.1 yards per game since 2014 (Brown, Julio Jones)
78 Taylor Lewan Offensive tackle Tennessee Titans Decrease 6 78
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • 32 starts, 5 sacks conceded in 2-season span
79 Marcus Peters Cornerback Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Rams Decrease 47 79
  • Tied 3rd in interceptions (5)
  • Only player with 5+ in each of the last 3 seasons
  • 60.5 Passer rating allowed since 2015, 2nd to A. J. Bouye with 200+ targets
80 Kevin Byard Safety Tennessee Titans NR 80
81 Michael Thomas Wide receiver New Orleans Saints NR 81
82 Marshon Lattimore Cornerback New Orleans Saints NR 82
  • 11th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft
  • 1st Saint to win AP DROY
  • Leads all rookies with 5 interceptions and 18 passes defensed
  • 3rd lowest Passer rating allowed amongst CB's (45.3)
83 Linval Joseph Defensive tackle Minnesota Vikings NR (Increase 21) 83
84 J. J. Watt Defensive end Houston Texans Decrease 49 84
85 Bruce Irvin Defensive end Oakland Raiders NR 85
  • Most Forced Fumbles in a two-season span (10)
86 Chris Harris Jr. Cornerback Denver Broncos Decrease 23 86
  • Tied fewest missed tackles amongst CB's with 40+ tackles (2)
  • 68.0 Passer rating when targeted since 2014
87 Andrew Whitworth Offensive tackle Los Angeles Rams NR 87
  • 4th Pro Bowl selection
  • 1st-Team AP All-Pro
  • Oldest tackle to start 10+ games in 2017 (36)
88 Yannick Ngakoue Defensive end Jacksonville Jaguars NR 88
  • 1st Pro Bowl selection
  • 1 of 2 players with 10+ sacks and 5+ forced fumbles (Aaron Donald)
  • Only player with 20+ sacks and 10+ forced fumbles since 2016
89 Jimmy Graham Tight end Seattle Seahawks Green Bay Packers NR 89
90 Jimmy Garoppolo Quarterback New England Patriots/San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers NR 90
91 David Bakhtiari Offensive tackle Green Bay Packers NR 91
92 Landon Collins Safety New York Giants Decrease 64 92
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • Since 2015, leads all safeties in tackles (332) and 2nd in passes defensed (28)
  • 3-time team leader (99)
93 Mike Daniels Defensive end Green Bay Packers Decrease 9 93
94 Kirk Cousins Quarterback Washington Redskins Minnesota Vikings Decrease 24 94
  • 1st QB in NFL history to change teams after 3 consecutive seasons with 4,000+ passing yards
95 Lane Johnson Offensive tackle Philadelphia Eagles NR 95
96 Malcolm Jenkins Safety Philadelphia Eagles Decrease 6 96
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • Super Bowl champion (2nd time)
  • 1 of 2 safeties with 5+ tackles for losses, and 8+ passes defensed (Harrison Smith)
97 Carlos Hyde Running back San Francisco 49ers Cleveland Browns NR 97
  • One of 3 RB's to lead team in carries and receptions (Todd Gurley, LeSean McCoy)
  • 3-time team leader in rushing yards (2015–17)
98 C. J. Mosley Linebacker Baltimore Ravens NR 98
99 Doug Baldwin Wide receiver Seattle Seahawks Decrease 11 99
  • 2nd Pro Bowl selection
  • Tied fewest in drops with 100+ targets (2 drops of 116 targets)
100 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Safety Green Bay Packers Decrease 23 100
  • 1 of 2 safeties with 70+tackles, 3+ interceptions and <5 missed tackles
  • 1 of 7 safeties with multiple interceptions in 3 straight seasons.

[7]

References

  1. ^ Shook, Nick (26 June 2018). "Tom Brady repeats as No. 1 player in 'Top 100' rankings". NFL.com. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  2. ^ NFL (2018-06-25), Top 10 Players Who Didn't Make the Top 100 Players of 2018 (#110-101) | NFL, retrieved 2018-06-26
  3. ^ a b c NFL (2017-06-27), Top 10 Players Who Didn't Make the Top 100 Players of 2017 (#110-101) | NFL, retrieved 2018-06-12
  4. ^ "NFL Passing Yards Career Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  5. ^ "Jimmy Garoppolo Is The First QB To Win His First 5 Starts Since Ben Roethlisberger".
  6. ^ "Jimmy Garoppolo Stats". Pro Football Reference.
  7. ^ "NFL Top 100 Players of 2018". NFL Network. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
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No. 1 players on NFL Top 100