Baseball has a stat called WAR (wins over replacement) to quantify how valuable a player is to a team and how valuable he is compared to other players. Essentially, how much better is a team with that player than the average replacement.
Using the same concept in the NFL, Pro Football Focus calculates its own WAR for players.
Looking at the NFC West, who are the most valuable players? You might be surprised — over the last five years, two Arizona Cardinals are in the top five, Former Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer and receiver Larry Fitzgerald all crack the list.
Most valuable NFC West players over the last 5 years per PFF WAR
1. Russell Wilson
2. Carson Palmer
3. Jared Goff
4. Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Larry Fitzgerald pic.twitter.com/oYFbqmQFKO— PFF (@PFF) June 12, 2020
Seattle’s Russell Wilson’s appearance at the top of the list should be no surprise. However, Palmer’s inclusion is interesting, as he has not played since midway through the 2017 season.
Palmer’s 2015 was the best season any Cardinals quarterback ever had. However, in perspective, this says that Palmer, in two and a half seasons, is more valuable than Jared Goff in five for the L.A. Rams.
Also interesting is Fitzgerald’s inclusion, making him the most valuable non-quarterback in the division. This means he is more valuable than the Rams’ Aaron Donald or the Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner, two of the best defensive players in the league over the last five seasons.
Fitzgerald, of course, had over 100 receptions each season from 2015-2017, was the league leader in receptions once and runner-up once.
This fact surely will rile up other divisional fanbases. Cardinals fans are used to be overlooked. This is one time where they can feel like they are getting legitimate love.
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Ep. 268
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Ep. 267
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