Tag: NFL Top 100 list

Four more Chargers named to NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2022 list

See where Chargers players Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Derwin James and Austin Ekeler ranked on the NFL’s Top 100 list.

Four more Chargers have joined the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2022 list.

After offensive linemen Rashawn Slater and Corey Linsley were named the 79th and 60th best players in the league, respectively, running back Austin Ekeler (No. 46), safety Derwin James (No. 43), quarterback Justin Herbert (No. 40), and wide receiver Keenan Allen (No. 35) were all revealed on Sunday.

It’s the first appearance on the list for Ekeler, who racked up 1,558 yards from scrimmage as LA’s primary back last season following an injury-shortened 2020 campaign. While the Chargers hold an open competition for a backup to take some of the load off the 27 year old, Ekeler is still poised to be a focal point of the offense in 2022.

James makes his second appearance on the countdown after a two-year absence due to injury. Named the 31st best player on the 2019 edition of the list, the 2018 All-Pro proceeded to play five games in 2019 and none in 2020 as he dealt with foot and knee injuries. With 15 healthy games to his name in 2021, James reminded fans and opponents alike why he’s among the league’s best. That effort was rewarded this offseason with a market-resetting contract extension that will keep James in powder blue until 2026.

After debuting on last year’s list at No. 56, Herbert climbed the rankings this year thanks to a breakout sophomore campaign that saw the young signal-caller earn his first Pro Bowl nod. His performance last season led many to rank him as one of the league’s top quarterbacks alongside Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Tom Brady. Detractors will say Herbert has yet to prove himself in the playoffs, but the Chargers have hardly missed out because of their young QB’s play. With some pundits predicting an MVP-caliber season for Herbert, perhaps this is the year he gets his chance at playoff success.

Allen moves up 20 spots after climbing another 22 spots from his 2020 ranking to No. 55 last season. It’s the wide receiver’s fifth straight season on the list and a new career-high placement, three spots better than his ranking in 2019. The 30-year-old went over 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth time in his career last season on his way to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl. As his chemistry with Herbert builds, health should be his only potential obstacle towards a sixth.

With six players now on the list, the Chargers lead the NFL in entries. Both the Saints and Buccaneers have logged five players so far. Pass rusher Joey Bosa is the lone remaining Charger expected to be revealed.

Numbers 30-21 on the list are to be revealed Sunday at 8 p.m. PST, with the Top 20 revealed next Sunday starting at 5pm.

Where the NFL’s top 100 players list went wrong… so far

The NFL released its own list of its best players, from 100 to 51. Here’s where the NFL, with all due respect, got it wrong.

Every year, the NFL polls its players to get their lists of their top players, and out of that, the league compiles its list of the top 100 players in the NFL overall. As is the case with any subjective ranking in any endeavor, the results will often be controversial, and as we’ve already seen based on the release of the NFL’s 100th- through 51st-best players on Sunday, people are up in arms about quite a few things.

Here at Touchdown Wire, we’re not just throwing stones at the rankings other people put together — Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield did their own list of the NFL’s 101 best players, based on comprehensive tape and stat analysis. We’d like to believe that we got everything right, but hey — as we said, these things are all subjective.

That said, here’s how we had it.

The 101 best players in the NFL today, Nos. 101-51

The 101 best players in the NFL today, Nos. 50-1

Given all that work, we feel qualified to audit the NFL’s list, even though we’re probably not, and when has that ever stopped anybody from spouting off?

This is based on the NFL’s list from 100-51. The NFL Network will have the 50th through the 21st-best players show on Sunday, August 21, and the 20 best players on Sunday, August 28 in a special three-hour show.

Here’s the entire list so far.

We’ll wait to discuss the exclusions until the entire top 100 has been revealed — after all, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves there. But based on the first 50 players ranked, here are some things that really made us shake our heads in wonder.

TE Darren Waller becomes 4th Raiders player so far to land in NFL Top 100

TE Darren Waller joins growing list of Raiders players in this year’s NFL Top 100

Tonight NFL Network began counting down their NFL Top 100. Once they got into the 60s, the Raiders players started showing up fast and furious. First up was Derek Carr at 65, then the edge rush duo of Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby at 62 and 59 respectively, and then right after Crosby came Darren Waller at 58.

For Waller, this is a drop in ranking from 2021 when he came in at 35. Waller saw his production decline last season, but it was bound to considering he set a Raiders franchise record with 107 catches in the 2020 season and was widely considered the best tight end in football not named Travis Kelce.

Four Raiders so far is very good. And you know there’s at least one more Raiders player who will make the list. One DaVante Adams. But it should be a while before we see his name in the countdown.

Keep in mind, these rankings are voted on by their peers, which is why we pay so much attention to them.

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Raiders edge rushers Maxx Crosby, Chandler Jones land at 59 and 62 in NFL Top 100

Raiders edge rushers both make NFL Top 100 list

The NFL Top 100 countdown continued tonight. After learning that Derek Carr made the list at 65 overall, a couple high profile Raiders edge rushers had their names called as well.

First was Chandler Jones at 62 overall. Then a few spots later at 59 came his edge rushing cohort, Maxx Crosby.

The two of them figure to wreak havoc off the edge for the Raiders this season. With Crosby entering his prime, fresh off landing a huge extension and Jones still playing at a high level at the age of 32.

There are few teams in the league who have a tandem of pass rushers this talented. In fact, I put them atop the AFC West, even ahead of the duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Though it would appear the NFL Top 100 disagrees because neither Mack nor Bosa have shown up yet in the countdown.

The NFL Top 100 list continues with Darren Waller at 58.

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Raiders QB Derek Carr lands at No. 65 in NFL Top 100 players for 2022

Derek Carr lands at No. 65 in NFL Top 100

After missing the cut the past three seasons, Derek Carr has returned to the NFL Top 100 players for 2022.

At halftime of the Raiders vs Vikings, NFL media announced that Carr has come in at number 65 among his peers, while Vikings starting QB Kirk Cousins made the cut as well at number 99.

Most rankings have Carr around 12 overall at his position, just ahead of the likes of Cousins.

Until they reveal the full list, we won’t know exactly who they rank ahead of Carr or how many quarterbacks are ranked ahead of him.

Helping lead a late push to get the Raiders back to the playoffs last season certainly helped Carr find his way back among the NFL’s Top 100. While adding a weapon like DaVante Adams certainly helps with his prospects for 2022.

Carr had a career-high 4804 yards passing last season while throwing 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His fumbles were once again a problem, putting the ball on the ground 13 times. He will have to clean those up if he is to live up to this ranking.

Raiders TE Darren Waller lands at number 35 on NFL Top 100 list

Raiders TE Darren Waller lands at number 35 on NFL Top 100 list

Last year Darren Waller just barely cracked the NFL Top 100 list at number 99. They were wrong then, and this year his ranking reflects that. After a season in which Waller set a new Raiders franchise record with 107 catches, he jumps up the list 64 spots to numbers 35.

Some might even said 35 is too low for Waller. The ultimate mismatch is virtually uncoverable and the Raiders offense revolves around him. He had the second most yards among tight ends last season behind only Travis Kelce. And you can bet Kelce is going to be much higher. Probably top ten.

Maybe another season over 100 catches, nearly 1200 yards and nine touchdowns will move Waller up the list even farther. For now, at least he’s in the top 50, which is better than Pro Football Focus and their laughable rankings. Which is especially odd considering they had Waller at number 38 in their Top 101 players following last season. Closer to what seems to be a more reasonable spot for Waller.

Jags RB James Robinson named to NFL Network’s top-100 players list

After going undrafted out of Illinois State, Jags RB James Robinson is finally receiving the respect he deserves from his peers in the NFL.

Back in July, we made a case for Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson to make NFL Network’s Top-100 Players list and it looks like we were right to do so. The undrafted power back from Illinois State was the first person named to the list Sunday afternoon, placing him at the No. 100 overall spot.

Robinson took the league by storm last year after going undrafted and replacing Leonard Fournette as the Jags’ RB1. He ultimately finished the season tied for fifth in rushing with 1,070 yards throughout 240 carries. He also was able to garner seven rushing touchdowns, and as a receiver, he brought in 49 receptions for 344 yards and three touchdowns.

Unfortunately, Robinson missed the Jags’ last two games as a rookie, but he still was able to surpass Dominic Rhodes for the most yards from scrimmage when it comes to the NFL’s history with undrafted running backs. He was also just 34 yards away from breaking Rhode’s record in rushing.

The list is one that’s voted on by players in the league and it appears Robinson garnered a great amount of respect for the season he had and proved he should’ve been drafted around the third to fourth round at the very least. Now, he’ll look to put together an even better year with new Jags coach Urban Meyer and No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence joining the organization this season.

Jags CB D.J. Hayden finds himself on Touchdown Wire’s Top-101 Players list

The Jacksonville Jaguars may not have received any love from NFL Network’s “Top-100 Players” list/show, but that wasn’t the case for our comrades with Touchdown Wire. In their recent top-101 players list by Doug Farrar, the Jags made an appearance …

The Jacksonville Jaguars may not have received any love from NFL Network’s “Top-100 Players” list/show, but that wasn’t the case for our comrades with Touchdown Wire. In their recent top-101 players list by Doug Farrar, the Jags made an appearance with a surprising name fans might not be expecting.

91. D.J. Hayden, Slot CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

In 335 slot coverage snaps last season, Hayden allowed 24 catches on 38 targets for 195 yards, 110 yards after catch, no touchdowns, and an opponent passer rating of 76.1. He has the quickness and route awareness to track the game’s best receivers from the slot, and judging by his two sacks, seven total pressures, 18 stops, and five tackles for loss, he’s more than just a coverage guy.

Although the argument could be made that the list could’ve had more Jags, putting Hayden on the list is one I can understand. In fact, in our discussion with Shant Club, I deemed him a top-3 to top-4 nickelback.

On film, Hayden is very comfortable in the slot, smothering receivers. When a ball is occasionally caught by his man, he’s quick to bring that player down. As mentioned by Farrar, offenses also have to be aware of him behind the line of scrimmage as he is a player who can deceptively get to the quarterback and could easily have 10 career tackles for loss (currently at seven) with the Jags by the end of 2020.

With the highest defensive Pro Football Focus grade on the team, Hayden will be viewed as a leader for the Jags’ locker room, which is amongst the youngest in football. Additionally, he’ll be on a contract year so fans may see him play on an even higher level in 2020.

Feel free to listen to the archived episodes of “Bleav in the Jags,”too, and subscribe via Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

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