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Who's The Best in the NFL

Writer's picture: Zak DrapeauZak Drapeau

Best Team


49ers 10-3 record 3-2 record against > .500 4-0 Division Record


3rd-Points per Game 2nd-Yards per Game 5th-Giveaways

1st-Points per Game Allowed 7th-Yards per Game Allowed 4th-Takeaways

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Cowboys 10-3 record 1-2 record against > .500 4-1 Division record


1st-Points per Game 4th-Yards per Game 1st-Giveaways

4th-Points per Game Allowed 3rd-Yards per Game Allowed 8th-Takeaways

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Eagles 10-3 record 4-2 record against > .500 3-1 Division Record


6th-Points per Game 8th-Yards per Game 18th-Giveaways

28th-Points per Game Allowed 22nd-Yards per Game Allowed 24th-Giveaways

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Ravens 10-3 record 5-3 record against > .500 3-2 Division Record


4th-Points per Game 6th-Yards per Game 9th-Giveaways

2nd-Points per Game Allowed 2nd-Yards per Game Allowed 13th-Takeaways


Conclusion: San Francisco 49ers


It's not hard to see that the 49ers have the most talented roster in all of football with a beautiful mix of powering defense and flashy offense. The Baltimore Ravens are a close second on this list thanks to their record against teams above .500, but the 49ers are far and away the best of both worlds, with a mix of great roster and tough schedule. Combine that with a 5-game win streak and Brock Purdy on the cusp of an MVP award and this wasn't a tough conclusion to come to at all.


Best Quarterback


Brock Purdy 252-359 passes 3,553 pass yards 25 TDs 7 INTs

37 rushes 138 rush yards 2 TDs 6 FUMs

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Dak Prescott 312-450 passes 3,505 pass yards 28 TDs 6 INTs

44 rushes 185 rush yards 2 TDs 2 FUMs

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Josh Allen 318-475 passes 3,447 pass yards 25 TDs 14 INTs

72 rushes 347 rush yards 10 TDs 4 FUMs

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Russell Wilson 254-378 passes 2,609 pass yards 23 TDs 8 INTs

69 rushes 315 rush yards 2 TDs 7 FUMs

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Jalen Hurts 286-430 passes 3,192 pass yards 19 TDs 10 INTs

126 rushes 460 rush yards 12 TDs 8 FUMs


Conclusion: Dak Prescott


Probably the most polarizing person on this list, Dak Prescott is making it so even the biggest Cowboys-hater has to be impressed by him this season. With a 23:2 TD-INT ratio over his last 8 games and leading his Cowboys to a 5-game win streak, Prescott and the Cowboys also have the most points per game and 2nd most passing yards per game. He's also setting personal records of lowest INT% and highest QBR of his career and on pace to throw the most single-seaosn TDs of his career.


Best Running Back


Christian McCaffrey 226 carries 1,177 rush yards 12 TDs 13 GP

52 catches 437 rec yards 5 TDs 2 FUMs

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Raheem Mostert 183 carries 924 rush yards 16 TDs 13 GP

22 catches 170 rec yards 2 TDs 2 FUMs

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Derrick Henry 214 carries 875 rush yards 10 TDs 13 GP

23 catches 202 rec yards 0 TDs 0 FUMs

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Kyren Williams 159 carries 801 rush yards 7 TDs 9 GP

25 catches 189 rec yards 3 TDs 1 FUMs

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De'Von Achane 63 carries 581 rush yards 7 TDs 7 GP

18 catches 125 rec yards 2 TDs 1 FUM


Conclusion: Christian McCaffrey


The easiest conclusion I came to was CMC for best RB in the league. With the most yards from scrimmage in the league and second most TDs scored, McCaffrey has been the best RB since Game 1 of the season. Holder of the highest average yards per carry, McCaffrey may be surrounded by the most versatile offense in the league but even that won't stop him from being the focal point. CMC will also be Top-2 for OPOY with the winner of the next award...


Best Wide Receiver


Tyreek Hill 97 rec/132 tgts 1542 rec yards 12 TDs 13 GP

73.5 cth% 118.6 YPG 1 FUM

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Ceedee Lamb 96 rec/131 tgts 1253 rec yards 8 TDs 13 GP

73.3 ctch% 96.4 YPG 2 FUMs

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A.J. Brown 90 rec/131 tgts 1258 rec yards 7 TDs 13 GP

68.7 ctch% 96.8 YPG 1 FUM

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Keenan Allen 108 rec/ 150 tgts 1243 rec yards 7 TDs 13 GP

72 ctch% 95.6 YPG 2 FUMs

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Mike Evans 62 rec/ 109 tgts 1020 rec yards 10 TDs 13 GP

56.9 ctch% 78.5 YPG 0 FUMs


Conclusion: Tyreek Hill


Tyreek had the most unbelievable start to the season and hasn't slowed down that much in the later-half of the season. Tyreek's injury cut Week 13 was only his 3rd game without a TD this season and 4th game under 100 yards. He has almost 300 receiving yards more than the next highest tally the highest catch % of anyone over 70 ctaches on the year. Tyreek is not only the OPOY this year but has SERIOUS traction in the MVP vote.


Best Tight End


Travis Kelce 80 rec/ 102 tgts 896 rec yards 5 TDs 12 GP

77.7 ctch% 74.7 YPG 1 FUM

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George Kittle 53 rec/ 72 tgts 811 rec yds 6 TDs 13 GP

73.6 ctch % 62.4 YPG 0 FUMs

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T.J. Hockenson 85 rec/ 116 tgts 839 rec yards 5 TDs 13 GP

73.3 ctch% 64.5 YPG 1 FUM

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Sam LaPorta 66 rec/ 92 tgts 702 rec yards 6 TDs 13 GP

71.7 ctch% 54 YPG 0 FUMs

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Evan Engram 84 rec/ 103 tgts 701 rec yards 3 TDs 13 GP

81.6 ctch% 53.9 YPG 2 FUMs


Conclusion: Travis Kelce


Kelce comes out on top of the closest offensive race on this list. The most important factor was his team, with Kelce being the bonafide #1 option in Kansas City he has taken the role in stride and produced the most yards per game and highest catch% in his field. With many younger players like LaPorta and Engram making strides to climb this list, Kelce may not be the best TE for long.


Best Offensive Lineman


Trent Williams 11 GP 651 snaps 0 sacks 9 pens

262.7 pyds/gm 139.6 ryds/gm

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Zack Martin 12 GP 767 snaps 4 sacks 2 pens

262.8 pyds/gm 118.6 ryds/gm

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Lane Johnson 12 GP 759 snaps 3 sacks 3 pens

234.3 pyds/gm 124.5 ryds/gm

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Jason Kelce 13 GP 886 snaps 1 sack 4 pens

234.3 pyds/gm 124.5 ryds/gm

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Penei Sewell 13 GP 907 snaps 1 sack 7 pens

252.8 pyds/gm 137.5 ryds/gm


Conclusion: Trent Williams


Trent Williams has been in the Top-3 lineman shortlist ever since getting to San Francisco 4 years ago and has cemented himself as number 1 for a second season in a row. Giving up 0 sacks in 11 games as left tackle is something only a few men have ever done and combining that with his team success at 3rd in passing yards and rushing yards on an O-Line that is mediocre without him is staggering. Truth be told, he does have a fair amount of penalties but not enough to drop him on this list at all.


Best Defensive Lineman


Danielle Hunter 62 tackles 18 TFLs 13.5 sacks 18 QB hits 51 press

4 FFs 0 FRs 2 PDs 13 GPs

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T.J. Watt 52 tackles 14 TFLs 14 sacks 27 QB hits 37 press

3 FFs 3 FRs 7 PDs 13 GP 1 TD

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Myles Garrett 33 tackles 13 TFLs 13 sacks 26 QB hits 51 press

4 FFs 1 FR 3 PDs 13 GPs

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Khalil Mack 55 tackles 14 TFLs 15 sacks 16 QB hits 41 press

5 FFs 0 FRs 6 PDs 13 GPs

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Maxx Crosby 76 tackles 18 TFLs 13.5 sacks 22 QB hits 50 press

1 FF 1 FR 2 PDs 13 GPs

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Micah Parsons 44 tackles 14 TFLs 12.5 sacks 27 QB hits 55 press

1 FF 1 FR 2 PDs 13 GPs

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Josh Allen 50 tackles 13 TFLs 13.5 sacks 24 QB hits 46 press

2 FFs 0 FRs 1 PD 12 GPs


Conclusion: T.J. Watt


This list has the most candidates and thus was the closest list to conclude. Watt, Garrett, Mack, Crosby and Parsons could all take this honor but Watt was given the slight edge due to his ability to be more than just a pass rusher. Truth be told if this was a "best pass rusher" list, Maxx Crosby would come out on top right now, but it's not.


Best Linebacker


Fred Warner 107 tackles 5 TFLs 2 sacks 4 INTs

3 FFs 0 FRs 9 PDs 13 GPs

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Roquon Smith 136 tackles 5 TFLs 1.5 sacks 0 INTs

1 FF 0 FRs 6 PDs 13 GPs

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Demario Davis 91 tackles 7 TFLs 5.5 sacks 0 INTs

1 FF 0 FRs 4 PDs 13 GPs

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Lavonte David 96 tackles 14 TFLs 3 sacks 0 INTs

1 FF 0 FRs 4 PDs 11 GPs

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Zaire Franklin 144 tackles 3 TFLs 1.5 sacks 0 INTs

2 FFs 0 FRs 3 PDs 12 GPs


Conclusion: Fred Warner

Being the best linebacker in the NFL for one year is almost impossibly difficult, Fred Warner is attempting to do it for a 3rd-consecutive time. Warner is the definition of a do-it-all linebacker, able to rush the passer, stuff the run and probably being the best pass coverage mike in the league. Captaining the lowes-scored against defense in the league also gives him an extra boost to clear Roquon Smith who has made the race closer than people would have thought.


Best Cornerback




Jalen Ramsey 12 tackles 3 INTs 4 PDs 5 GP 0 TD

10 catches 2 ctch/gm 22 tgts .455 ctch/tgt 4.4 tgt/gm

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Sauce Gardner 47 tackles 0 INTs 9 PDs 11 GP 0 TD

31 catches 2.8 ctch/gm 47 tgts .660 ctch/tgt 4.2 tgt/gm

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Jaire Alexander 22 tackles 0 INTs 4 PDs 5 GP 0 TD

19 catches 3.8 ctch/gm 26 tgts .731 ctch/tgt 5.2 tgt/gm

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Darius Slay 57 tackles 2 INTs 14 PDs 11 GP 1 TD

48 catches 4.4 ctch/gm 73 tgts .658 ctch/tgt 6.6 tgt/gm

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Patrick Surtain II 50 tackles 1 INT 10 PDs 12 GP 0 TD

39 catches 3.3 ctch/gm 62 tgts .629 ctch/tgt 5.2 tgt/gm

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Da'Ron Bland 59 tackles 8 INTs 14 PDs 13 GP 5 TDs

40 catches 3.1 ctch/gm 74 tgts .541 ctch/tgt 5.7 tgt/gm



Conclusion: Da'Ron Bland / Jalen Ramsey


Co-winners of the best cornerback in the league seems like a cop-out but rest assured, If Jalen Ramsey had played close to a full season he would be the sole heir to the throne. What Da'Ron Bland is doing this year is alsready historical with the most pick-sixes in the league, however his targets over the season makes him very comprable to Trevon Diggs in the sense QBs throw picks to him because more often than not he leaves receivers open. Ramsey on the other hand is as lockdown as it gets, only alowing 2 catches per game with a .6 INT/gm ratio in his 5 games played. Ramsey is establishing his own "island" and has only allowed 1-100 yard game since he came back to Deandre Hopkins last week.


Best Safety


Jevon Holland 70 tackles 1 INT 4 PDs 10 GP

19 catches 1.9 ctch/am 29 tgts .655 ctch/tgt 2.9 tgt/gm

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Derwin James 68 tackles 1 INT 4 PDs 12 GP

32 catches 2.7 ctch/gm 43 tgts .744 ctch/tgt 3.6 tgt/gm

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Minkah Fitzpatrick 64 tackles 0 INTs 2 PDs 9 GP

16 catches 1.8 ctch/gm 25 tgts .640 ctch/tgt 2.8 tgt/gm

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Antoine Winfield Jr. 97 tackles 2 INTs 11 PDs 13 GP

15 catches 1.2 ctch/gm 26 tgts .577 ctch/tgt 2 tgt/gm

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Jessie Bates III 101 tackles 5 INTs 9 PDs 13 GP

17 catches 1.3 ctch/gm 28 tgts .607 ctch/tgt 2.2 tgt/gm

Conclusion: Antoine Winfield Jr.


Antoine Winfield Jr. barely edges out Jessie Bates for this title as two of the top graded-DBs in the league. Winfield's mix of coverage and run-stopping has been top tier in a pattern that has seen him get better every season since coming into the league. A new-day Tyrann Mathieu, Winfield has only allowed 1.1 catches per game and has been apart of a top-10 run stopping defense in the league.

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