The NFL playoffs are here, and we wanted to look at the most important players heading into the postseason. I’m leaving off quarterbacks because quarterbacks would all be at the top of the list — their position makes them inherently the most important player on the field. (If you want to read about quarterbacks, here are my power rankings of the 12 playoff QBs.) Here is the list of everyone else, though:
25. Larry Fitzgerald — WR, Arizona Cardinals
(USA TODAY Sports Images)
Fitzgerald is still, at age 32, just as effective as he’s ever been. He had over 1,200 receiving yards on the year, and remains Carson Palmer’s most trusted security blanket. The Cardinals can beat you in a lot of ways, but Fitzgerald is still wildly important to this team.
24. Jordan Reed — TE, Washington Redskins
I had DeSean Jackson here but my colleagues threw a fit and pushed some stats at me, and I have seen the error of my ways. Reed has been phenomenal for Washington this year and has become Kirk Cousins’ most trusted player. He’s also playing better than just about any tight end out there over the last five games, during which he caught 29 catches on 31 targets for 5 touchdowns.
23. Aqib Talib — CB, Denver Broncos
Von Miller is the leader of the Broncos’ fearsome defense, but Aqib Talib sets the tone in the secondary. He’s physical, afraid of no one, and his excellent one-on-one coverage frees up the rest of the Broncos’ defense to concern themselves elsewhere. One of the most dominant performances I’ve seen this season is when Talib matched up against Amari Cooper in the Broncos’ game against the Raiders … Cooper, a sensation this year, was held to zero catches. Talib didn’t give him an inch.
22. Julian Edelman — WR, New England Patriots
Edelman is the little machine that makes the Patriots’ offense go. His speedy crossing routes are Tom Brady’s favorite option in short yardage situations, and he’s a key to the Patriots’ ability to convert on third down.
21. A.J. Green — WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Green has had an up-and-down season for the Bengals, but if Cincinnati is going to beat the Steelers, he’s going to need to have a huge game. Pittsburgh has been susceptible to the pass all year (they have one of the worst pass defenses in the league), and for the Bengals to win they need Green to keep defenses honest and stretch the field.
20. Marshawn Lynch — RB, Seattle Seahawks
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The most enigmatic running back in the NFL didn’t get a chance to run the ball into the end zone at the conclusion of last year’s Super Bowl, and the Seahawks’ shocking loss to the Patriots is something I don’t imagine he has forgotten. Lynch may not give long interviews to the press, but he is important to the Seahawks, who need him at his best to make another run at the Super Bowl.
19. DeAndre Hopkins — WR, Houston Texans
I’ve lost count at how many players have played quarterback for the Texans this year, but no matter who is under center, Hopkins finds a way to connect. He’s been Houston’s best offensive player this year, and he’s a complete receiver. No matter what the team needs, Hopkins can provide it.
18. Marcus Peters — CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Tasked with stopping Hopkins this weekend is Chiefs rookie cornerback Marcus Peters, who is my pick for defensive rookie of the year. Peters has been tasked with taking on opponents’ top receivers all year, and he seems to relish every challenge. He’s been fantastic.
17. Tyler Eifert — TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Even more important than A.J. Green to the success of the Bengals is tight end Tyler Eifert, a huge talent who will be circled in the Steelers’ gameplan. Eifert has caught 13 touchdowns this year, and is the team’s preferred end zone target. That being said, Pittsburgh has gone a great job on Eifert both times the teams met this season, and if the Bengals are going to win this game, Eifert needs to get the ball in his hands in the end zone.
16. David Johnson — RB, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals rookie David Johnson improved every single game this season, right until his ascension to “star” during the Cardinal’s Week 15 romp over the Philadelphia Eagles. This is the game Johnson did this:
He’s a real talent, and will be looking to add more highlight plays in the playoffs.
15. Harrison Smith — S, Minnesota Vikings
USA TODAY Sports called Harrison Smith “the best defender you don’t know,” but the secret won’t be kept for much longer. The rangy and physical safety is the anchor of the Vikings’ defense, and if they’re going to stop Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, he’ll be a big reason why.
14. Ryan Kalil — C, Carolina Panthers
A sneaky underrated key to the Panthers’ success this season has been their ability to keep Cam Newton on his feet, and no person is more important in doing that than Ryan Kalil, the center for the Panthers. The tricky stuff he and Newton do to goad defensive players into offside positions is worth a first down or two a game.
13. Trent Williams — OT, Washington Redskins
A lot has been made about the ascendancy of Kirk Cousins this year, but the unsung hero in Cousins’ development is Trent Williams, the left tackle who’s been fantastic at keeping Cousins upright. Williams was rewarded for his excellent play with a trip to the 2016 Pro Bowl.
12. Eric Berry — S, Kansas City Chiefs
(AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Eric Berry’s importance to the Chiefs is hard to measure just with stats — the safety’s emotional return from a fight with cancer gave the Chiefs an emotional lift and has them entering the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league. Berry’s brilliance lies both in his instincts and his decisiveness — he makes the right call, and once he makes it, he commits. He’s a tough defender to beat.
11. Michael Bennett — DE, Seattle Seahawks
During last year’s Super Bowl, the Patriots’ offensive line knew they had to stop one player — Michael Bennett. They couldn’t do it. Bennett is a rushing monster, a man who can line up anywhere on the defensive line and put pressure on the quarterback. The Seahawks’ secondary is spectacular, but they also benefit from the pressure that Bennett consistently puts on QBs.
10. Luke Kuechly — LB, Carolina Panthers
(Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports)
Kuechly is the defensive leader of the Panthers, and his numbers are just silly. He had 118 tackles this season, 13 more than any of his teammates, and he missed three games with a concussion. Kuechly is effective against the run and the pass, and had a tackle on 17% of the snaps he defended … good enough for third in the league. The scary thing is, he isn’t even the best defender on his team. (More on that to come.)
9. Travis Kelce — TE, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have been much improved on offense in the second half of the season, and a big reason for that is the growing chemistry between Alex Smith and tight end Travis Kelce. While not as much an end zone threat this year as the Chiefs would like (just 5 TDs on the season), Kelce had 875 receiving yards and over 12 yards per catch on the year. The Chiefs like to wear you down with the run, but when they spring that play action, Kelce is the one they’re looking to hit in the seam.
8. Josh Sitton — OL, Green Bay Packers
The Packers enter the playoffs a mess, and if they are going to pick themselves up and make a run at this thing, it’s going to be because Josh Sitton and the rest of the Packers offensive line figures it out. Sitton has been the one bright spot in a bad year for the guys protecting Aaron Rodgers, and at the end of the year the team was playing him out of position at tackle, just to try and keep Rodgers upright. Sitton will move back to his preferred guard position against Washington, and it will be on him to pull this line together.
7. Josh Norman — CB, Carolina Panthers
Josh Norman has been insane this year. According to Pro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks have a QB rating of 54.0 when attacking Norman, the lowest in the league. He had multiple defensive touchdowns this year, and had 19 interceptions/passes defended, more than double the next player on his team. With Kuechly making tackles and Norman shutting down the other team’s best receiver, the rest of the Panthers defense can focus on their assignments, and on getting to the quarterback. That makes them unbelievably good.
6. Von Miller — LB, Denver Broncos
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Eleven sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries; Miller is a wrecking crew who, combined with DeMarcus Ware, makes it just about impossible for opposing quarterbacks to ever get comfortable. A lot is being made of the debate between Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler at quarterback, but if the Broncos are going deep this postseason, it’s because of their defense.
5. Patrick Peterson — CB, Arizona Cardinals
It’s a testimony to how dominant Peterson has been this year that the team’s website recently ran an article about how hard it is to be the other cornerback when he’s on the field — because you know the ball isn’t going to be thrown at Peterson, it’s coming to you every time. Peterson’s man was only targeted 65 times this season, 25 times fewer than any other year in his career. His interception numbers are low, but it’s hard to intercept a ball when QBs refuse to even throw it in your direction.
4. Adrian Peterson — RB, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings’ offense is old school and simple — give our franchise running back the rock and see what he does with it. Peterson has rushed for 1,485 yards this season, averaging 92.8 yards a game, with seven 100-yard rushing games and one 200-yard rushing game. He’s come back from his off-field controversies and become the most important player to the Vikings’ offense at age 30. If the Vikings are going to beat the Seahawks the formula is simple — score early, turn the ball over, and let Peterson suck the time out of the game. To borrow the words of DJ Khaled, he’s the key.
3. J.J. Watt — DE, Houston Texans
(USA TODAY Sports Images)
Watt is still the league’s best defensive player, and might be one of the Texans’ better offensive players as well, at least in the red zone. He dragged this team to the playoffs, despite them starting four quarterbacks and suffering a multitude of injuries elsewhere, the defense the Texans created — built around Watt — led them to a victory in the AFC South. He stops the run, he rushes the quarterback, he tips passes … he does it all. His season isn’t quite as good as his was last year, but it doesn’t matter, he’s still the most important defensive player in the playoffs.
2. Antonio Brown — WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Antonio Brown is the best wide receiver in football. If that statement is a surprise to you, or seems controversial, it shouldn’t. Brown had over 1,800 yards receiving this season, even with a massive target on him and every game facing the other team’s best cornerback. He can run every route, he can create once he’s got the ball in his hands, and he can jump out of the building. Odell Beckham Jr. may be the most exciting receiver in the NFL, but in terms of pure dominance, there’s no one better than Brown. If he and Roethlisberger get cooking and the Steelers figure out their pass defense, Pittsburgh could be a dark horse Super Bowl contender.
1. Rob Gronkowski — TE, New England Patriots
Despite Antonio Brown’s brilliance, there is no more important player in the playoffs (who isn’t a QB) than Rob Gronkowski. No matter how many injuries the Patriots sustained this season, as long as they had Tom Brady and Gronk, they were in games. Edelman, Danny Amendola, Dion Lewis, LeGarrette Blount all went down, and still Brady and Gronk found ways to win games. He’s the most unguardable player in the league, a good blocker, and a nightmare for opposing defenses. Watch the Patriots move him around to try and get a linebacker on him before the snap — if it happens, Brady throws him the ball without thinking twice about it. It’s crazy, but it’s true — This man is the most important non-quarterback in the playoffs:
(Getty Images)
Further Reading:
Power ranking the 12 NFL playoff quarterbacks
1d ago
Which team is the favorite to win Super Bowl 50? (It ain't the Panthers)
4d ago
Only these 8 teams can win Super Bowl 50
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