r/NFL Top 100 Players of the 2021 Season - #100-91

Welcome to the reveal for players ranked 100-91 for the r/NFL Top 100 Players of the 2021 Season!

Players whose average rank landed them in places 100-91 are on this portion of the list revealed today. Players are associated with the team they finished playing for in 2021

Below you will see some write-ups from the rankers summarizing the players’ 2021 season and why they were among the best in 2021. Stats for each player are included below. Additionally, their ranks from previous years are available for y’all to see

METHODOLOGY

Link to more detailed writeup on our methodology

• Step 1: A Call to Rankers right after the Super Bowl

• Step 2: Rankers from each team nominated players to rank, with a 10 game minimum threshold. Players are associated with the team they played for in 2021

• Step 3: The Grind. We instructed users to tier positions groups into T25, T50, etc based on 2021 regular season play only. This took several weeks as the rankers tiered each position group and discussed them. There were no individual player threads and no arbitrary position caps. Just questions and rankings.

• Step 4: Users submitted their own personal Top 125 lists.

• Step 5: User lists were reviewed by myself, u/mattkud , and u/MikeTysonChicken . The rankers were expected to answer questions about their lists. They were allowed to make any changes to their list, and were not forced to make any changes

• Step 6: The Reveal… where we are now!

And without further ado, here are the players ranked 100-91 in the r/nfl Top 100 Players of the 2021 Season!

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#100 - Ryan Ramczyk - New Orleans Saints - Offensive Tackle

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	100	74	14	63

Key Stat: Ryan Ramczyk is PFF’s 2nd highest graded tackle since 2019

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Written by: u/Ian_Udani

Coming off 3 consecutive AP seasons, Ryan Ramczyk looked poised for another season as one of the best tackles in football. Unfortunately, he was not immune to the injury bug that tore through the Saints OL group this season and he was only able to play in 10 non-consecutive games. He played well when on the field, only giving up 2 sacks and finishing with a respectable 84.1 grade from PFF (if you are into that kind of thing). It was apparent he was playing through the pain though and missing 7 games contributed to his tremendous slide down the rankings of the list this year. Just watch his play here in plays 4-2 He can still absolutely maul people off the line. He is expected to come back completely healthy this season and his presence on the line will be felt even more in the wake of Terron Armstead's departure to Miami in the offseason.

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#99 - Javon Hargrave - Philadelphia Eagles - Interior Defensive Line

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A​

Key Stat: Javon Hargrave finished 2nd in pass rush win rate among IDL’s

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Written by: u/wrhslax1996

Coming in at #99 on the r/NFL Top 100 list for 2021 is Javon Hargrave, Defensive Tackle of the Philadelphia Eagles. Hargrave earned his spot on this list through stellar pass rush, good run defense, and generally living in the heads and backfields of opposing offenses.

In terms of run defense, Hargrave was an absolute menace throughout the year. This right here is a stellar play by Hargrave and fellow DT Fletcher Cox during the week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Hargrave shoots off the line with a head full of steam, engages the LG and penetrates 2 yards into the backfield while flowing with the play. Cox, having done his job, redirects the running back right into Hargrave's lap for a really nice tackle for loss. Hargrave's ability to engage, gain ground, and shed blocks effectively helped prevent the Eagles run defense from being a total nightmare. Here is another example of how insane his get-off is. A 6'2" 305lb man should not be able to move that fast, but he penetrates immediately. He beats the center who simply can not reach him in time and, at the same time, disrupts the pulling guard's timing, thus notching himself another TFL. Finally, watch him beat the league's best guard to notch another run stop. Zack Martin is a mean, aggressive, and smart player but Hargrave knows exactly what he needs to do to prevent Martin from getting hands on. He swims Martin beautifully here, getting into the backfield quickly and getting a really nice stop.

As a pass-rusher, I think 2021 was Hargrave's best season yet. He was constantly in opposing backfields putting QBs on their asses. We'll start by looking at this dominance against Dallas' Tyler Biadasz. Hargrave is lightning quick in his get off and immediately gets hands on the young center. He uses his brute strength to put Biadasz on skates, sheds the block, and forces a fumble which would end up being recovered by Fletcher Cox for a defensive touchdown. Here's another rep against a better center. Creed Humphrey was, without a doubt, an insanely good center as a rookie. That didn't matter on this rep, as Hargrave's insane get-off left Humphrey stumbling. This rep showcases Hargrave's ability to really kick himself into a second gear once he breaks through an initial block. He defeats his block and covers the 7-8 yards between himself and Mahomes in no time. Poor Clyde Edwards-Helaire did what he could, but Javon gives him a little forearm shiver and engulfs Mahomes for a really nice sack. Finally, it would be doing Hargrave a disservice to leave out his performance during week 1's matchup against the Falcons. Hargrave gave rookie OG Jalen Mayfield fits all night, as Mayfield drew a pretty tough matchup in his first pro action. I think this play right here adequately depicts the kind of night Hargrave had. Hargrave gets off quick (noticing a trend here?) and uses his brick-like hands to immediately throw off Mayfield's base. Hargrave keeps his momentum concentrated on Mayfield's outside shoulder so that, when the time comes to shed the block, he's able to do so effectively and really just crush Matt Ryan.

Javon Hargrave finished 2021 with 63 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, 61 pressures, 44 hurries, 9 QB Hits, and a well-deserved pro bowl bid.

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#98 - Roquan Smith - Chicago Bears - Off-Ball Linebacker (LB)

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	65​

Key Stat: Roquan Smith was the only player to have at least 90 solo tackles in both 2020 and 2021

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Written by: u/Ownange

Roquan Smith was the solid foundation for which Sean Desai could build his defense around in 2021. Roquan can, and has done it all. He played all 17 games, was rock solid on a team that was trotting out the likes of Alec Ogeltree or Danny Trevathan as their second Linebacker.

Leading the team in tackles by almost double the next closest Bear, Roquan used his agility to be all over the field, a destructive force against the run on a team hurting for run defenders with the absences of Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. Roquan would actually lead the league in stops, a PFF stat defined as “a solo tackle, including sacks, that constitutes an offensive failure.” Roquan’s 67 would lead all linebackers and be an important part of the Bears’ defense.

When it came to coverage, Roquan was equally impressive. While Roquan’s statline isn’t boasting the outstanding interception totals of standout coverage linebackers like, Darius Leonard, Roquan’s one interception on the year was a pick six against Joe Burrow, which would lead him to throw two more en route to a Bears victory over the AFC champs.

Roquan’s 2021 was a great season, and he will be a foundation of this new Erberflus Bears for years to come.

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#97 - CeeDee Lamb - Dallas Cowboys - Wide Receiver

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A​

Key Stat: CeeDee Lamb had the 9th best Yards per Route Run in 2021

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Written by: u/Hepppster

In a year where Amari Cooper disappeared at times, Gallup had a couple of injuries, and our running game having troubles in the second half, CD Lamb really stepped up as the Cowboys #1 weapon on an offense that ranked #1 in PPG.

If you wanna go stats, he's tied for the 3rd most "missed tackles forced" with JaMarr Chase (behind Deebo, Kupp) and tied for 5th in YAC/Rec with Mike Williams (behind Deebo, Chase, Godwin and Kupp) showcasing he's one of the best after the catch receivers in the league; 8th overall in Yds/Rec as well. And of course you have the typical 1100 Recieving Yard season expected of a top Receiver.

If you wanna go film/context well, here you go in terms of a highlights reel! Kept us in the game against the Buccaneers, beats James Bradberry easy on the Fade route, and was the main reason we end up beating the Patriots in OT (also was the reason we got to OT in the first place). Happy with what he's done for Cowboys in just two short years, and ready for the future for him as the true #1 Receiver on the Cowboys!

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#96 - Kyler Murray - Arizona Cardinals - Quarterback

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A​

Key Stat: Kyler Murray topped the league in PFF’s Deep Big Time Throws (34) and deep throw accuracy (54.9%)

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Written by: u/calboy238

Kyler Murray’s third year brought more of what Cardinals fans (and the rest of the league) have come to expect from the former no. 1 overall pick – breathtaking highs but incredibly cringe-worthy lows. But looking past the meme-worthy low-lights that provide fodder for many on Twitter and Reddit, year 3 brought significant steps up in many statistical categories over 2020, including yards per attempt (7.1 --> 9.7), QB rating (94.3 --> 100.6), and passing yards per game (248.2 --> 270.5). The Cardinals front office invested in weapons for Murray this year, with returning receivers like Christian Kirk, along with new additions such as AJ Green (highlight 1, highlight 2) and Rondale Moore, as well as mid-season acquisition Zach Ertz making an impact on the field. And of course, until hamstring and then knee injuries shortened his season, Deandre Hopkins showed why he is an absolute beast of a wide receiver (highlight 1, highlight 2,highlight 3). Even as injuries accumulated later in the season, Murray made use of unproven young receivers such as Antoine Wesley.

No discussion of Kyler Murray is complete solely focusing on his ability throwing the ball. Despite having a smaller volume of runs in 2021 compared to previous years, Murray regularly showed off his dual-threat prowess. On numerous occasions, he rolled out of the pocket to evade pressure before finding a receiver downfield, often to highlight-inducing results (highlight 1, highlight 2). Additionally, Murray took advantage of designed runs to showcase his agility and pure speed once in open space. At his peak, Murray continued to show just how feared he (rightfully) is as both a runner and a passer this year. If only he could remain at that peak for a full season.

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#95 - Lavonte David - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Off-Ball Linebacker (LB)

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	11	27	99	N/A	35	N/A	76	43​

Key Stat: Of the 46 linebackers with 350 coverage snaps, Lavonte David was 6th in yards allowed per snap

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Written by: u/MysticTyph00n

Entering into his 10th season and fresh off of a Super Bowl victory, the long-time stalwart of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense came and took care of business per usual. He took a small step backwards in production, but still was able to amass quality numbers in only 12 games played. He only finished behind Devin White in total tackles on the team, and added two more FFs to his franchise leading number in that category.

While his numbers this year weren't remarkable by any means (and especially the standards we hold Lavonte David to typically) they, along with his play on the field, was all still cromulent enough to catch the eyes of the rankers this year. Need to cherish the quality years we still have of this man.

#94 - Wyatt Teller - Cleveland Browns - Offensive Guard

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	57​

Key Stat: PFF gave Wyatt Teller the 6th best Gap Blocking grade and 3rd best Zone Blocking grade among guards

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Written by: u/sanswagata

Wyatt Teller is known around the league as one of the best guards in football. He broke out in 2020 when he was named a second team all-pro, but he topped that season in 2021. This past season, he played all 17 games, made his first pro bowl, and was once again named a second team all-pro. Proving that he can not only be one of the best hogs in the league, but that he is also dependable and can survive 18 weeks of playing the most grueling position in football.

Not only is Teller one of the best guards in the NFL, but he is one of the more fun players to watch in the NFL regardless of position. He consistently bullies other players, shows high level athleticism, and even has a habit of performing these cute little somersaults. This combination of athleticism and the mentality to physically dominate players shows up every week. He will not only abuse defenders in the run game, but also put them on their face in pass protection too. He has to lead the league in pancakes from pass protection. Teller showcases exactly why pass protection is not passive as he smashes into the defensive lineman's ribs with enough force to cripple a regular human being. Of course, that guy is fine (NFL athletes lol), but he's going to think twice before pinning his ears back and trying to rush the passer now.

Teller makes sure that the defense can feel his presence in every game. As I'm sure you could guess, he is also a dominant run blocker. Not only will he bulldoze defenders and move them where they don't want to go, but he has a lot of the finer points of run blocking down as well. He can flip his hips and seal defenders on zone plays and almost always has his body in good positioning for the running back to read him. To go with this mentality, strength, and technical ability, he is also an extremely athletic guard. When he gets into the open field, he rarely misses. Even if he stumbles out of his stance initially. If there is one player who exemplifies everything an offensive lineman stands for, it's Wyatt Teller.

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#93 - Diontae Johnson - Pittsburgh Steelers - Wide Receiver

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A​

Key Stat: Dionte Johnson had 533 yards after the catch, 6th best in the league

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Written by: u/Astro63

Last we heard from Diontae Johnson, a league-leading 13 drops in 2020 contributed to a disastrous end-of-season collapse that labeled Diontae as public enemy #1 in Pittsburgh. Questions surrounded him all off-season about whether he was reliable enough or even good enough to be the Steelers' top receiver. In response, Diontae quietly got to work and focused on fixing his drop issues and refining his strengths to be the playmaker he needed to be. What followed was his best season as a pro, solidifying his status as WR1, and even stating his case among the league’s best young receivers. In an offense where basically everything was working against him to be successful, Diontae posted career highs in receptions (107), Yardage (1161), First Downs (59), and Touchdowns (8). Most importantly to many, Diontae cut his drop rate down from 13 drops on 144 targets (9% rate) in 2020 to only 5 drops on 169 targets (3% rate) in 2021; a clear testament to how hard he worked to clean up that issue.

To further contextualize these stats, and what makes them so impressive; one needs to look at the offense he was operating in. Big Ben no longer had the arm strength he used to and opposing defenses knew that. With no reliable threat of the deep ball, teams were free to stack the box and play tight press coverage while attacking a young offensive line that struggled to hold up in pass protection. This would be a challenge for any WR1 to try and make plays against, and doubly so when no one else could consistently take the pressure off them, but Diontae stepped up to the challenge. All season long, it felt like every crucial third-down was caught by Diontae even when everyone in the stadium knew where the ball was going. His ability to make sharp and fluid cuts right out of his break to open small windows of separation was vital to getting the offense going and beating the ever-present man coverage looks. For all the flak he caught for being unreliable heading into the season, the tables turned to the point where Diontae was the only receiver Pittsburgh could rely on to make big plays. Little to no receivers were as productive in as tough a situation as Diontae was, and that speaks volumes to how talented of a player he really is.

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#92 - Harold Landry - Tennessee Titans - EDGE Rusher (EDGE)

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A​

Key Stat: Harold Landry was the first Titan with double-digits sacks since Brian Orakpo in 2016

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Written by: u/naxter48

Being praised by Bill Belichick is a good sign of a player's skill. Signing a deal to make 20 million in one of the years is another good sign. Having the third most sacks for your team in his first four seasons than any other player in Titans history except for the Freak? Yeah, all things considered Harold Landry is a damn good linebacker.

With just one more game on the schedule than previous year, he more than doubled his sack total to 12. It was enough combined with 75 tackles to help lead the Titans defense and team to their first back-to-back AFC South title in a long time.

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#91 - Chidobe Awuzie - Cincinnati Bengals - Cornerback

Previous Ranks

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A​

Key Stat: Awuzie claims to be undefeated in chess against his Bengals teammates, including against noted chess enthusiast Joe Burrow

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Written by: u/confederalis

In 2021, Chidobie Awuzie emerged from the doldrums of Dallas' defense to become a clear-cut CB1 on a team that desperately needed one, earning the #91 rank on the /r/NFL Top100 List. Awuzie was a part of Cincinnati’s aggressive free agency class and the Bengals’ trust in him paid off, as he played at a consistently elite level all the way to a Super Bowl appearance. Chido gave hope to a team that would’ve had to deal with CB1 Eli Apple if he wasn’t there, which itself is enough for Top 100.

But his stats are also enough. Awuzie’s season was one of being constantly peppered with targets, resulting in the 2nd highest target rate in the league. Even with this high target rate, Awuzie was credited with only allowing 3 TDs and accruing 2 penalties, consistently playing clean in his role. Additionally, Chido had the 11th highest average depth of target in the league, yet only allowed 9.8 yd/rec (4th best) and a long of 41 yards (10th best), illustrating terrific prevention of big plays. Moreso, Awuzie’s 3.45 YAC/rec (5th best) and above-average missed tackle rate emphasize his toughness and ability to keep receivers in front of him. Awuzie’s coverage was the shining point of his game this year, as he prevented the big play and played incredibly clean, even adding 10 PBUs (4th best on a per snap basis) and 3 picks to a tremendous resume.

Stats don’t tell the whole story, though, and Awuzie’s film helps showcase his remarkable toughness and consistency, even in the face of the game’s best receivers. Here, Awuzie shows off his elite play recognition to break up a pass to Diontae and here, Awuzie perfectly blankets Tyreek on the sideline, forcing an incompletion. He also consistently used his speed and recovery ability to break up passes downfield, like here against Jefferson and here downfield against the 49ers. The most impressive of these downfield plays on the ball was when Chido picked off Herbert by literally ripping the ball from Josh Palmer’s hands. Awuzie is much stronger than his frame shows, and you can see this when he excelles at slipping through and shaking off blocks to make strong tackles at the line of scrimmage. Ironically, Awuzie’s best game was probably also the game where he gave up the most yards: the Bengals' Week 5 matchup with Green Bay. Awuzie gave up 90 yards to Davante Adams while fighting a nagging injury, yet still showed the incredible toughness and skill in guarding the game’s best that we now come to expect from him. In probably his top highlight of the season, Awuzie blankets Adams down the sideline and makes a great play on the ball to pick off Rodgers. Even when Adams made big gains, Chido was still covering him perfectly, proving that those 90 yards given up don’t tell the whole story. The Packers game truly was Awuzie’s coming-out party and he continued to consistently play at this elite level for the remainder of the season, including when he picked off Matt Stafford on the game’s biggest stage.

Chidobe Awuzie broke out in 2021, becoming an elite CB1 that I personally ranked much higher than just #91. The toughness, intelligence, and skill are there for Chido to continue on as a top 10 corner in the league and I am eager to see if he continues to perform at this caliber in 2022.

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