Martes, Hunyo 28, 2022

r/NFL Top 100 Players of the 2021 Season - #90-81

Welcome to the reveal for players ranked 90-81 for the r/NFL Top 100 Players of the 2021 Season!

Players whose average rank landed them in places 90-81 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 90-81 in the r/nfl Top 100 Players of the 2021 Season!

#90 - Antoine Winfield Jr. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Safety

Previous Ranks

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

Key Stat

First Bucs safety to make the Pro Bowl since John Lynch in 2002

Written by: u/ThatOneGuyFrom93

Following his great rookie season Antoine Winfield Jr. did not disappoint. He received PFF's 2nd highest Defensive Rating for safeties at 85.6. Which was 2nd only to Kevin Byard. Antoine was targeted in coverage 32 times and only gave up a 63.9 Quarterback Rating with 0 TDs allowed.

Looking at a handful of games this year, what impressed me the most was how Antoine was able to put his stamp on the Bucs pass defense. He was excellent at reading the quarterback's vision and was able to react quickly to prevent explosive plays. More impressively he knew when to be aggressive and when to be patient.

Check out this quick play here vs the Saints. It shows the Bucs in a cover 3 shell but because he excelled at reading the quarterback he was able break on the ball, preventing a potential 20+ yard play as the cb carries the post route down field. 1

Also don't let his shorter stature fool you. He has the range and ability to compete with larger wide receivers down the field. Several times this year he was able to be in position and even breakup passes when he was in those one on one situations. Check out this play her vs the Colts, as Wentz attempts to take a deep shot down field to the 6'4 Michael Pittman. 2

#89 - Von Miller - Los Angeles Rams - EDGE Rusher (EDGE)

Previous Ranks

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
N/A 75 15 8 5 5 15 61 7​

Key Stat

Only player in NFL history with 4+ sacks with two different teams in the same season

Written by: u/BlindmanBaldwin

Following an ankle injury that cost Von Miller his 2020 season, it became a fair question whether one of the greatest pass rushers of the 2010s had played his final meaningful snaps. Miller wasn’t getting any younger, and injuries get harder to bounce back from after one gets older. But in 2021, #58 showed the world he had plenty left to give.

Defensive player of the month in September (his first since 2016) signaled that Miller could bounce back to his all-pro form. A mid-season trade from Denver, his home since 2011, to Los Angeles brought him what he had been lacking since the retirement of Demarcus Ware — a reliable partner. Playing behind the great Aaron Donald is a boon to any pass rusher, especially one as talented as Miller. While his first four games with the Rams were unproductive, Miller’s last four regular season games featured 5 sacks and 8 TFLs. Much as Darian Stewart was for his 2015 Broncos, Miller was the missing piece the 2021 Rams needed to elevate their defense to that next level.

As Ware was once his wily veteran, Von Miller entered the new stage of his career as the wily veteran for a new generation of young, hungry defenses. While he isn’t the Defensive Player of the Year caliber player he was at the start of his career, Miller proved in 2021 that one little injury wouldn’t seal his fate as a winning player.

#88 - Chris Godwin - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Wide Receiver

Previous Ranks

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
N/A 19 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A​

Key Stat:

Ranked 2nd in Catch % (79%) with at least 75 targets and 2nd in Zone coverage catch % (89.3%)

Written by: u/ownange

Chris Godwin was the most talented WR on the Bucs, when he was on the field. In a stellar group of pass catchers, Godwin stood out. The only thing limiting his placement from the upper echelon of pass catchers this year was injury. Godwin tore his ACL and MCL in week 14 and will not return until partway through the next season.

However, to that point Godwin was elite. His 78.8 Yards/Game were among the best in the NFL, 7th among all skill players. His performance in Week 13 shows just how versatile Godwin is. Short game, screens, deep 50/50 balls, Godwin does it all, even when marked by AJ Terell. He finished the game with 143 yards on 15 receptions, a Bucs record. This wasn’t the only game Godwin took over, his 8/140/1 line against the Saints was a phenomenal effort in a 27-36 loss. Godwin’s absence was night and day, the second time around against the Saints, the Bucs passed for 184 yards. Last time Godwin himself had 140 a month earlier.

Godwin’s total yards saw him finishing 15th, his 98 receptions saw him finishing 11th, and his 5 touchdowns weren’t surprising, with redzone threats like Gronk and Mike Evans lined up alongside him, he was not the first look in the endzone, not for a lack of ability, but because he had two of the best in the business on his team. Godwin is a true WR1 when healthy, and will be a nightmare for opposing defenses alongside Mike Evans, Tom Brady, and the rest of this Bucs offense!

#T86 - J.C. Tretter - Cleveland Browns - Center

Previous Ranks

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

Key Stat:

4th in pressures allowed, with only 10 on the season. 4 straight seasons of top 3 in pass blocking ranks by PFF

Written by: u/KingDing-a-Ling13

Out of every position in football, center might be the most overlooked and underappreciated. The beating heart of the offensive line, the center is responsible for not only blocking some of the biggest humans on Earth, but also organizing the entire offensive line and calling blocking assignments. The center is the limiting reagent in offensive line chemistry. J.C. Tretter has been a top center for years, utilizing his great blocking ability both in the trenches and in space, but just as importantly, utilizing his cerebral ability to lead one of the best offensive lines in football in recent years.

In pass protection, Tretter is super solid, provides help whenever and wherever needed, and ensures that no pass rusher is unaccounted for. He has the football acumen and experience to know where both he and his guards need to be, and always knows which way to slide after the snap. However, if the defense catches him in a 1-on-1, he is more than capable of holding his own, using great hands and leverage, keeping his base square, keeping his shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage, and never overextending. His consistent play kept the pocket clean for Baker throughout the season.

The run game (and screen game) is most often where great centers shine. Take this clip, where Tretter sells the pass protection until the screen springs into action. Demonstrating great speed, balance, and agility, he breaks to the outside and beats the linebacker to the spot, sealing Alec Ogletree towards the center of the field and away from the play. It’s truly a marvel to behold a big man haul himself down field, keeping pace with a running back, and throwing his body in front of a defender. Watch this next clip, where the Browns run a draw towards the short side of the field with double pulling action from the guard and center. The right guard cuts the slot corner, and Tretter bursts through the hole like he’s a running back and makes his way to the next level to completely stonewall the safety, giving Nick Chubb an open field for a big gain. Once again, Tretter’s burst and agility is key in the Browns very effective run scheme. For a man of his size, he moves as well in space as anyone in football, and it can result in some very fun plays.

J.C. Tretter is one of the most all-around consistent and effective centers in football, with great hands, great leverage, great agility and speed, great balance, and most importantly, a great mind for the game. A leader both on and off the field, as he continues to serve as president of NFLPA, the current free agent will surely be a massive veteran presence for whoever signs him, and the Browns will surely miss his presence if he leaves.

#T86 - Ryan Jensen - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Center

Previous Ranks

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
N/A 93 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A​

Key Stat

Bucs ranked 4th in average rushing yards up the middle

Written by: u/sanswagata

Ryan Jensen has been one of the top centers in the NFL for a few years now. He's known around the league as one of the nastier hogs and tries to exert his will onto his opponents every single game. When Tom Brady unsurprisingly unretired, one of his first calls was to free agent Ryan Jensen to ensure he got his center back. That's because Jensen is one of the keys to the Buccaneers' offense. His ability to back block, pull, and pass protect one on one are second to none.

Starting with a look at his back blocks, which are extremely important to a gap running scheme. A back block is when an offensive lineman blocks "back" to where a pulling guard is leaving. Here is an example of Jensen working a nice back block against a loose 3T which he of course finishes by tossing the defender onto the ground. This is another great back block from Jensen. You can see why he performs these blocks so well. He's quick out of his stance, has great power on contact, puts his hat in the right position, and finishes with authority. These blocks are critical in a power run game to not allow those players to get underneath of the block and make a TFL. However, I cannot only talk about his ability to back block in the run game, because he's also very good when asked to pull. He is so quick out of his stance that the Buccaneers ask him to pull and kick as part of CT counter. Not only can he pull and kick, but he can also wrap to the second level on his pulls to lead through the hole for the running back. He's a unique center that is one of the key components to his team's run game.

Lastly, I want to go over his pass protection which is also unique to me. Most centers are just there to provide help to the guards unless there is a credible threat right over top of them. That's not Jensen though. They allow Jensen to snap and set even against some of the toughest competition in the league like fellow top 100 player, Javon Hargrave. Jensen's ability to handle players one on one as a center is unique and allows for the Buccaneers to really sell their play action attack by pulling guards. While Jensen has a unique skillset for a center, he also can do the traditional stuff as well. He's one of the fiercest centers in the league when it comes to providing help in pass protection. He finds immense joy in slamming into the defender's rib cage and knocking them to the ground. He makes the defense think twice about pinning their ears back and trying to rush the quarterback. They have to keep one eye on Jensen so that they don't end up on the grass gasping for air.

Overall, Ryan Jensen is the guy I would like to face the least in the entire NFL. If I don't get thrown onto my back in run defense, I'm probably going to have my ribs shattered on a pass rush.

#85 - Rasul Douglas - Green Bay Packers - Cornerback

Previous Ranks:

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

Key Stat:

4th in Catch rate allowed (50.8% of targets thrown his way were caught)

Written by: u/futur3perfect

Rasul Douglas was a revelation. In a year where the Packers’ best cornerback, Jaire Alexander, was out most of the season with an injury, Douglas was picked up off of the 7-0 Cardinal's practice squad just a few weeks before a pivotal showdown for the top record in the NFC. What followed was a legendary game-ending interception. He continued his ballhawking ways and had back-to-back pick-6s against the Rams and against the Bears in weeks 12 & 13. In both plays he read the route and got a great break on the ball; these interceptions weren't given to him, he went out and made the play.

Not only did Douglas come up big in the clutch, he locked down opposing receivers. He allowed only 32 receptions for 329 yards, averaging an elite 0.7 yards per coverage snap and a 48.5 passer rating. He scored as many touchdowns as he gave up (2). His EPA was -22.7 according to NFL Next-Gen Stats, which was good for #3 among all defensive backs.

He was also a sure-fire tackler, as you can see from the highlights of that week 12 victory against the Rams where he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Douglas' great season earned him a $5.3 million signing bonus, as the Packers inked him to a 3-year deal worth around $21 million. Not bad for starting the season on a practice squad.

#84 - Keenan Allen - Los Angeles Chargers - Wide Receiver

Previous Ranks:

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
93 86 82 39 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A​

Key Stat

1 of 2 players with 70 receiving yards per game each of the last 5 season

Written by: u/confederalis

If you looked up “consistency” in the dictionary, this is what you might see. Keenan Allen played well enough in his 9th NFL campaign to earn the 84th spot on the /r/NFL Top100 List, his 5th straight appearance. Even with the emergence of Mike Williams as a true target sapper and a trip to the COVID list, Keenan still managed to post his fifth straight season with over 97 receptions and 992 yards. His basic numbers light up the stat page, as he finished with 1138 yards (12th best), 158 targets (8th best), and 106 receptions (6th best). Allen continued his career-long success in moving the chains, converting 66 first downs, 25 of which were on 3rd down, both top 5 marks in the league. Moreso, 9 of those 3rd down chain-movers were over 7-yards, good for the most in the league. Allen also excelled in the RedZone, catching 15 passes, 7 of which were inside the 10-yard line, again, both top 5 marks. Though he somewhat dropped off as a downfield/YAC threat, primarily because of Mike Dub’s emergence, Keenan’s stats help show how incredibly clutch and consistent he was in important moments.

However, those stats are only the tip of the iceberg in showing his importance to the Chargers' offense; you have to look toward the tape to see his true value. Still one of the preeminent route runners in the league, Keenan makes up for poor top speed by possessing some of the most elite footwork in the league and an incredibly shifty frame. Here is a fantastic compilation of some of Keenan’s best routes from this past year, showing off his footwork, body control, and ability to mask his route. This out route against the Bengals shows off his disgusting footwork and shiftiness, allowing him to make up for his lack of speed and this over route against 1st Team All Pro Trevon Diggs showcases Keenan’s ability to get his corner on their back foot, allowing him to create separation at the break. And lastly, Keenan was still able to flash the great hands and body control he has always been known for, illustrating this with a great TD catch while surrounded by three Bengals defenders.

Rumors of Keenan’s death have been greatly exaggerated, as the 29-year-old wideout continued to put up incredibly consistent numbers; dominating corners with his footwork and shiftiness while acting as Justin Herbert’s safety blanket in the short interior. Allen’s skillset is primed to age incredibly well, and I expect to see a 6th straight placement on this list next year from the LA star.

#83 - Jordan Mailata - Philadelphia Eagles - Offensive Tackle

Previous Ranks:

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

Key Stat

1 of 4 tackles with a PFF Grade higher than 80 in both Pass Block and Run Block

Written by: u/wrhslax1996

I will not lie to you, it's pretty wild to me that I'm sitting here crafting a write-up for Jordan Mailata for the 2022 r/NFL top 100. At this time 5 years ago, Mailata was playing rugby in Australia before being invited to join the NFL's International Player Pathway Program in 2018. Rumor has it, the execs in charge of the program took one look at his rugby highlights and immediately tried recruiting Mailata to the football side of life. I mean, can you blame them? While training for the combine/draft, Eagles OL coach (and my personal Jesus) Jeff Stoutland took a special interest in Mailata. Fast forward a bit and the Eagles would draft Jordan in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. Yeah yeah yeah, I'm getting to how he earned his spot on this year's list, but it's impossible to talk about him without remembering he's got fewer years of football experience than I do.

Ok so what exactly did Mailata do well last year? The short of it is that his run blocking is genuinely hilarious. This man can move in a way that no 6'8" 346lb man should. The first play highlighted by Fran Duffy there is awesome. Mailata pulls, does not waste a single step, and completely flattens the LB working to fit his gap. The other play in that montage that I wanted to highlight is the third rep where he absolutely bullies Leonard Williams. Williams is a pretty solid defensive tackle but he just doesn't stand a chance against Mailata's power. He punches with hands like bricks and immediately sends a very large man stumbling back. At that point, Mailata's all over him and his size and strength just straight up prevent Williams from shedding the block and making a stop. This is what Mailata did all year in the run game. He is massive, insanely athletic, and has really started to learn the leverage game that all great OTs need to separate themselves from the pack.

As a pass protector, and this might ruffle one or two Eagles fans' feathers, he still has some work to do. His technique is still fairly uneven at times which can lead to his anchor not quite being what it should be at his size. However, his freakish strength still pops on some pass pro reps and he was far from "bad" as a pass protector. The first example I have is here against the Falcons week 1. His technique is pretty sound here, gaining depth and keeping the EDGE's pace as he kick slides without separating from Seumalo too much. Jordan feels the interior rusher hitting the gap between himself and Seumalo and, with one arm, is able to absolutely flatten the interior rusher. His strength really pops the more you watch him. Here's a similar example where he might have lost the rep initially, I can't tell because whoever clipped it decided to only include Mailata's show of strength. But all I do know is that he plants that DT with one arm and doing that to a professional football player is insanely impressive. My main takeaways on his pass pro are: strength is great and if he keeps cleaning up his technique he will really cement himself as a great offensive linemen in the years to come.

I'll leave you with one final parting gift. Do you like watching linemen absolutely decimate smaller defenders in the open field? Well do I have the murder for you! Mailata chips the edge and explodes to the outside to block for Not-Justin-Jefferson. In a blink-and-you-miss-it clip, he sends the poor Falcons defensive back to the shadow realm. I will never not love clips like this. Mailata had a pretty good year and I really look forward to seeing what he does in 2022.

#82 - Quenton Nelson - Indianapolis Colts - Offensive Guard

Previous Ranks:

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
21 18 70 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A​

Key Stat:

Has only allowed 4 sacks in 2,365 career snaps in 4 seasons

Written by: u/ghettogoatsause

You know you're a damn good player when being All-Pro 2nd team is a down year for you. Notching these honors was of course Colts 3x AP1 LG Quenton "Earl Grey" Nelson. A part of this down year was simply because Nelson was frankly pretty beat up this year. With a back, knee, and toe injury compounded with a more major high ankle sprain that put him on IR, he gutted out 13 games this year and still kicked ass and took names.

So what did he accomplish exactly? Well, he was part of the line that gave up the 8th fewest sacks. Yes, we ran the damn ball a lot, (resulting in a pancake here and there), but we were also in the top half of the league in sack percentage allowed. If PFF is more your thing, Quenton Nelson only allowed 1 sack all year with only 8 hurries. I know we Colts fans can't wait to see him fully healthy again, protecting Matty Ice this time around.

Oh wait. I'm forgetting something. Maybe something to do with the #1 rushing offense in the NFL? You know what, let's talk about that at a later date.

#81 - Xavien Howard - Miami Dolphins - Cornerback

Previous Ranks

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
14 N/A 59 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A​

Key Stat

Leads PFF in press coverage grade since 2020

Written by: u/cnvas_home

The bar for Xavien Howard was set high after his 2018 campaign, and he surprised a lot of people with an even more stellar 2020 campaign coming off of an injured 2019 season. When looking at some metrics this season, many have concluded that Howard regressed a bit in play (such as the 88.2 QB rating when thrown against him, or his 7 passing touchdowns allowed in coverage), but that’s not entirely the case once you take a closer look. A lot of his statistics against opposing quarterbacks are greatly inflated due to the intensive role he played within the Fins’ scheme this season, which saw him getting sent on island assignments while Flores’ would often routinely blitz up to 8 defenders on a routine basis (Week 10 against BAL is a perfect example).

But this defensive scheme paid dividends as the Dolphin’s front seven “overperformed”, as this bend-don’t-break mentality carried over from Flores’ days in New England saw Howard lead a defense that allowed only the 6th fewest passing touchdowns in the league, all the while keeping opposing defenses to under 6 net yards per passing attempt. And perhaps the true highlight of his play this season was his play underneath, posting a stellar 70.5 PFF grade against the run out of the corner position—along with two forced fumbles, one of which he took to the house. Not to mention he still managed to post 5 interceptions with an elite 16 passes defended... A true ball-hawk, Xavien makes a career out of always being in the right place at the right time, and this season was no different.

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