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Sports Illustrated

Sport

Matt Verderame

Forecasting the Top NFL Players This Season: Nos. 100–81

NFL Pitts Williams Baker Mayfield Bryce Young Christian Kirk Matthew Stafford TODAY Sports Uche Atlanta Falcons

The NFL’s top 100 players. Not a new concept. We’ve seen the lists and how they change annually based on the ensuing performances.

But here at The MMQB, we’re adding a new spin. We’re forecasting how the top 100 will look after the 2023 season. Which players will rise and become stars, or grow into superstardom? Which players will begin declining either because of age or because of their situation?

At the midseason point, we’ll update and evaluate our list before a final review after the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. In the meantime, we see at least one member of each team making the list, while the 49ers and Eagles are the most represented with eight and seven players, respectively. Conversely, the Cardinals, Panthers, Bears, Packers, Vikings and Buccaneers have one apiece.

All told, 12 quarterbacks made our list, while Matthew Stafford and Bryce Young were the first two missing the cut. Lastly, 54 AFC players made the list, with 46 from the NFC. It wasn’t an easy task, but we have our top 100 based on how the players are about to perform, not only on what they’ve already accomplished.

100

Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans

*Stingley played in 9 games for the Texans last season.*
Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

Stingley’s versatility in college is reason to believe he’ll have a productive NFL career sooner than later. He dealt with injuries as a rookie but made an impact with 43 total tackles, one interception and one sack.

99

Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

After missing his rookie season with a torn Achilles, Etienne quickly became a force in Jacksonville. The former Clemson star ran for 1,125 yards on 5.1 yards per carry while hauling in 35 passes for 316 yards as well.

98

Nick Bolton, ILB, Kansas City Chiefs

Bolton has been a tackling machine for the Chiefs since entering the league in 2021 as a second-round pick. He stacked a franchise-record 180 total tackles with two sacks and two interceptions last season.

97

Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions

Goff is coming off his first Pro Bowl season with the Lions in which he threw for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns. Protected by an excellent line, Goff has shown he can still be the man who led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII in 2018.

96

Orlando Brown Jr., LT, Cincinnati Bengals

Brown didn’t get the contract he wanted with the Chiefs, but he’ll now look to help Burrow and the Bengals win the Super Bowl. Brown has made the Pro Bowl the past four seasons.

95

A.J. Terrell, CB, Atlanta Falcons

Terrell hasn’t gotten the attention or accolades of other premier corners, but expect that to change soon. Entering his fourth season with the Falcons, Terrell is a terrific cover man who has a chance to finally reach the Pro Bowl on an improved Atlanta defense.

94

Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Prescott has an impressive regular-season record of 61–36 with four playoff appearances. But the Cowboys will be looking for more playoff wins this season from their two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who has 24,943 yards passing and 166 TD passes in seven seasons.

93

Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans

Pierce was having an excellent rookie season before missing his final four games due to an ankle injury. In 13 games, he ran for 939 yards and four touchdowns on a Houston team with precious other threats.

92

Josh Uche, edge, New England Patriots

Despite playing limited snaps, Uche made an impact with a career-high 11.5 sacks last season. He’ll now be a starting edge rusher next to Judon this season.

91

Talanoa Hufanga, S, San Francisco 49ers

Hufanga has emerged as a star for the Niners. A former fifth-round pick from USC, the safety is a first-team All-Pro entering his third season in San Francisco. Last year, Hufanga totaled 97 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions.

90

Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

*Williams was targeted 93 times in 2022.*
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports

Williams tends to deliver his best work in crunch time, and not many are better when it comes to jump balls. His best season came in 2021 when he had 76 catches for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns.

89

Marlon Humphrey, CB, Baltimore Ravens

A versatile, veteran corner who can play both the outside and the slot, Humphrey gives Baltimore serious value. Over his six-year career, he’s been a turnover machine, causing 13 fumbles while intercepting 12 passes.

88

Budda Baker, S, Arizona Cardinals

Baker is a versatile playmaker who makes an impact in coverage and against the run. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro. There are many reasons why the Cardinals declined Baker’s trade request earlier this year. He’s too valuable as a playmaker and leader to trade away.

87

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

In two seasons with Miami, Waddle has 179 catches for 2,371 yards and 14 touchdowns. Somehow, that hasn’t been enough for any awards. If the Alabama product continues to improve, that’ll soon change.

86

*The quarterback missed the end of last season after multiple concussions, but he played in Miami’s preseason game on Aug. 19.*
Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins

Tagovailoa took command of Mike McDaniel’s offense and delivered his best season since being drafted No. 5 in 2020. He threw for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 games last season.

85

Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Everyone is talking about the additions of receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers, but don’t forget about Andrews. A former first-team All-Pro, Andrews caught 73 passes last year for 847 yards and five scores, and he has 336 receptions over five seasons for the Ravens.

84

Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos

Simmons might have the best ball skills among safeties in the league. He has 27 career interceptions, including six last season. He’s also been a second-team All-Pro three times.

83

Tristan Wirfs, LT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Wirfs is moving to the left side this year to replace Donovan Smith, but don’t expect a drop-off. An All-Pro each of the past two seasons, the 24-year-old is more than capable of handling Baker Mayfield’s blindside.

82

Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints

Lattimore, who has 14 career interceptions, will be looking for a bounce-back season after playing in only seven games last season. He was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2019 to ’21.

81

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

*SI fantasy* projects that Pitts will have a comeback season in 2023, catching passes from Desmond Ridder.
Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports

Pitts needs to step up after making the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Last year, the former No. 4 pick totaled only 28 receptions for 356 yards and two touchdowns across 10 games. However, Pitts’s talent is absurd, and it’s worth betting on.