Everybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
My method isn’t really “better” than anybody else’s, and hopefully not too much worse. I do my annual Top 101 player lists (which I’ve been doing for years, at times with current SB Nation colleague Mark Schofield) based on tape study and advanced metrics. And in this case, shifting my focus from the 2024 season to what things might look like in 2025.
As far as positional value, I find that the trend on most lists is to overcook quarterback importance at the expense of crucial players elsewhere — especially those who have become key to the modern NFL, such as slot receivers, multi-position defenders, offensive guards, and interior defensive linemen. Ideally, such a list presents a more balanced view of what matters in today’s game.
Check out the full list of the NFL’s top 101 players in 2025 below, and click on the articles in this stream for the full analysis.
- Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
- Myles Garrett, EDGE, Cleveland Browns
- Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
- Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
- Dexter Lawrence, DI, New York Giants
- Micah Parsons, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys
- Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
- Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
- Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
- Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
- Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans
- Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens
- Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Pat Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos
- Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions
- Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers
- Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers
- Nick Bosa, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers
- Lane Johnson, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
- Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
- Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
- Chris Jones, DI, Kansas City Chiefs
- Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
- George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
- CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
- Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Denzel Ward, CB, Cleveland Browns
- TJ Watt, EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs
- Kerby Joseph, S, Detroit Lions
- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Detroit Lions
- Jalen Carter, DI, Philadelphia Eagles
- Brian Branch, DB, Detroit Lions
- Jordan Mailata, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
- AJ Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
- Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
- Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
- Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders
- Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
- Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
- Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
- Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals
- Zach Baun, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
- Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
- Marlon Humphrey, DB, Baltimore Ravens
- Leonard Williams, DI, Seattle Seahawks
- CJ Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
- Chris Lindstrom, G, Atlanta Falcons
- Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
- Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
- Frankie Luvu, LB, Washington Commanders
- Quinnen Williams, DI, New York Jets
- Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
- Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Nnamdi Madubuike, DI, Baltimore Ravens
- Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers
- Trey Smith, OG, Kansas City Chiefs
- Jared Verse, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams
- Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
- Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
- Dion Dawkins, OT, Buffalo Bills
- Zach Allen, DI, Denver Broncos
- Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
- Tyler Smith, OG, Dallas Cowboys
- Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers
- Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
- Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Houston Texans
- Jessie Bates, S, Atlanta Falcons
- Ronnie Stanley, OT, Baltimore Ravens
- Xavier McKinney, DB, Green Bay Packers
- Kobie Turner, DI, Los Angeles Rams
- Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets
- Tyler Lindenbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens
- Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears
- Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
- Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
- Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
- James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
- Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jeffery Simmons, DI, Tennessee Titans
- Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
- Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings
- Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Byron Murphy, CB, Minnesota Vikings
- Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
- Joe Thuney, OG, Chicago Bears
- Calen Bullock, S, Houston Texans
- Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
- Julian Love, S, Seattle Seahawks
- Cameron Heyward, DI, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Paulson Adebo, CB, New York Giants
- Amani Hooker, S, Tennessee Titans
- Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
- Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
- James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
- Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
- George Karlaftis, EDGE, Kansas City Chiefs
The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 10-1
Getty ImagesEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 20-11
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty ImagesEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 30-21
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty ImagesEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 40-31
Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 50-41
Getty ImagesEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 60-51
Getty ImagesEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 70-61
Getty ImagesEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 80-71
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY SportsEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 90-81
David Reginek-USA TODAY SportsEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 101-91
Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers takes the field. Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty ImagesEverybody in this business has their own favorite and best players, and their own methodologies for their rankings. The NFL Network does the annual Top 100 players based on ratings from other players, which is an interesting way to go, if not fully and ideally comprehensive — most players are focused on their upcoming opponents, as opposed to the entire NFL on an agnostic basis.
Others will do their rankings based on their conversations with NFL coaches and executives, which is also interesting in its own way, and we’ll get into some of the more… um… “creative” takes from some of those folks as we tread up these particular rankings.
Read Article >
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