NFC Pro Bowl roster 2017: Ezekiel Elliott and Odell Beckham Jr. headline the team

The 2017 Pro Bowl is set for Sunday night, and thankfully the league has done away with the drafting format which did nothing to help spice things up. The league has now returned to the conference format that it used for 40-plus years prior to the switch.

Judging by how the new Pro Bowl Skills Showdown went earlier in the week, this year’s Pro Bowl could be more fun, too. The NFC roster, which includes Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., is filled with players who can deliver highlights, even though others dropped out.

There are several players who were supposed to participate but cannot, either because they play for the Atlanta Falcons and are getting ready for the Super Bowl or because they’re dealing with an injury.

Likely MVP Matt Ryan, who was voted as the starter at quarterback, is preparing to face the New England Patriots next Sunday in Super Bowl LI, so he won’t play in the Pro Bowl. His Falcons teammates — running back Devonta Freeman, wide receiver Julio Jones, center Alex Mack, and outside linebacker Vic Beasley — are out as well.

Other high-profile offensive players who will not participate are quarterback Aaron Rodgers, running back David Johnson, and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins will play at quarterback in place of Ryan and Rodgers.

The big-name defensive players who will not participate are Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Washington outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.

The Cowboys have several players participating after an excellent regular season: Elliott, quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver Dez Bryant, and offensive linemen Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick are all in.

One player who was considered a big snub for the Pro Bowl was linebacker Sean Lee of the Cowboys. Thanks to Kuechly missing the game, however, Lee will play.

Jason Garrett has to be upset that his Cowboys didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. But he’ll be in charge of the NFC squad at the Pro Bowl. Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs will coach the AFC team.

Below is the full NFC roster for the Pro Bowl. For the AFC roster, you can go here.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Kirk Cousins, Washington
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears
Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles

Mike Tolbert, Carolina Panthers

Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks

Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks

Trent Williams, Washington
Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys
David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers

Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers
Josh Sitton, Chicago Bears

Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys
Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles

Cliff Avril, Seattle Seahawks
Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings
Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks

Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
Linval Joseph, Minnesota Vikings

Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers
K.J. Wright, Seattle Seahawks
Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings

Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys

Janoris Jenkins, New York Giants
Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings

Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Green Bay Packers

Landon Collins, New York Giants

Matt Prater, Detroit Lions

Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings

Dwayne Harris, New York Giants

Jake McQuaide, Los Angeles Rams