2017 NFL triplets rankings Steelers Cowboys reign supreme

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2017 NFL triplets rankings: Steelers, Cowboys reign supreme Published: Aug 01, 2017 at 08:24 AM Dave Dameshek NFL.com Analyst Back in October 2014, realizing we were looking at the best offensive triplets since Aikman, Emmitt & the Playmaker, we set out to determine which current team had the best set. Four updates and countle s tepid imitators later, it's high time for the OG to re-evaluate where all 32 teams' triplets stand for 2017. As usual, I've ranked the players in each position group from No. 1 to 32, then inverted those rankings (e.g., is my No. 1 RB, so he gets 32 points). I also multiplied the QB's score by 1.5, to reflect the position's importance. The totals determined each trio's ranking. Previous rankings are from August 2016. Please feel free to disagree in the comments section below. But let's be honest: You and I both already know my opinions are 100 percent accurate. Over the last four years, Brown has operated at a peerle s level, and not just compared with his contemporaries. No one -- not Jerry Rice, not -- has ever put together a period of statistical succe s like the star has: 481 catches, 6,315 yards and 43 touchdowns since 2013. Bell, at a minimum, is in the conversation about the NFL's best RB, and probably worthy of the contract he wants, despite the fact he's made 16 starts just once -- especially with the looming threat of the future QB's retirement, potentially as soon as after this season. If 2017 is the last campaign for Roethlisberger, at least he'll go out with the most talented offensive unit of his career. Have you heard the have a good O-line? Well, they do ... but don't allow that fact to marginalize the talent of Big D's skill-position triplets. Zeke and Dez would be stars anywhere -- dynamic as they are, it's their brute physicality that wears down foes week after week. Curmudgeons focused on whether Prescott benefitted from being in a favorable situation (spoiler alert: he did), but that shouldn't diminish how efficient and crafty the rookie was, right up to kicker slicing that field-goal try through the posts last January and ending the ' season. Forget about Kyle Shanahan's play-calling in the second half of LI and instead focus on what's ahead: Will the reigning MVP continue to thrive without Shanahan as his offensive coordinator? The answer is very likely yes, thanks to Freeman (and his partner, Tevin Coleman) and the historically transcendent talent of Jones. MVP, ROY, a 15-1 run, multiple national commercials ... and yet, Cam somehow feels under-appreciated as one of the most distinct, dominant talents the NFL's ever seen. McCaffrey's around to help lighten the load on Superman, and the buzz is already hyperbolic. But this isn't hyperbole: Olsen is headed to the . Yes, Carr's broken fibula basically ended Oakland's hopes in December, but the had a magical 2016 otherwise, thanks to a borderline MVP season from the QB. A tepid bit of concern for this year: Can Carr and Co. continue to be on the right side of so many nailbiters? The answer is likely yes, with so much talent on both sides of the ball, specifically Cooper, who's put up great numbers, even though he has yet to reach his perceived ceiling. Lynch is on the other side of things, hoping to provide at least some of the bone- and soul-crushing style that was e sential to both of the ' runs. Brady is the G.O.A.T., Rodgers is the best. What's the distinction? I have absolutely no idea ... but I can say with certainty that the King in the North is the best I've ever seen play quarterback. Then again, as the seasons go by, I wonder if fans are bothered by the fact that they've had a top-three QB for the last quarter-century but have only two Lombardis in that time (the same total delivered to Baltimore by and Trent Dilfer). Nelson is the Mark Streit Men Jersey best WR Rodgers has had, but is that damning with faint praise? I anticipate Montgomery showing the world last year was just the start of a succe sful career change, but wherever you come down on him, you have to agree he's the best RB to wear No. 88 ever. EVER. Brady still reigns as the G.O.A.T. (even removing the 2016 postseason, his 28:2 TD-to-INT ratio in the regular season was plum remarkable), but a couple people who know what they're talking about have already told me Brady v. Garoppolo will be 2018's biggest offseason soap opera. Meantime, let's see if the five-time champ can buck history and take this loaded roster to a as a 40-year-old. White probably should've been the LI MVP, but who knows if he'll even see the field week to week? Gronk certainly will, so long as the Best Tight End of All Time is in good health. He's one of the 10 best QBs of the era, but Brees' home-road splits over the last several seasons (10,945 yards, 86 TDs, 24 INTs and a 109.7 pa ser rating at home vs. 9,247 yards, 55 TDs, 31 INTs and a 92.2 rating on the road since 2013) are an abomination. Peterson may or may not resemble the player he was in his prime, but New Orleans has depth at running back, either way. Thomas is the clear-cut No. 1 option for a QB who spreads the ball around as well as anyone in the league. Ask any Bucs teammate about Winston, and they'll gush about leadership, focus on football and a desire to win. More tangibly, his numbers all went up from Year 1 to Year 2 -- including his interception total. Reducing those picks is obviously e sential, but the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner is tracking in the right direction, thanks largely to superstar receiver Evans (no stranger to making Heisman winners look good). Which Martin shows up this season is tough to determine, but the head coach questioning how long he'll have his starting job isn't exactly a good sign. It's no coincidence Tannehill turned the corner in Adam Gase's first season as head coach. Behind an O-line that could be among the league's best, watch out for the QB and 2016 breakout star Ajayi to prove last season was no mirage. Steady standout Landry could only be helped by more consistent contributions from other pa s catchers. By the way, did you know Tannehill played WR in college? Rivers' already-strong HOF resume would be significantly upgraded by a appearance, which isn't unrealistic, provided the O-line keeps him clean and Allen stays healthy. Gordon's a high-end Guy Lafleur Jersey talent who likes punishing guys for trying to tackle him. Johnson is a phenom who, by any measure, is a top-three running back in the league. Fitzgerald is one of the five best wide receivers of the era. And then there's Palmer, who had a near-MVP season in 2015 ... capped by an atrocious NFC title game that seemed to leave him (and the team) with a year-long hangover. Time to get over it, Carson -- or it'll be time for Arians to move on. Luck may have taken over for the uber-efficient Peyton Manning, but he plays more like an Elway/Favre-style gunslinger, relying on late-game heroics to overcome self-inflicted wounds (and the sizable point totals of the ' foes). Ageists may point to Gore's birth year (1983) as the reason for his so-so production in Indy, but an abysmal O-line deserves the majority of the blame. Hilton's terrific, but he (and Luck) need more consistent help. Dalton is an NFL-caliber starting QB. That's it. He can succeed when there's a lot of talent around him, but he can't elevate an otherwise mediocre offense. As usual, he'll have one of the five best WRs in the world on his side, while some real upgrades have been made to the supporting cast. But the shoddine s of the O-line and being two years removed from Hue Jackson's tutelage aren't good harbingers for 2017. Mixon is an overwhelming talent with a troubling personal history. Considering all the on-field succe s and weird off-the-field melodrama (mostly owing to Richard Sherman), it's kinda hard to believe Wilson has only been around for five seasons. During that time, he's never won fewer than 10 games in any one season, but the team's transition from being run-dominant to adopting a more pa s-reliant philosophy has been a mixed bag. Last year, Wilson set a career mark in pa sing yards (4,219) -- and also interceptions (11). His 92.6 pa ser rating was reasonably good -- but it was also the worst of his career. might take the No. 1 role from Lacy by the end of camp, but it says here will have vaulted past both by November. There were plenty of hot takes about party boats and holes punched in walls, but one under-reported fact of the 2016 is this: Manning was lousy. This year, with what appears to be the most talented collection of pa s catchers he's ever had, Eli needs to right the ship (then keep his teammates off of it, to avoid the media members who reside on Mt. Pious). Perkins didn't fully distinguish himself in his rookie year, but this offense is pa s-first, anyway, so don't be surprised if XLIX hero sees more playing time. (P.S., is still good.) Along with , Mariota is disproving the notion that QBs taken 1-2 in the same draft can't both succeed. Early reports are that Mariota is looking fine after last year's fractured fibula, as the team appears to be transitioning away from "exotic smashmouth" to throwing more with some big additions to the pa sing game. Still, Walker remains the most dependable option. And don't sleep on Murray, who only Chip Kelly knows how to slow down. It's too bad the Buffalo bra s doesn't seem to share owners' affection for Taylor, who's been mostly good in his two years under center despite not having a whole lot of guys to throw to. Fortunately, he's had McCoy, the correct answer to the question, "Who's the fourth-best RB after the Big Three?" The bigger question for coach Sean McDermott and fans, though, is, can Watkins stay healthy? Call it the Matt Flynn Effect, but like everyone else, I just don't believe Bill O'Brien's pronouncements about being the team's QB this year. Conversely, I do believe Watson will show the world he was the best quarterback in the '17 draft (although I have a hunch about , too). Miller had a nice first season in Houston, but his production dipped in the pa sing game. So did Hopkins' ... but gla s-half-full fans can now blame both downturns on now-departed-QB . If Bortles doesn't look like a different guy by the end of training camp, the Jags owe it to the rest of the roster and the fan base to seriously consider another option. If only there were a viable starting QB out there, maybe someone who's gotten within one throw of winning a ... To be fair, few quarterbacks would've thrived behind the 2016 Jags' line, and with now retired, things may not get much better. But Fournette will still be able to return the team to its rich history of having star RBs. Skeptical fans might have questioned their citizenship in Wentzylvania after the QB's second-half swoon, but those who remain will be rewarded in Wentz's second campaign, thanks to the return of and a much-needed upgrade in the pa s-catching department. Jeffery is among the best in the league, but he's also had just two 16-game seasons in his five-year career. Blount once again played a big role for the champs, registering 1,161 yards and 18 scores (both career bests) in New England, but when it comes to expecting the same level of production from an ex-Patriot, caveat emptor! Stafford, plain and simple, deserves more credit. The depend on Stafford's right arm about as much as the and Pats depend on the arms of their respective QBs. (And if you don't believe me, check the pa s-run Andrew Shaw Women Jersey ratio over the last couple of years: since 2014, the have averaged 652 pa s plays and 367 run plays). Tate's no , but don't be confused: The lack of an early-down back is what hamstrings this offense most. (Well, aside from the subpar O-line.) In what figures to potentially be his farewell season in our nation's capital, Cousins promises to help make himself even more attractive to QB-needy teams (especially ones that wear red and gold and play in the Bay Area and are coached by Kyle Shanahan and are called the 49ers) with a still-loaded group of pa s catchers, led by Reed. If the team wants to get back to the postseason, though, Fat Rob will need to turn those flashes into sustained production. Though Bradford's now clearly proven he wasn't quite worthy of being the first player taken in the 2010 , he did a good job last year taking care of the ball for a team with a top-tier defense. If he can repeat that performance, it could be good enough, thanks to the game-breaking ability of Diggs and Cook, who's gonna hit the ground running (and catching) in his rookie campaign ... IF one of 2016's worst O-lines performs a bit better this season. While languished against eight-man fronts last year, Howard, a rookie, finished second in the league in rushing, despite making just 13 starts with a offensive unit decimated by injury. Meredith (and , et al.) give new/undervalued QB Glennon some capable targets. Still, Chicago bra s would no doubt like to see the 2015 draft's seventh overall pick, , break away from the pack (and get behind DBs). Time will tell who wins the QB gig (I predict it'll be Lynch), but the task remains largely the same as it was two years ago during the run: Don't screw things up for the D. Charles was dynamite in his 2012 return from a knee injury, but we'll see if he can still be the home-run hitter he was in his K.C. heyday. Thomas gets knocked for the occasional drop, but how 'bout some credit for five straight seasons with at least 90 catches? For all the alleged "QB whisperers" among us, Andy Reid actually seems able to get the most out of almost any quarterback -- but he's likely squeezed all he's gonna get out of Smith (hence the pick). That's not nece sarily a knock, given the team's 23 regular-season wins the last two years, but it ain't a compliment, either. Top-4 NFL TE Kelce will be further complemented -- if not replaced as the team's top target -- by 2016 breakout star WR . Gurley will look more like his rookie self in 2017, thanks to an O-line that -- at minimum -- won't be the NFL's worst this year. Austin would be better suited as the finishing touch on a contender's offense, not as a key cog. Big sophomore season for Goff, who needs to prove he can elevate a pro offense. Flacco's magical four-game stretch of early 2013 is growing faint in the rearview mirror, obscured by inconsistency and losing records in three of the four ensuing seasons. No means West will get the early-down touches ... but watch out for ultimately playing the larger role. Hyde is one of the league's 15 most talented RBs, but he's been wasted in a lousy offense. That said, getting rid of and replacing him with Hoyer makes no football sense. Garcon is fine, but he is not a No. 1 receiver at this point. Brown-eyed optimists believe Hue Jackson is the savior -- now he's gotta validate that faith by turning Ke sler and/or into a viable starting QB. Coleman gives either a fighting chance. Why a team in the ' shoes would use a vet like McCown instead of or is baffling ... but trying to make sense of the makes no sense. Poor Forte deserves better. This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
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