[h=1]NFL's top 25 players under 25[/h]Mel Kiper Jr.Mike Sando
ESPN INSIDER
'Tis better to receive than to give for the NFL's top young talent in 2016. Wide receivers outnumber quarterbacks by an 8-3 margin in ESPN's annual Mel Kiper-inspired ranking of the top 25 players under 25 years old. It's the same drill as in years past: The rankings are a blend of production and potential, which made for a few strong objections from NFL evaluators. What fun would it be if everyone agreed?
[h=2]1. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants[/h]Age: 24
Beckham's 262 receptions for 3,770 yards and 33 touchdowns place him in elite company through the first three seasons of a career -- even though Beckham has missed five games and still has four to play this season. Since 2001, only Jarvis Landry has more receptions (268) through three seasons. Only A.J. Green has more receiving yards (3,833). Only Rob Gronkowski has more receiving TDs (34).
[h=2]2. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys[/h]Age: 21
Elliott and Dak Prescott were the only rookies on the list who were endorsed for inclusion unanimously by NFL evaluators. No rookies in ESPN's data warehouse (dating to 2001) can match Elliott's 1,285 rushing yards through the first 12 games of a season. The other rookies on the leaderboard almost unanimously produced for the long term. Alfred Morris was an exception. Elliott has yet to show the versatility of other backs on this list, but his sheer production as a runner vaults him near the top.
[h=2]3. Leonard Williams, DL, New York Jets[/h]Age: 22
Williams, in his second season, has become the best player on the Jets' defense through his own strong play and through the regression of others, notably Muhammad Wilkerson and Darrelle Revis. Williams is not an outside pass-rusher, but he still leads the team in sacks with six. He has collected those sacks from five positions: right end, left end, nose tackle, right tackle and left tackle. "Beast," one personnel director said.
[h=2]4. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys[/h]Age: 23
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo and Carson Palmer are the only QBs to lead the NFL in Total QBR over the past decade. Prescott could join them. He leads the league this season while throwing 19 TD passes with just two interceptions. Prescott benefits from unusually strong support. He ranks 29th in pass attempts per game, a reflection of the Cowboys' balance and ability to limit his exposure. But he has ably carried out whatever the team has asked from him.
"It always comes down to poise, and the stage has never been too big for him," a personnel evaluator said. "In Pittsburgh, it's a big game in a big-time slot, and he pulls out a win. It is impressive."
[h=2]5. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers[/h]Age: 24
Bell's injury and suspension issues prevented him from ranking higher. There isn't a more versatile top back in the league. Bell possesses both power and speed. He is patient. He picks up blitzes. He regularly detaches from the formation to run routes typically associated with wide receivers. He jukes linebackers as a ball carrier and as a receiver. Bell has lined up outside the backfield on 17.1 percent of his plays this season, about three times as many as Elliott.
[h=2]6. David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals[/h]Age: 24
Johnson is the first player since Edgerrin James in 2005 to produce at least 100 yards from scrimmage in each of the first 12 games to start a season. Johnson can do many of the same things we see from Bell, and it shows in where he lines up: outside the backfield 18.6 percent of the time. Johnson is not as proficient as Bell in pass protection, but that might be the only area where he needs work. How confident are the Cardinals in Johnson? They gave him the ball Sunday on fourth-and-1 from their own 34 with 3:47 left in a game Arizona was leading by a point. Johnson picked up 14 yards.
[h=2]7. Marcus Peters, CB, Kansas City Chiefs[/h]Age: 23
Peters has 13 interceptions, the NFL's highest total through 27 regular-season games since 2001. Deion Sanders and Rod Woodson had 13 picks over a two-season span once apiece in their Hall of Fame careers. Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams had 15 picks over a two-season span. Ty Law once had 14 over two seasons. Revis has never had more than 11 in two seasons combined.
"What Odell Beckham did in his first two years, it is Jerry Rice-type stuff, and Marcus Peters is that for corners right now," a personnel evaluator said. "I know he gets targeted and Pro Football Focus wants to say this or that, but he makes plays."
[h=2]8. Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans[/h]Age: 23
Mariota has 44 TD passes with 18 interceptions through 24 career games, with the arrow pointing up sharply in recent weeks. Mariota has 21 TD passes with three interceptions since Week 5. Only Aaron Rodgers has more TD passes (22) over that span. Only Prescott has a higher Total QBR. Only Brady has fewer interceptions (one) among the six quarterbacks with at least 18 scoring passes over that span. However, Mariota does fumble too frequently, ranking among the league leaders with 17 in just 24 games since the start of last season.
[h=2]9. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/h]Age: 22
Winston is one of 11 quarterbacks to start every game since the 2015 opener. He ranks 13th in Total QBR over that span, ahead of Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Cam Newton, Mariota, Eli Manning and Derek Carr, among others. The Buccaneers seem to be responding positively to his unusually fiery brand of leadership. Winston has played well recently in milestone victories over Kansas City and Seattle.
"I like Winston, and I like Mariota, too," a personnel director said. "Winston, I think he has that winning mentality to him and he is a competitor. I think he cares. That is what makes him good. Is he still coming along with his reads? Yeah, but I think he is going to get better and better. It means something to him, and that is key."
[h=2]10. Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins[/h]Age: 24
Other under-25 receivers are bigger, faster and/or more dynamic than Landry, which is why multiple personnel evaluators thought this No. 10 ranking was too high. They thought Amari Cooper or Mike Evans should rank above Landry, noting that he is primarily a slot receiver. Landry's combination of toughness, consistency and production kept him in the top 10. So did this: He has more catches in his first three seasons than any other wide receiver in NFL history ... and he still has four games left this season.
"Landry is a very precise route runner with very good hands, and one of the better run-after-catch guys," another personnel director said. "He is tough; he has punt-return value; he would return kicks if he were not so valuable as a receiver. He is an alpha, and you don't find many guys like that at receiver. He is so precise and such a dog with the ball in his hands."
[h=2]11. C.J. Mosley, LB, Baltimore Ravens[/h]Age: 24
Browns coach Hue Jackson said Mosley "might be one of the best players in football" after the linebacker made a series of key plays to beat Cleveland on Nov. 10. As Jackson put it to reporters in Cleveland heading into Week 10, "He makes so many standout plays. He is always around the ball. He is making plays on backs, he is making plays on receivers, he is getting his hands on balls and he is chasing balls down. He is just a tremendous football player."
[h=2]12. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans[/h]Age: 24
Hopkins has not played as well this season, but his overall production is undeniable. Since entering the NFL in 2014, Hopkins trails only Antonio Brownin third-down receptions resulting in first downs. Brown (73), Hopkins (65), Evans (62) and Beckham (59) lead that list.
[h=2]13. Ryan Shazier, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers[/h]Age: 24
Shazier has forced five fumbles in his past 11 games, counting the playoffs. He has missed 14 games over his two-plus NFL seasons, but when he plays, he is around the ball frequently. Shazier has the athletic ability to rush, cover and generally flourish in the modern NFL.
[h=2]14. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints[/h]Age: 23
Thomas has 69 receptions for 831 yards and seven TDs in his first 12 NFL games, with only two drops. Cooper and Evans had similar or better numbers in their first dozen NFL starts, although Cooper had 10 drops and Evans had four. Thomas' drop rate (2.3 percent) is less than half the career drop rates for Cooper (6.4 percent) and Evans (5.4 percent). Thomas' quick emergence as a go-to receiver for Drew Brees earned him this high ranking over protests from NFL evaluators who thought Cooper and Evans should be the top two wideouts listed.
[h=2]15. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders[/h]Age: 22
Cooper has been a threat from all over the field during his career, catching TD passes from both slots and from both sides on the perimeter. NFL personnel evaluators thought his explosive playmaking ability made him especially appealing.
"If I'm starting a team, I do not think I am taking Jarvis Landry over Amari Cooper, and I might take Brandin Cooks over Landry, too," a personnel director said. "Those guys are speedsters with good hands. I like Landry, but he is what he is. He is tough, he is strong, he is competitive. But which guys would I rather pay? Cooper. He is so explosive."
[h=2]16. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/h]Age: 23
Evans averages 15.3 yards per reception for his career, longer than the averages for Cooper (14.6), Thomas (12.0) and Landry (10.3). Evans has 33 receptions on passes traveling more than 20 yards past the line of scrimmage, trailing only Mike Wallace (35) and A.J. Green (34) for the most since 2001 for any player during his first three seasons.
"You have to prepare for that guy," another personnel director said.
[h=2]17. Tyrann Mathieu, DB, Arizona Cardinals[/h]Age: 24
Durability seems to be Mathieu's only shortcoming in three-plus seasons. That didn't stop the Cardinals from signing him to a contract extension almost as soon as he became eligible. Mathieu can be an impact player from multiple positions in the secondary, but with 11 missed games in the regular season, availability is a concern.
[h=2]18. Jadeveon Clowney, DL, Houston Texans[/h]Age: 23
Clowney has bounced back from an injury-filled 2014 rookie season to become a productive, versatile defender for the Texans. Houston drafted Clowney to play outside linebacker, but the team has needed him at defensive end in its base defense. Clowney has proved to be a physically gifted, smart player who can play multiple positions in a defense. He had 12 tackles for loss before missing the Texans' Week 12 game at Green Bay with an injury.
"What he did this year in the absence of J.J. Watt, coming off that knee injury, he made a significant jump," a personnel director said.
[h=2]19. Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons[/h]Age: 24
Freeman's 1,841 yards rushing since the start of last season ranks second behind LeSean McCoy (1,844) among all running backs. Only LeGarrette Blount and David Johnson have more rushing TDs than Freeman's 18 over that period.
[h=2]20. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings[/h]Age: 23
Diggs comes with the Josh Norman seal of approval after impressing the Redskins' No. 1 cornerback during the Minnesota-Washington game last month. "Heck of a talent" was the phrase Norman used to describe the Vikings' second-year receiver.
"Diggs is good, but their offensive line sucks so bad that the quarterback cannot get him the ball," a personnel director said.
Diggs is still averaging 7.5 receptions per game, most among players not yet 25 years old.
[h=2]21. Joey Bosa, DL, San Diego Chargers[/h]Age: 21
The contract dispute that kept Bosa from training camp did not prevent him from making an immediate positive impact as a 21-year-old rookie. Bosa has contributed from multiple spots in the formation, helping the Chargers close some of the pass-rushing gap between themselves and their AFC West rivals. Bosa is a leading candidate for defensive rookie of the year.
[h=2]22. Landon Collins, S, New York Giants[/h]Age: 22
The Giants invested heavily in their defensive front in free agency, but an improved secondary has arguably played a bigger role in New York's turnaround on defense. Collins' improvement from a shaky rookie season has been part of that equation. Collins' three picks in November helped him become the NFC's defensive player of the month.
[h=2]23. Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints[/h]Age: 23
Cooks ranks 30th in receptions, 20th in receiving yards and 10th in receiving TDs this season, boosted by scoring plays of 98 and 87 yards. His targets are down slightly from last season, and Cooks has expressed frustration. But with so many inviting young targets on one team -- Thomas, Cooks and Willie Sneadhave combined for 180 receptions and 17 TDs -- there will be times when the ball goes elsewhere.
[h=2]24. Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers[/h]Age: 23
Gordon has recovered from a disappointing rookie season to give the Chargers a needed boost from the ground game. He's tied for second behind Elliott with 531 yards since Week 8, giving him 992 for the season. Gordon can join Ryan Mathews as the only Chargers players since LaDainian Tomlinson to top 1,000 yards rushing in a season.
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"The Chargers' offense is tough to learn," a personnel evaluator said. "It's not a surprise that he is showing what he can do now [after struggling with the system as a rookie]."
[h=2]25. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles[/h]Age: 23
NFL evaluators did not think Wentz had the consistent production to belong on this list above players such as Jordan Howard, among others, but there are mitigating circumstances. The Eagles' line has suffered without right tackle Lane Johnson. There is no true No. 1 running back on the team. Injuries have slowed top receiver Jordan Matthews. Nelson Agholor isn't even part of the regular rotation. And the schedule has been unrelenting.
Honorable mention: Anthony Barr, Jordan Hicks, Todd Gurley, Malcom Brown, Brandon Scherff, Jack Conklin, Danielle Hunter, Frank Clark, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Vic Beasley Jr., Shane Ray, Eric Kendricks, Ali Marpet, Trai Turner, Davante Adams, Jalen Ramsey, Tevin Coleman, Kenny Stills, Jay Ajayi, Jordan Howard, Deone Bucannon, Kwon Alexander, Eric Reid, Byron Jones.
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ESPN INSIDER
'Tis better to receive than to give for the NFL's top young talent in 2016. Wide receivers outnumber quarterbacks by an 8-3 margin in ESPN's annual Mel Kiper-inspired ranking of the top 25 players under 25 years old. It's the same drill as in years past: The rankings are a blend of production and potential, which made for a few strong objections from NFL evaluators. What fun would it be if everyone agreed?
Beckham's 262 receptions for 3,770 yards and 33 touchdowns place him in elite company through the first three seasons of a career -- even though Beckham has missed five games and still has four to play this season. Since 2001, only Jarvis Landry has more receptions (268) through three seasons. Only A.J. Green has more receiving yards (3,833). Only Rob Gronkowski has more receiving TDs (34).
[h=2]2. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys[/h]Age: 21
Elliott and Dak Prescott were the only rookies on the list who were endorsed for inclusion unanimously by NFL evaluators. No rookies in ESPN's data warehouse (dating to 2001) can match Elliott's 1,285 rushing yards through the first 12 games of a season. The other rookies on the leaderboard almost unanimously produced for the long term. Alfred Morris was an exception. Elliott has yet to show the versatility of other backs on this list, but his sheer production as a runner vaults him near the top.
[h=2]3. Leonard Williams, DL, New York Jets[/h]Age: 22
Williams, in his second season, has become the best player on the Jets' defense through his own strong play and through the regression of others, notably Muhammad Wilkerson and Darrelle Revis. Williams is not an outside pass-rusher, but he still leads the team in sacks with six. He has collected those sacks from five positions: right end, left end, nose tackle, right tackle and left tackle. "Beast," one personnel director said.
[h=2]4. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys[/h]Age: 23
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo and Carson Palmer are the only QBs to lead the NFL in Total QBR over the past decade. Prescott could join them. He leads the league this season while throwing 19 TD passes with just two interceptions. Prescott benefits from unusually strong support. He ranks 29th in pass attempts per game, a reflection of the Cowboys' balance and ability to limit his exposure. But he has ably carried out whatever the team has asked from him.
"It always comes down to poise, and the stage has never been too big for him," a personnel evaluator said. "In Pittsburgh, it's a big game in a big-time slot, and he pulls out a win. It is impressive."
[h=2]5. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers[/h]Age: 24
Bell's injury and suspension issues prevented him from ranking higher. There isn't a more versatile top back in the league. Bell possesses both power and speed. He is patient. He picks up blitzes. He regularly detaches from the formation to run routes typically associated with wide receivers. He jukes linebackers as a ball carrier and as a receiver. Bell has lined up outside the backfield on 17.1 percent of his plays this season, about three times as many as Elliott.
[h=2]6. David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals[/h]Age: 24
Johnson is the first player since Edgerrin James in 2005 to produce at least 100 yards from scrimmage in each of the first 12 games to start a season. Johnson can do many of the same things we see from Bell, and it shows in where he lines up: outside the backfield 18.6 percent of the time. Johnson is not as proficient as Bell in pass protection, but that might be the only area where he needs work. How confident are the Cardinals in Johnson? They gave him the ball Sunday on fourth-and-1 from their own 34 with 3:47 left in a game Arizona was leading by a point. Johnson picked up 14 yards.
[h=2]7. Marcus Peters, CB, Kansas City Chiefs[/h]Age: 23
Peters has 13 interceptions, the NFL's highest total through 27 regular-season games since 2001. Deion Sanders and Rod Woodson had 13 picks over a two-season span once apiece in their Hall of Fame careers. Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams had 15 picks over a two-season span. Ty Law once had 14 over two seasons. Revis has never had more than 11 in two seasons combined.
"What Odell Beckham did in his first two years, it is Jerry Rice-type stuff, and Marcus Peters is that for corners right now," a personnel evaluator said. "I know he gets targeted and Pro Football Focus wants to say this or that, but he makes plays."
[h=2]8. Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans[/h]Age: 23
Mariota has 44 TD passes with 18 interceptions through 24 career games, with the arrow pointing up sharply in recent weeks. Mariota has 21 TD passes with three interceptions since Week 5. Only Aaron Rodgers has more TD passes (22) over that span. Only Prescott has a higher Total QBR. Only Brady has fewer interceptions (one) among the six quarterbacks with at least 18 scoring passes over that span. However, Mariota does fumble too frequently, ranking among the league leaders with 17 in just 24 games since the start of last season.
[h=2]9. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/h]Age: 22
Winston is one of 11 quarterbacks to start every game since the 2015 opener. He ranks 13th in Total QBR over that span, ahead of Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Cam Newton, Mariota, Eli Manning and Derek Carr, among others. The Buccaneers seem to be responding positively to his unusually fiery brand of leadership. Winston has played well recently in milestone victories over Kansas City and Seattle.
"I like Winston, and I like Mariota, too," a personnel director said. "Winston, I think he has that winning mentality to him and he is a competitor. I think he cares. That is what makes him good. Is he still coming along with his reads? Yeah, but I think he is going to get better and better. It means something to him, and that is key."
[h=2]10. Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins[/h]Age: 24
Other under-25 receivers are bigger, faster and/or more dynamic than Landry, which is why multiple personnel evaluators thought this No. 10 ranking was too high. They thought Amari Cooper or Mike Evans should rank above Landry, noting that he is primarily a slot receiver. Landry's combination of toughness, consistency and production kept him in the top 10. So did this: He has more catches in his first three seasons than any other wide receiver in NFL history ... and he still has four games left this season.
"Landry is a very precise route runner with very good hands, and one of the better run-after-catch guys," another personnel director said. "He is tough; he has punt-return value; he would return kicks if he were not so valuable as a receiver. He is an alpha, and you don't find many guys like that at receiver. He is so precise and such a dog with the ball in his hands."
[h=2]11. C.J. Mosley, LB, Baltimore Ravens[/h]Age: 24
Browns coach Hue Jackson said Mosley "might be one of the best players in football" after the linebacker made a series of key plays to beat Cleveland on Nov. 10. As Jackson put it to reporters in Cleveland heading into Week 10, "He makes so many standout plays. He is always around the ball. He is making plays on backs, he is making plays on receivers, he is getting his hands on balls and he is chasing balls down. He is just a tremendous football player."
[h=2]12. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans[/h]Age: 24
Hopkins has not played as well this season, but his overall production is undeniable. Since entering the NFL in 2014, Hopkins trails only Antonio Brownin third-down receptions resulting in first downs. Brown (73), Hopkins (65), Evans (62) and Beckham (59) lead that list.
[h=2]13. Ryan Shazier, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers[/h]Age: 24
Shazier has forced five fumbles in his past 11 games, counting the playoffs. He has missed 14 games over his two-plus NFL seasons, but when he plays, he is around the ball frequently. Shazier has the athletic ability to rush, cover and generally flourish in the modern NFL.
[h=2]14. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints[/h]Age: 23
Thomas has 69 receptions for 831 yards and seven TDs in his first 12 NFL games, with only two drops. Cooper and Evans had similar or better numbers in their first dozen NFL starts, although Cooper had 10 drops and Evans had four. Thomas' drop rate (2.3 percent) is less than half the career drop rates for Cooper (6.4 percent) and Evans (5.4 percent). Thomas' quick emergence as a go-to receiver for Drew Brees earned him this high ranking over protests from NFL evaluators who thought Cooper and Evans should be the top two wideouts listed.
[h=2]15. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders[/h]Age: 22
Cooper has been a threat from all over the field during his career, catching TD passes from both slots and from both sides on the perimeter. NFL personnel evaluators thought his explosive playmaking ability made him especially appealing.
"If I'm starting a team, I do not think I am taking Jarvis Landry over Amari Cooper, and I might take Brandin Cooks over Landry, too," a personnel director said. "Those guys are speedsters with good hands. I like Landry, but he is what he is. He is tough, he is strong, he is competitive. But which guys would I rather pay? Cooper. He is so explosive."
[h=2]16. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/h]Age: 23
Evans averages 15.3 yards per reception for his career, longer than the averages for Cooper (14.6), Thomas (12.0) and Landry (10.3). Evans has 33 receptions on passes traveling more than 20 yards past the line of scrimmage, trailing only Mike Wallace (35) and A.J. Green (34) for the most since 2001 for any player during his first three seasons.
"You have to prepare for that guy," another personnel director said.
[h=2]17. Tyrann Mathieu, DB, Arizona Cardinals[/h]Age: 24
Durability seems to be Mathieu's only shortcoming in three-plus seasons. That didn't stop the Cardinals from signing him to a contract extension almost as soon as he became eligible. Mathieu can be an impact player from multiple positions in the secondary, but with 11 missed games in the regular season, availability is a concern.
[h=2]18. Jadeveon Clowney, DL, Houston Texans[/h]Age: 23
Clowney has bounced back from an injury-filled 2014 rookie season to become a productive, versatile defender for the Texans. Houston drafted Clowney to play outside linebacker, but the team has needed him at defensive end in its base defense. Clowney has proved to be a physically gifted, smart player who can play multiple positions in a defense. He had 12 tackles for loss before missing the Texans' Week 12 game at Green Bay with an injury.
"What he did this year in the absence of J.J. Watt, coming off that knee injury, he made a significant jump," a personnel director said.
[h=2]19. Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons[/h]Age: 24
Freeman's 1,841 yards rushing since the start of last season ranks second behind LeSean McCoy (1,844) among all running backs. Only LeGarrette Blount and David Johnson have more rushing TDs than Freeman's 18 over that period.
[h=2]20. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings[/h]Age: 23
Diggs comes with the Josh Norman seal of approval after impressing the Redskins' No. 1 cornerback during the Minnesota-Washington game last month. "Heck of a talent" was the phrase Norman used to describe the Vikings' second-year receiver.
"Diggs is good, but their offensive line sucks so bad that the quarterback cannot get him the ball," a personnel director said.
Diggs is still averaging 7.5 receptions per game, most among players not yet 25 years old.
[h=2]21. Joey Bosa, DL, San Diego Chargers[/h]Age: 21
The contract dispute that kept Bosa from training camp did not prevent him from making an immediate positive impact as a 21-year-old rookie. Bosa has contributed from multiple spots in the formation, helping the Chargers close some of the pass-rushing gap between themselves and their AFC West rivals. Bosa is a leading candidate for defensive rookie of the year.
[h=2]22. Landon Collins, S, New York Giants[/h]Age: 22
The Giants invested heavily in their defensive front in free agency, but an improved secondary has arguably played a bigger role in New York's turnaround on defense. Collins' improvement from a shaky rookie season has been part of that equation. Collins' three picks in November helped him become the NFC's defensive player of the month.
[h=2]23. Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints[/h]Age: 23
Cooks ranks 30th in receptions, 20th in receiving yards and 10th in receiving TDs this season, boosted by scoring plays of 98 and 87 yards. His targets are down slightly from last season, and Cooks has expressed frustration. But with so many inviting young targets on one team -- Thomas, Cooks and Willie Sneadhave combined for 180 receptions and 17 TDs -- there will be times when the ball goes elsewhere.
[h=2]24. Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers[/h]Age: 23
Gordon has recovered from a disappointing rookie season to give the Chargers a needed boost from the ground game. He's tied for second behind Elliott with 531 yards since Week 8, giving him 992 for the season. Gordon can join Ryan Mathews as the only Chargers players since LaDainian Tomlinson to top 1,000 yards rushing in a season.
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"The Chargers' offense is tough to learn," a personnel evaluator said. "It's not a surprise that he is showing what he can do now [after struggling with the system as a rookie]."
NFL evaluators did not think Wentz had the consistent production to belong on this list above players such as Jordan Howard, among others, but there are mitigating circumstances. The Eagles' line has suffered without right tackle Lane Johnson. There is no true No. 1 running back on the team. Injuries have slowed top receiver Jordan Matthews. Nelson Agholor isn't even part of the regular rotation. And the schedule has been unrelenting.
Honorable mention: Anthony Barr, Jordan Hicks, Todd Gurley, Malcom Brown, Brandon Scherff, Jack Conklin, Danielle Hunter, Frank Clark, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Vic Beasley Jr., Shane Ray, Eric Kendricks, Ali Marpet, Trai Turner, Davante Adams, Jalen Ramsey, Tevin Coleman, Kenny Stills, Jay Ajayi, Jordan Howard, Deone Bucannon, Kwon Alexander, Eric Reid, Byron Jones.
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