Macnalty
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After 14 weeks of fantastic performances, which players have stood out above all their peers? Which quarterback has been the most accurate, which pass rusher the most destructive, which tackle the most flawless in pass protection?
Well, we’re going to give you a rundown of some of the stars this season as we announce the Pro Football Focus Pro Bowl roster.
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady (NE), Carson Palmer (ARI), Cam Newton (CAR), Ben Roethlisberger (PIT), Russell Wilson (SEA), and Aaron Rodgers (GB)
A special mention for both Derek Carr and Andy Dalton, who were beat out for the final spot by Aaron Rodgers, who has had to overcome more than you’d consider fair this season. The standouts are the first four mentioned, all of whom can lay claim to deserving to start.
Running backs
Doug Martin (TB), Jonathan Stewart (CAR), DeAngelo Williams (PIT), Adrian Peterson (MIN), Chris Ivory (NYJ), and Todd Gurley (STL)
In the end, the big-play ability of Gurley won out over the more steady play of T.J. Yeldon, but it bodes well for the Rams and Jaguars future that both are in this conversation at all. While Peterson leads the league in rushing, his fumbling woes mean that Martin and Stewart would be our consensus starters right now. Seattle backs both miss out—despite fantastic grades—because of low snap counts.
Fullbacks
Patrick DiMarco (ATL) and Jalston Fowler (TEN)
It wasn’t hard picking DiMarco, a true fullback who has a real knack for generating movement. Rookie Fowler edges out fellow 2015 draftee Michael Burton.
Tight ends
Rob Gronkowski (NE), Delanie Walker (TEN), Tyler Eifert (CIN), and Greg Olsen (CAR)
Any objections here? Didn’t think so. Gronkowski has been as “Gronkowski” as ever, with double digit touchdowns and some strong in-line blocking. While it would seem logical for Eifert to get the other start, it’s actually Walker who has stood out more. He has caught plenty of balls, and his blocking has always been underrated.
Wide receivers
Antonio Brown (PIT), Julio Jones (ATL), Larry Fitzgerald (ARI), Allen Robinson (JAX), A.J. Green (CIN), Alshon Jeffery (CHI), Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG), and DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)
With so much wide receiver talent here, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle, so let’s spend some time talking about the standouts—and where better to start than with Brown? He might not have the build of other pass catchers, but given how good he has been this year, and how good he is every year, can we call him the best receiver in football? Jones couldn’t keep his incredible start to the year up (if he did, records would have tumbled), but how he has been as productive as he has with so much defensive attention is incredible.
Tackles
Tyron Smith (DAL), Joe Thomas (CLE), Terron Armstead (NO), Andrew Whitworth (CIN), Mitchell Schwartz (CLE), and Ryan Schraeder (ATL)
We know what you’re thinking: How have Schwartz and Schraeder made this list when guys like Joe Staley, Cordy Glenn and Trent Williams (to name but a few) have not? Well, we can’t ignore the right tackles out there, and those two are the best of the bunch. On the left side, we might not be quite in the age of Jones, Pace, and Ogden, but there’s a plethora of talented tackles, making those who make this team true standouts.
Guards
Marshal Yanda (BAL), Richie Incognito (BUF), Zack Martin (DAL), Kevin Zeitler (CIN), Josh Sitton (GB), and Trai Turner (CAR)
After last year’s fantastic group of guards entering the league, it was always unlikely that the 2015 class would replicate that level of success. But it’s nice to see no real sophomore slump, with Martin and Turner representing the group well. Yanda and Incognito are the standouts of the group.
Center
Joe Berger (MIN), Travis Frederick (DAL), Ryan Kalil (CAR), and Weston Richburg (NYG)
The first three picked themselves, while in the end, it was Richburg who just bested Eric Wood for the final spot. The most notable name is Berger, the backup Vikings lineman who was thrust into a starting spot, and has subsequently earned the highest grade of all centers.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/12/16/pro-pff-pro-bowl-team/
Well, we’re going to give you a rundown of some of the stars this season as we announce the Pro Football Focus Pro Bowl roster.
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady (NE), Carson Palmer (ARI), Cam Newton (CAR), Ben Roethlisberger (PIT), Russell Wilson (SEA), and Aaron Rodgers (GB)
A special mention for both Derek Carr and Andy Dalton, who were beat out for the final spot by Aaron Rodgers, who has had to overcome more than you’d consider fair this season. The standouts are the first four mentioned, all of whom can lay claim to deserving to start.
Running backs
Doug Martin (TB), Jonathan Stewart (CAR), DeAngelo Williams (PIT), Adrian Peterson (MIN), Chris Ivory (NYJ), and Todd Gurley (STL)
In the end, the big-play ability of Gurley won out over the more steady play of T.J. Yeldon, but it bodes well for the Rams and Jaguars future that both are in this conversation at all. While Peterson leads the league in rushing, his fumbling woes mean that Martin and Stewart would be our consensus starters right now. Seattle backs both miss out—despite fantastic grades—because of low snap counts.
Fullbacks
Patrick DiMarco (ATL) and Jalston Fowler (TEN)
It wasn’t hard picking DiMarco, a true fullback who has a real knack for generating movement. Rookie Fowler edges out fellow 2015 draftee Michael Burton.
Tight ends
Rob Gronkowski (NE), Delanie Walker (TEN), Tyler Eifert (CIN), and Greg Olsen (CAR)
Any objections here? Didn’t think so. Gronkowski has been as “Gronkowski” as ever, with double digit touchdowns and some strong in-line blocking. While it would seem logical for Eifert to get the other start, it’s actually Walker who has stood out more. He has caught plenty of balls, and his blocking has always been underrated.
Wide receivers
Antonio Brown (PIT), Julio Jones (ATL), Larry Fitzgerald (ARI), Allen Robinson (JAX), A.J. Green (CIN), Alshon Jeffery (CHI), Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG), and DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)
With so much wide receiver talent here, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle, so let’s spend some time talking about the standouts—and where better to start than with Brown? He might not have the build of other pass catchers, but given how good he has been this year, and how good he is every year, can we call him the best receiver in football? Jones couldn’t keep his incredible start to the year up (if he did, records would have tumbled), but how he has been as productive as he has with so much defensive attention is incredible.
Tackles
Tyron Smith (DAL), Joe Thomas (CLE), Terron Armstead (NO), Andrew Whitworth (CIN), Mitchell Schwartz (CLE), and Ryan Schraeder (ATL)
We know what you’re thinking: How have Schwartz and Schraeder made this list when guys like Joe Staley, Cordy Glenn and Trent Williams (to name but a few) have not? Well, we can’t ignore the right tackles out there, and those two are the best of the bunch. On the left side, we might not be quite in the age of Jones, Pace, and Ogden, but there’s a plethora of talented tackles, making those who make this team true standouts.
Guards
Marshal Yanda (BAL), Richie Incognito (BUF), Zack Martin (DAL), Kevin Zeitler (CIN), Josh Sitton (GB), and Trai Turner (CAR)
After last year’s fantastic group of guards entering the league, it was always unlikely that the 2015 class would replicate that level of success. But it’s nice to see no real sophomore slump, with Martin and Turner representing the group well. Yanda and Incognito are the standouts of the group.
Center
Joe Berger (MIN), Travis Frederick (DAL), Ryan Kalil (CAR), and Weston Richburg (NYG)
The first three picked themselves, while in the end, it was Richburg who just bested Eric Wood for the final spot. The most notable name is Berger, the backup Vikings lineman who was thrust into a starting spot, and has subsequently earned the highest grade of all centers.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/12/16/pro-pff-pro-bowl-team/
