Travis Kelce, Eric Berry, Spencer Ware on 2017 Rising 50 list
By Matt Conner
Three members of the Kansas City Chiefs are on the NFLPA’s 2017 Rising 50 list of players presumed to break out in merch sales in the next year.
The Kansas City Chiefs failed to place a single player in the top 50 in jersey sales for the last calendar year, a marketing fail that we probed here at Arrowhead Addict wondering why the Chiefs don’t have the fandom they should given the star players, inspiring stories, winning culture and so on. However, the National Football League’s Player Association unveiled their 2017 Rising 50 on Tuesday, and there are signs that the Chiefs could move up the rankings in the future.
Three members of the Chiefs landed on the Rising 50 list: tight end Travis Kelce (No. 17 overall), running back Spencer Ware (No. 31) and safety Eric Berry (No. 38). They sit alongside several other veterans and rookies, including Myles Garrett, this year’s No. 1 overall pick, and Christian McCaffrey. The list is headed by Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson.
The list is intended to help identify the most likely players to break out in the next year in terms of popularity and licensed sales.
"“The Rising 50 helps alleviate some of the risk and uncertainty partners face when considering which new players to include in their marketing and merchandising plans,” said Steve Scebelo, NFLPA vice president of licensing and business development. “Only the NFLPA has the unique insights into the players’ interests and personalities, which we can match with partners seeking to extend their product assortments and add fresh faces to their campaigns.”"