ESPN has released their predictions for the Top 100 NFL players for 2018 and the Chiefs are fairly well represented starting with Travis Kelce.
ESPN has released their predictions for the Top 100 NFL players for 2018 and the Chiefs are fairly well represented starting with Travis Kelce.
The Kansas City Chiefs are well-represented on both sides of the ball when it comes to ESPN’s Top 100 NFL Players for 2018, a list of predicted rankings on how they believe the upcoming season will shake out.
ESPN’s list begins with the obvious, with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers up top. It makes good sense to put the league’s best overall quarterbacks up there, but even from there, the list begins to get very interesting starting at No. 3. Aaron Donald, arguably the league’s best defender clocks in right at that point followed immediately by Antonio Brown. Forget Drew Brees or any other quarterback. It’s an interesting start that shines a light on other positions in a refreshing way.
Back to the Chiefs. Starting at No. 22 overall, the Chiefs begin to populate the list at a nice rate. Travis Kelce comes in at No. 22 overall, and the fact that he shows up so early (and as the team’s top representative) shows that Kelce’s popularity is set to reach household status in 2018 if he hasn’t already. For those interested, Rob Gronkowski is the top tight end represented at No. 12.
From there, Eric Berry is next at No. 36 and is the team’s top defender listed in the rankings. Seeing Berry so high is a needed reminder that when the Chiefs lose Berry for a full year, it’s natural for a lot of things to also fall apart around him. The Chiefs depend heavily on Berry for good reason, and when he’s healthy, he’s the best safety in the entire NFL. Imagine how much higher Berry would be if he’d played more than a few snaps in Game 1 in 2017.
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Kareem Hunt shows up at No. 52 overall, a rookie dynamo whose ability to break tackles not only earned him the NFL rushing title in his first year but quickly cemented his reputation as a near-impossibility to bring down. The Chiefs will depend on Hunt to repeat his success this year to help ease the pressure on Patrick Mahomes in his first year as the team’s starting quarterback.
Justin Houston comes in at No. 69, a sign that those in the know respect Houston as an elite defender even today even if casual fans want to write him off due to the lack of sacks and the size of his contract. Ever since his 22 sack season, Houston has struggled with injuries and the inability to generate similar totals. The reality is that the Chiefs have floundered in any attempt to develop someone across from him, meaning defensive coordinators can simply choose to send multiple guys toward Houston. Even the best players can only do so much when double or triple-teamed.
At No. 75, the NFL’s fastest player clocks in with Tyreek Hill. If projections hold up and the preseason chemistry with Mahomes is any indication, Hill will be much higher at season’s end. Last year he was incredible efficient for a downfield threat. If he can maintain those metrics, there’s little reason for Hill to not be included alongside the likes of Julio Jones or A.J. Green a year from now.
With five players in the Top 75 overall, the Chiefs have more top end talent than most teams and that doesn’t even begin to include some players who could vie for the Top 100 in any other given year. Patrick Mahomes is certainly going to want to infiltrate this list once fans on a national level can see what he can do as a starter. Chris Jones has no clear ceiling along the defensive line. Kendall Fuller could be known as a shutdown corner with another year of development. Mitchell Schwartz is an under-appreciated cornerstone on the offensive line.
Here’s hoping all this elite talent makes up for some roster holes showing themselves in the preseason and sets the Chiefs season out in the right direction.