Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce named 2 of PFF’s top 3 NFL players

On Friday, Pro Football Focus unveiled the final ten entries in their list of the Top 50 NFL Players for the 2021 season, a process that has slowly unfolded in fifths over the course of the last week. The K.C. Chiefs didn’t see their first entry on the list until the top 20 was unveiled, but it turns out they were waiting to dominate the very top of the list.

Both quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce were named as two of the top three players in the NFL, following only Aaron Donald, defensive tackle for the L.A. Rams, who reigned at No. 1 overall.

Mahomes’ entry at No. 2 overall only cements his standing as the best overall offensive player in the entire game and the best young quarterback in the league. Mahomes was the NFL’s MVP in his first full season as a starter back in 2018 and he’s finished in the top voting over the last two years. He’s the favorite once again in ’21, and that status won;’t go away for some time. As PFF details:

"It took a complete collapse by a backup offensive line in the Super Bowl to keep him from winning back-to-back championships by the age of 25."

The Chiefs boast two of the NFL’s top three players.

It’s a bit surprising to see Kelce so high up the list. For sure, he was destined to be in the top 10, but he’s become so dominant, so impactful at what he does, that he transcends the tight end role. Kelce has five consecutive seasons of more than 1,000 yards receiving, and last year he set personal marks in touchdowns, yards, and receptions. PFF notes:

"He is one of the most unguardable players in the game at any position, a true matchup nightmare for opposing defenses."

Beyond Kelce, Tyreek Hill was listed at No. 18 and Chris Jones landed at No. 19 to give the Chiefs four within the top 20 players in the league.