Michael Nania stacks up the top-40 offensive players that the New York Jets will face in 2020.
All stats are regular season only unless otherwise noted.
40. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Key 2019 stats:
- Most receptions without a drop (75)
- 3rd in slot receptions (60)
- 13th in slot receiving yards (668)
39. Austin Hooper, TE, Cleveland Browns
Key 2019 stats:
- 3rd among TE in receiving touchdowns per game (0.46) with 6 in 13 games
- 5th among TE in receiving yards per game (60.5)
38. Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Key 2019 stats:
- Led WR in air yards per reception (16.6)
- Led WR in yards per reception (20.4)
- 3rd among WR in yards per target (11.1)
- 5th in receiving yards (471) and 8th in receptions (12) on targets over 20 yards downfield
- 26th in receiving yards per game (66.7)
37. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
Key 2019 stats:
- 1st in slot targets (101), receptions (69), and drops (9)
- 5th in slot receiving yards (539), 9th in slot touchdowns (4), and 10th in yards per route run from the slot (1.79 – out of 32 qualifiers)
- 5th in receptions (100)
- 12th in receiving first downs (54)
36. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Key 2019 stats:
- 2nd among WR in yards after catch per reception (8.3)
- Led WR in rushing yards (159) and rushing touchdowns (3), averaging a tremendous 11.4 yards per carry
- 11th among WR in yards per target (9.9)
- 15th among WR in yards per route run (2.04)
35. Darren Waller, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Key 2019 stats:
- 3rd among TE in receiving yards per game (71.6)
- 11th in receptions (90)
- 15th in receiving yards (1,145)
34. Kenyan Drake, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Key 2019 stats:
- After being traded to Arizona, ranked 2nd in rushing touchdowns (8), 6th in rushing yards (643), and 6th in yards per carry (5.2 – out of 40 qualifiers) from Weeks 9-17
33. Joel Bitonio, OG, Cleveland Browns
Key 2019 stats:
- PFF’s 8th-ranked OG (74.2 grade) – ranked 6th in 2018 and 10th in 2017
- 6th among OG in pass blocking efficiency (17 pressures and 3 sacks allowed over 595 snaps in protection)
32. Phillip Lindsay, RB, Denver Broncos
Key 2019 stats:
- 17th in rushing yards per game (63.2)
- First RB since Chris Johnson (2008-09) with 1,000+ rushing yards, 4.5+ yards per carry, 7+ rushing touchdowns, and 150+ receiving yards in each of first two seasons. Only others to do it are Clinton Portis (2002-03), Barry Sanders (1989-90), and Tony Dorsett (1977-78)
31. Philip Rivers, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Key 2019 stats:
- (Out of 32) 6th in passing yards per game (288.4), 11th in yards per attempt (7.8), 17th in passer rating (88.5), 25th in touchdown pass rate (3.9%), 30th in interception rate (3.4%)
- PFF’s 17th-ranked QB out of 32 (74.3 grade), 22nd of 30 in ESPN’s QBR (48.6)
30. Melvin Gordon, RB, Denver Broncos
Key 2019 stats:
- 7th in rushing touchdowns per game (0.67) with 8 in 12 games
- 27th in rushing yards per game (51.0)
- 41st out of 45 in yards after contact per carry (2.5)
Key career stats:
- 4th in receiving touchdowns (10) and 7th in receiving yards (1,385) among RB from 2016-18
- 5th among all players in scrimmage yards per game in 2018 (114.3)
- 8th in yards per carry in 2018 (5.1)
29. Rodney Hudson, C, Las Vegas Raiders
Key 2019 stats:
- 1st among C in pass blocking efficiency (3 pressures allowed over 502 snaps in protection)
- PFF’s 11th-ranked C (71.0 grade) including 1st in pass protection (91.2 grade)
28. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Key 2019 stats:
- 6th in receptions made over 20 yards downfield
- Tied for 9th in receiving touchdowns (8th)
- 28th in receiving yards per game (66.1)
27. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Key 2019 stats:
- (Out of 32) 3rd in yards per attempt (8.4), 7th in touchdown pass rate (5.7%), 8th in passer rating (102.0), 17th in passing yards per game (248.6), 25th in interception rate (2.7%)
- PFF’s 13th-ranked QB out of 32 (78.2 grade), 12th of 30 in ESPN’s QBR (58.8)
26. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Key 2019 stats:
- 14th in receptions over 20 yards downfield (10)
- 14th among WR in PFF run blocking grade (70.9)
- 44th in receiving yards per game (56.3)
- 71.7 yards per game over final 10 games
25. John Brown, WR, Buffalo Bills
Key 2019 stats:
- 10th in air yards per reception (11.8)
- 22nd in receiving yards per game (72.7)
24. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
Key 2019 stats:
- 9th-lowest drop rate (4.0%) out of 40 WR with 50+ receptions
- 12th among WR in yards per route run (2.08)
- 24th in receiving yards per game (69.5)
23. Richie Incognito, OG, Las Vegas Raiders
Key 2019 stats:
- PFF’s 10th-ranked OG (74.0 grade) including 2nd in pass protection (88.5 grade)
- 2nd among G in pass blocking efficiency (9 pressures allowed over 413 snaps in protection)
22. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Key 2019 stats:
- Down year – 56th in receiving yards per game (50.1)
- However, Jacoby Brissett had a 106.3 passer rating when targeting Hilton (Brissett had an 84.8 rating targeting all others)
Key career stats:
- Career-high 90.7 receiving yards per game in 2018
- 4th in receiving yards from 2013-18 (7,236)
- 5th in yards per reception (min. 150 catches) from 2013-18 (15.8)
21. DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins
Key 2019 stats:
- 4th in receiving touchdowns (9), 5th in receiving yards (1,202) and 13th in receiving yards per game (75.1)
- 6th in air yards per reception (13.0)
- 104.7 receiving yards per game from Weeks 11-17 (led NFL)
20. Jarvis Landry, WR, Cleveland Browns
Key 2019 stats:
- 7th in receiving yards from the slot (675)
- 15th among WR in yards per route run (2.04)
- 17th in receiving yards per game (73.4)
19. Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Key 2019 stats:
- 3rd in yards after contact per carry (3.5)
- 5th in broken tackles per rush attempt (0.223) with 62 (3rd-most) on 278 carries (5th-most)
- 6th in rushing yards per game (82.0)
18. Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Key 2019 stats:
- 1st in yards per route run from the slot (2.55) out of 32 qualifiers
- 4th among WR in yards after catch per reception (6.4)
- 7th among WR in PFF run blocking grade (75.8)
- 10th in receiving yards per game (75.6)
17. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Key 2019 stats (only 5 GP):
- 1st among RB in receiving touchdowns (8) and yards per route run (2.74), 2nd in total receiving yards (993)
- 4th in broken tackles per rush attempt (0.227) with 30 (25th-most) on 132 carries (34th-most)
16. Joe Thuney, OG, New England Patriots
Key 2019 stats:
- PFF’s 5th-ranked G (77.4 grade)
- 3rd among G in pass blocking efficiency (16 pressures, 1 sack over 648 snaps in protection)
15. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Key 2019 stats:
- 1st in slot receiving yards (853)
- 1st in yards per route run from the slot (2.23) out of 23 qualifiers
- 2nd in receiving touchdowns (10)
- 12th in receiving yards (1,161)
14. Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Key 2019 stats:
- PFF’s 5th-ranked OT (84.0 grade)
- 2nd among OT in pass blocking efficiency (20 pressures, 0 sacks over 622 snaps in protection)
- PFF’s top-ranked OT in the playoffs (92.8 grade)
- Gave up 1 pressure over 134 snaps in protection over 3 playoff games
13. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Key 2019 stats:
- 7th-most yards per route run from the slot (1.91) out of 32 qualifiers
- Tied for 5th in receiving first downs (65) and ranked 6th in receiving yards (1,199)
12. Quenton Nelson, OG, Indianapolis Colts
Key 2019 stats:
- PFF’s 2nd-ranked OG (91.2 grade)
- 10th among G in pass blocking efficiency (20 pressures, 0 sacks allowed over 559 protection snaps)
11. Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers
Key career stats:
- From 2011-18, his average ranking among OT in PFF’s overall grade was 9th
- Just 3 sacks allowed from 2016-18 (1,373 pass blocking snaps)
10. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Key 2019 stats:
- 1st in broken tackles per rush attempt (0.285) with league-leading 69 on 242 carries (13th-most)
- 3rd in rushing yards per game (88.5)
9. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
Key 2019 stats:
- Tied with Kenny Golladay for league lead with 16 receptions over 20 yards downfield (led NFL with 1.1 of those grabs per game)
- Led NFL with 635 yards and 6 touchdowns on catches made over 20 yards downfield
- 2nd in yards per target (12.0) behind A.J. Brown (12.5)
- 2nd among WR in yards per route run (2.69)
- 11th in receiving yards per game (75.3)
8. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
Key 2019 stats:
- 2nd in rushing yards (1,494)
- 2nd in broken tackles as a rusher (66)
- 2nd in yards after contact per carry (3.8)
7. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Key 2019 stats:
- 4th in yards per route run (2.45)
- 20th in receiving yards per game (71.7)
Key career stats:
- Leads NFL with 17 receiving touchdowns over 20 yards downfield since 2017 (17)
- Leads qualified players with 10.6 yards per target since 2017
- 3rd in receiving touchdowns (26) and 6th in receiving yards per game (81.9) since 2017
6. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns
Key 2019 stats:
- Down year, career-worst 64.7 yards per game which ranked 32nd
- Also a career-worst 0.25 touchdowns per game with 4 in 16 games
Key career stats:
- 3rd all-time in career receiving yards per game (86.5)
5. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Key 2019 stats:
- 4th in NFL and 1st among TE in receiving yards (1,229)
- 4th among TE in yards per route run (2.23)
Key career stats:
- Leads TE in receiving yards since 2018 (2,565)
- 2nd among TE in receiving yards per game since 2018 (80.2)
4. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
Key 2019 stats:
- 1st out of 44 qualified TE with 3.12 yards per route run, best mark by a tight end since Rob Gronkowski in 2016 (3.20)
- 3rd-lowest drop rate among TE (1.2%)
- 4th-best PFF run blocking grade among TE (76.2)
Key career stats:
- Leads TE in receiving yards per game since 2018 (81.0)
3. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Key career stats:
- 2nd in receiving yards since 2014 (7,800), trailing only Julio Jones (9,388)
- 2nd in receiving touchdowns since (2014 (52), trailing only Antonio Brown (60)
2. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Key career stats:
- Has started all 143 possible career games (including playoffs) and won at least 9 games in each season
- 2nd-best career passer rating in NFL history among qualifiers (101.2), trailing only Aaron Rodgers (102.4)
1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Key career stats:
- Leads NFL in yards per attempt over past two seasons (8.58) – difference between Mahomes and 2nd-ranked Rivers (0.46) is about equal to difference between Rivers (8.12) and 9th-ranked Matt Ryan (7.67)
- Also leads NFL in passing touchdowns (76) and passing yards per game (304.3) since 2018
Honorable mentions: OT Duane Brown (SEA), OT Anthony Castonzo (IND), OT Mike McGlinchey (SF), OT Trent Brown (LVR), OT Andrew Whitworth (LAR), OG Graham Glasgow (DEN), OG Shaq Mason (NE), C J.C. Tretter (CLE), WR Cole Beasley (BUF), QB Jared Goff (LAR), QB Baker Mayfield (CLE), RB Marlon Mack (IND), RB Devin Singletary (BUF)
