Best offensive players on New York Jets’ 2020 schedule

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)