Quarterbacks
Madden Reality
Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), 99 99
Joe Burrow (Bengals), 95 97
Josh Allen (Bills), 94 93
Lamar Jackson (Ravens), 91 91
Jalen Hurts (Eagles), 88 93
Dak Prescott (Cowboys), 87 84
Justin Herbert (Chargers), 87 89
Aaron Rodgers (Jets), 86 88
Kirk Cousins (Vikings), 84 84
Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins), 83 83
Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars), 82 86
Significant Changes Explained:
Joe Burrow, arguably the most accurate quarterback in the NFL, has an all-time NFL record 68.2 completion percentage through the first 42 games of his career. He also has a 3-1 career record against Patrick Mahomes, so a 4 overall discrepancy seems a bit overkill. However, he lost to Mahomes and the Chiefs in this year’s AFC Championship, and after Mahomes’ consummate MVP season, Burrow will have to do the same for a 98-99. 95 → 97.
Josh Allen, the Madden 24 cover athlete, deserves a 93. In the AFC Divisional, Allen and the Bills folded to Burrow’s Bengals at home in Buffalo. Since 2020, nobody has thrown more interceptions (38) than Allen, and that narrative continued last year. Allen ended the 2022 season tied for the 2nd most interceptions (14) in the NFL. Allen also leads the NFL in turnover worthy plays. The Bills have a Top 3 quarterback, but he needs to start playing like one year-round. 94 → 93.
Jalen Hurts finished 2nd in MVP voting last season, led all quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns (13), and led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, where he narrowly lost to Mahomes and the Chiefs (38-35). Hurts threw for 307 yards (27/38) and 1 touchdown in Arizona to go along with 70 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Hurts proved to be a top 5 quarterback last season and one of, if not the best dual threat quarterbacks in the NFL. While he had a breakout year, one season is insufficient to vault him in front of the likes of Mahomes, Burrow, and Allen. 88 → 93.
Dak Prescott in the top 6, Justin Herbert at an 87, and Trevor Lawrence out of the top 10 are all asinine rankings. Madden just lost its credibility. Dak Prescott led the NFL with 15 interceptions last year and only played 12 games. Davis Mills (15 ints) and Derek Carr (14 ints) played 15 games, Allen (14 ints) played 16 games, and Kirk Cousins (14 ints) played 17 games. Jalen Hurts, whom Madden believes to be just one overall better than Prescott, threw just 6 interceptions in 15 games. Furthermore, Justin Herbert, whom Madden ranks as Prescott’s equal, threw for 4,739 yards with 10 interceptions in 17 games, while America’s quarterback threw for just 2,860 yards. Finally, Madden left Trevor Lawrence out of the top 10, despite Lawrence’s 27-0 comeback against Herbert’s Chargers in the AFC Wild Card game. While Lawrence got the best of Herbert’s Chargers and the two have very similar playstyles, Herbert has the edge at this point in their young careers. Herbert plays in a more competitive division, while Lawrence’s AFC South is arguably the worst in the NFL, hence the Jaguars’ division title with a 9-8 record overall. Nevertheless, Lawrence and the Jaguars came out of nowhere last season as the NFL’s dark horse team of the year, while Prescott’s Cowboys were perhaps the most disappointing team, given their Pro Bowl talent on paper.
Prescott 87 → 84; Herbert 87 → 89; Lawrence 82 → 86.
Running Backs
Madden Reality
Nick Chubb (Browns), 97 97
Christian McCaffery (49ers), 96 97
Josh Jacobs (Raiders), 95 95
Derrick Henry (Titans), 93 96
Saquon Barkley (Giants), 93 93
Dalvin Cook (Vikings), 91 90
Austin Ekeler (Chargers), 89 89
Jonathan Taylor (Colts), 89 89
Aaron Jones (Packers), 88 88
Tony Pollard (Cowboys), 88 87
Joe Mixon (Bengals), 87 89
Alvin Kamara (Saints), 86 91
Najee Harris (Steelers), 83 88
Significant Changes Explained:
Derrick Henry is still Derrick Henry. The Titans signed DeAndre Hopkins this season to pair with sophomore wideout Treylon Burks, which should open up the run game for Henry. Last season, when the Titans were possibly the most predictable offense in the NFL, considering their lack of a passing game, Henry still tallied 1,538 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, with nine 100+ yard rushing games, including a 219 yard game against the Texans. 93 → 96.
Joe Mixon & Najee Harris belong in the same conversation with Austin Ekeler, Jonathan Taylor, and Aaron Jones. Mixon and Harris have played crucial roles as dual threat backs for their respective AFC North teams. Harris excels at catching the ball out of the backfield, while Mixon will grind up the middle. Unfortunately, the young Alabama back in Harris has been overutalized. If the Steelers aren’t careful, he could have a short career. Mixon 87 → 89; Harris → 83 → 88.
Alvin Kamara is not the 12th best running back in the NFL. Kamara played with a lingering injury all year for a sorry New Orleans Saints team, but he should be back to his true form in 2023. The Saints have the best roster in the AFC South this year, although that isn’t saying much. They begin 2023 with a respectable quarterback in Derek Carr, Chris Olave and Michael Thomas as a 1-2 punch at wide receiver, and Kamara in the backfield. If Kamara and Thomas can stay healthy, the Saints should win the South by default. 86 → 91.
Wide Receivers
Madden Reality
Justin Jefferson (Vikings), 99 98
Tyreek Hill (Dolphins), 98 97
Davante Adams (Raiders), 97 98
Cooper Kupp (Rams), 96 96
Stefon Diggs (Bills), 96 96
Jamarr Chase (Bengals), 94 97
DeAndre Hopkins (Titans), 93 93
Terry McLaurin (Washington), 92 92
AJ Brown (Eagles), 91 93
Amari Cooper (Browns), 91 90
Garrett Wilson (Jets), 84 90
Significant Changes Explained:
Justin Jefferson, the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, climbed to the top of the wide receiver ranks last season. He dominated against divisional opponents, made timely catches, and put up other worldly numbers. However, Jefferson underperformed five times last season, including in the Vikings’ lone playoff game at home against the New York Giants when he totaled just 47 yards. Here are Jefferson’s four other poor performances from 2022:
Week 1 vs. Bears: 4 receptions, 38 yards.
Week 2 vs. Packers: 1 reception, 15 yards.
Week 8 vs. Cowboys: 3 receptions, 33 yards.
Week 15 vs. Lions: 3 receptions, 14 yards.
Like Jefferson, Davante Adams had his ups and downs in 2022. Adams dominated divisional opponents like the Chargers in Weeks 6 and 17 when he totaled 177 yards and 2 touchdowns and 141 yards and 1 touchdown, respectively. He also tallied 153 yards and 2 touchdowns against the 49ers in Week 2. Adams did all of this with Derek Carr and Jarrett Stidham at quarterback. Similarly, Jefferson caught 11 balls for 233 yards in Week 5, 10 balls for 193 yards and 1 touchdown in Week 9, and 9 balls for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 17. Jefferson is currently the best receiver in the NFL, slightly above Adams, but he’s not a 99. Unfortunately, Jefferson and Adams will be dependent upon Kirk Cousins and Jimmy Garoppolo this season. With said inconsistency at the quarterback position, Adams and Jefferson will struggle to be consistent themselves, again. Thus, while there are several potential 99 overall receivers, none currently exist in the NFL, given said positions on their respective teams. Jefferson 99 → 98, Adams 97 → 98.
Ja’Marr Chase played just 12 games last year and still finished with over 1,000 receiving yards. No other player with over 1,000 receiving yards last season played less than 15 games. In the playoffs, Chase led all wide receivers in yards (220) and receptions (20). In 2021, when he played a full 17-game season, Chase finished 4th in the NFL in receiving yards (1,455) and 2nd in yards per reception (18). Chase has proven to be a Top 5 receiver when healthy, and he’s well on his way to enterting the Top 3. 94 → 97.
AJ Brown and Garrett Wilson were both overlooked, despite their Pro Bowl seasons in 2022. Brown changed life in Philadelphia for Hurts and the Eagles, while Wilson had a breakout rookie season, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. Brown finished 4th in receiving yards (1,496) and 3rd in touchdowns (11) among wide receivers. His 1,496-yard season set the Eagles franchise record for most receiving yards in a single season. Next door in New York, Wilson put up a 1,000-yard season of his own for the Jets, despite a revolving door at quarterback. With Aaron Rodgers coming to Gotham City, Wilson’s numbers could be spectacular. Brown 91 → 93; Wilson 84 → 90.
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