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While quarterbacks get all the attention, there are plenty of overlooked stars in the NFL. Danny Boily ranks the top 32 non-quarterbacks for each team in 2024.
Who are the best players on each team that aren't quarterbacks? One player was chosen for each team, and those players were ranked against each other. You may notice that San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is absent from this list. While McCaffrey may be one of the top five players in the NFL, offensive tackle Trent Williams is so dominant in his position that he won out in this article.
Choosing the top player for each team can be tricky, especially when comparing multiple positions. Offensive linemen do not have statistics (except scout grading), so you have to look at other measurables to determine their importance and skill. Either way, this list is chock-full of studs that dominate their positions consistently every week.
Let’s look at the teams with the most dominant individual players whose jobs aren't to chuck the pigskin. Disclaimer - there are names of some amazing players that are not on this list, so please don't be mad at me!
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Fantastic Studs (No. 32 to No. 27)
32. Terry McLaurin, WR - Washington Commanders
McLaurin had 1,002 yards and only four touchdowns last season. He’s better than that, but poor quarterback play has held him back. New QB Jayden Daniels should only help McLaurin's production in 2024.
31. Jonathan Taylor, RB - Indianapolis Colts
In 2021, Taylor rushed for 20 touchdowns and was considered the best fantasy football player on the planet heading into 2022. The season with Matt Ryan under center did not go as planned and it was a slow start for Taylor in 2023 after holding out in training camp. The good news is Taylor finished with 15.6 fantasy points per game in 2023, received a much-needed contract extension, and is now being drafted in the first round again.
I never realized how crazy this run is from Jonathan Taylor. He’s just striding, as soon as he sees someone behind him he turns on the boosters🏃🏾💨 pic.twitter.com/sFDFP5NTuw
— CLew 🏈🏀⚾️🥊 (@droppedballspod) October 6, 2023
30. Matt Milano, LB - Buffalo Bills
The converted linebacker suffered a season-ending injury (broken leg) last season but looks to return to his 2022 pro-bowl form, where he recorded 99 tackles and three interceptions.
29. Trey McBride, TE - Arizona Cardinals
McBride is a hot commodity in the fantasy community. Heading into his third year, he will likely finish only second on the team to rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. in receiving yards and catches. In 2023, McBride finished with 10.2 yards per catch and broke the 100-yard barrier in two games. He could easily surpass both of those numbers this year
Here's the Arizona Cardinals TD trick play on 4th down. Both K Matt Prater and P Blake Gillikin split out wide but don't run routes.
TE Trey McBride says Kyler Murray's first option was supposed to be Greg Dortch but he gets knocked down. McBride ended up hauling in the TD. pic.twitter.com/ga9tdw0Eza
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) January 9, 2024
28. Devon Witherspoon, CB - Seattle Seahawks
Witherspoon lived up to his first-round potential as a rookie in 2023. While playing primarily in the slot, he was only targeted by opposing QBs 82 times on the season and kept the yards per reception to 9.1. His future is a bright one.
27. Christian Barmore, DT - New England Patriots
Barmore was a star for the Patriots last year. The 24-year-old recorded eight and a half sacks, 28 QB pressures, and 13 tackles for losses. The Patriots wisely signed him to a long-term contract this offseason.
Simply Awesome Players (No. 26 to No. 21)
26. Rashawn Slater, OT - Los Angeles Chargers
Slater is considered one of the best pass protectors in the league, and Jim Harbaugh's arrival as the Chargers' new head coach will only make him better.
25. Puka Nacua, WR - Los Angeles Rams
What a fantastic rookie season Nacua had last year. He averaged 17.7 fantasy points a game by amassing 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns. A healthy Cooper Kupp might help him even more, as the double teams will be reduced this year.
what a catch by Puka Nacua pic.twitter.com/rEY3ol1I3A
— Patty Honcho 🤹🏾♂️ (@PATTY_HONCHO) December 10, 2023
24. Jaire Alexander, CB - Green Bay Packers
If only Alexander could stay healthy. As one of the best corners in the league, he is a difference-maker. In his seven games last year, he was only targeted 33 times, as QBs do not want to throw his way.
23. Derrick Brown, DT - Carolina Panthers
The Panthers had a season to forget last year, but Brown had an excellent season individually. While he only registered two sacks, Brown had 21 QB pressures and recorded a league-record 103 tackles from an interior defensive lineman.
22. L’Jarius Sneed, CB - Tennessee Titans
Sneed immediately becomes the best player on the team, and the Titans recently signed him to a long-term extension that will keep Smeed on the roster until 2027. He brings stability (he has only missed one game over the past three seasons) and is a player that Tennessee can build around over the next four years.
21. Demario Davis, LB - New Orleans Saints
Even though he’s 35 years old, Davis is one of the best linebackers in the league. He has been named to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons and recorded 120 tackles while adding six and a half sacks in 2023.
Elite Talent (No. 20 to No. 11)
20. Laremy Tunsil, OT - Houston Texans
The 29-year-old tackle is still one of the best players in the NFL. He was a huge part of keeping rookie phenom C.J. Stroud healthy and on his feet along the way to one of the best rookie quarterback seasons we have ever seen.
19. Jaylon Johnson, CB - Chicago Bears
On a team with this much talent, it is saying something that Johnson is the top player on the Bears. The former second-round draft pick has exceeded expectations and improved every year in the NFL. He has become a true No. 1 corner.
18. Chris Lindstrom, OG - Atlanta Falcons
Lindstrom has always been a dominant run-blocker, but he added more than solid pass protection in 2023, allowing only three sacks on the season. He is considered by many to be the best guard in the NFL.
17. Kyle Hamilton, S - Baltimore Ravens
Hamilton was a first-team All-Pro in 2023, recording 81 tackles, three sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, and four interceptions. After being drafted in the first round in 2022, the versatile, strong safety is only just getting started.
16. A.J. Brown, WR - Philadelphia Eagles
Brown is one of the best receivers in the NFL. In 2023, he put up another impressive season with 1,456 receiving yards (473 of those yards after the catch), 106 receptions, and seven touchdowns. His consistency is key for the Eagles (and fantasy managers), as he had 1,496 yards in 2022 in his first year with Philadelphia.
Preposterous catch from AJ Brown. pic.twitter.com/dHSZsUXzvh
— NFL Fashion Advice (@fashion_nfl) October 29, 2023
15. Josh Hines-Allen, DE - Jacksonville Jaguars
With 17.5 sacks and 67 tackles (including 17 for a loss), Hines-Allen was a force to be reckoned with last season. The Jaguars rewarded him with a five-year contract extension worth $150 million.
14. Patrick Surtain II, CB - Denver Broncos
2023 wasn’t the season we were used to from Surtain, but that came with the territory considering the terrible team around him. He is still one of the best corners (if not the best) in the NFL. Expect Surtain to bounce back in a big way this year.
13. Antoine Winfield Jr., S - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winfield is a very similar impact safety to Kyle Hamilton, but he had an even better 2023 season. Winfield Jr. had six sacks, three interceptions, and a whopping 122 tackles. Winfield Jr. is listed as a free safety but can play in the box, cover most inside receivers at slot, and pressure the QB.
12. Dexter Lawrence, DT - New York Giants
A monster in the middle of the defense, Lawrence is stout against the run and provides a valuable pass rush for the G-Men. While his 4.5 sacks may not stand out, his 41 QB pressures show how just much he forces the opposing quarterback to get rid of the ball quickly. With edge rusher Brian Burns now added to the team, it could free up Lawrence for even more havoc in 2024.
11. Ja'Marr Chase, WR - Cincinnati Bengals
It was considered a down year for Chase in 2023, yet he still reeled off 1,216 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Big and fast, Chase is still one of the most feared receivers in the NFL and can take one to the house at any time.
The deep TD to Ja'Marr Chase was a beauty off of the Shanahan "heat" concept.
Joe Burrow's bomb is absolutely gorgeous on all-22. pic.twitter.com/CoLaFxqvk3
— mike (@bengals_sans) October 9, 2023
Franchise Cornerstones (No. 10 to No. 1)
10. Penei Sewell, OT - Detroit Lions
It is rare for a team’s best player to be at right tackle, but Sewell is a stud. He is big and athletic and can dominate the run and the pass. He exemplifies what head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have built in Detroit.
9. Chris Jones, DT - Kansas City Chiefs
Defensively, Jones had as much of an impact on the team's success as Mahomes did on offense during their recent back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Jones' 10.5 sacks as an interior lineman were more than a lot of edge rushers last season.
8. Sauce Gardner, CB - New York Jets
Gardner was named as an All-Pro player in his first two years in the NFL. He only allowed two TDs all year and was targeted 10.1% of the time (#2 in the league) by opposing QBs. Simply put, he routinely shuts down half of the field.
7. Maxx Crosby, DE - Las Vegas Raiders
Crosby is as reliable as they come. In his five seasons for the Raiders, Crosby has only missed two games. Over that span, he has produced 52 sacks (including 14.5 in 2023).
6. Micah Parsons, DE/LB - Dallas Cowboys
The same can be said for Parsons as for Maxx Crosby. He has only missed one game in three seasons and already has 40.5 sacks (including 14 in 2023) in his young career. Parsons is a versatile chess piece with the ability to line up almost anywhere.
5. Justin Jefferson, WR - Minnesota Vikings
This ranking says much about Jefferson’s talent, considering he only played 10 games in 2023. Jefferson still averaged 20.2 fantasy points per game by putting up 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. Jefferson is one of the best players in the NFL, regardless of position.
4.) T.J. Watt, DE - Pittsburgh Steelers
Watt tied the NFL record with 22.5 sacks in 2021 and led the league again in 2023 with 19. The only thing that held him back in 2022 was an injury that limited him to 10 games played. Plan on Watt competing for the sack title once again.
3. Tyreek Hill, WR - Miami Dolphins
Hill wants to break the record for most receiving yards in a season by going over 2,000, and he almost did it in 2023. Hill had the most receiving yards with 1,799 but fell short due to a missed game and a couple of others when he had to be pulled from the field early due to injury. We may see him break the receiving record in 2024.
Tua with an ABSOLUTE DIME to Tyreek Hill for a 60 yard TD ‼️🎯 #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/T6HZRr4pxq
— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) December 3, 2023
2. Trent Williams, OT - San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are full of talent, and Williams is the most dominant of the bunch. He did not allow a single sack in 2023 and received a 92.5 rating by PFF for his run-blocking (he is an absolute mauler). Williams received his fourth All-Pro selection last season and doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
1. Myles Garrett, DE - Cleveland Browns
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year recorded 14 sacks and 86 QB pressures in 2023. Coaches need to scheme for him every week, and offenses need to identify him on each play (or suffer the wrath he will ensue). Garrett earns the No. 1 ranking on this list simply due to his sheer dominance.
Myles Garrett. My goodness. Generational speed+power combo. #Browns pic.twitter.com/3KeYtc0vDk
— Browns Film Breakdown (@BrownsFilmBDN) October 4, 2021
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