Best players
1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers: Rodgers is the single most exciting player to watch in today's NFL, a player whose combination of pure athletic skill and strategic brilliance makes him almost impossible for defenses to contain.
2. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots: Is this man ever going to slow down? At age 40 last season, he won his third MVP and got to the Super Bowl for a seventh time in his legendary career. He is almost singlehandedly responsible for the greatest and most long-lasting dynasty in NFL history.
3. Aaron Donald, DT, Rams: Donald was rewarded with the richest contract of any defensive player in NFL history (although it was short-lived after Khalil Mack got an even bigger deal in a trade to the Bears), and it's no wonder the Rams paid handsomely for their best player. He's the most dominant defensive lineman of his generation.
4. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles: Wentz was playing at an MVP-caliber level before being felled by a knee injury last season. Yes, the Eagles won the Super Bowl without him, but Wentz set the table for homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Eagles will need him back to think about a repeat.
5. Von Miller, OLB, Broncos: Miller has produced double-digit sacks in six of his first seven seasons, and is the best pure pass rusher in the game. Denver isn't nearly the team it was when the Broncos won Super Bowl L, but Miller remains the team's most important player.
BEST QUARTERBACKS
1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2. Tom Brady, Patriots
3. Carson Wentz, Eagles
4. Matt Ryan, Falcons
5. Drew Brees, Saints
BEST RUNNING BACKS
1. Le'Veon Bell, Steelers
2. David Johnson, Cardinals
3. Todd Gurley, Rams
4. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
5. Alvin Kamara, Saints
BEST WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Antonio Brown, Steelers
2. Julio Jones, Falcons
3. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants
4. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
5. A.J. Green, Bengals
BEST TIGHT ENDS
1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
2. Travis Kelce, Chiefs
3. Greg Olsen, Panthers
4. Jordan Reed, Redskins
5. Evan Engram, Giants
BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
1. Taylor Lewan, T, Titans
2. Trent Williams, T, Redskins
3. Tyron Smith, T, Cowboys
4. David DeCastro, G, Steelers
5. Andrew Whitworth, T, Rams
BEST DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
1. Aaron Donald, DT, Rams
2. Khalil Mack, DE, Bears
3. J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
4. Calais Campbell, DE, Jaguars
5. Geno Atkins, DT, Bengals
BEST LINEBACKERS
1. Von Miller, OLB, Broncos
2. Luke Kuechly, ILB, Panthers
3. Bobby Wagner, ILB, Seahawks
4. Jadeveon Clowney, OLB, Texans
5. Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, Redskins
BEST DEFENSIVE BACKS
1. Patrick Peterson, CB, Cardinals
2. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jaguars
3. Xavier Rhodes, CB, Vikings
4. Earl Thomas, S, Seahawks
5. Harrison Smith, S, Vikings
BEST KICKERS
1. Justin Tucker, Ravens
2. Greg Zuerlein, Rams
3. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
4. Harrison Butker, Chiefs
5. Chris Boswell, Steelers
BEST PUNTERS
1. Johnny Hekker, Rams
2. Brett Kern, Titans
3. Shane Lechler, free agent
4. Marquette King, Broncos
5. Rigoberto Sanchez, Colts
BEST KICK RETURNERS
1. Pharoh Cooper, Rams
2. Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
3. Cordarrelle Patterson, Patriots
4. Dion Lewis, Titans
5. Jamal Agnew, Lions
BEST PLAYERS OVER 30
1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
2. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
3. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
4. Drew Brees, QB, Saints
5. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
BEST OFFENSES
1. Packers
2. Patriots
3. Eagles
4. Saints
5. Steelers
BEST DEFENSES
1. Jaguars
2. Vikings
3. Eagles
4. Rams
5. Texans
BEST GENERAL MANAGERS
1. Kevin Colbert, Steelers
2. Howie Roseman, Eagles
3. Rick Spielman, Vikings
4. Tom Coughlin, Jaguars
5. John Schneider, Seahawks
BEST COORDINATORS
1. Josh McDaniels, Patriots, off.
2. Wade Phillips, Rams, def.
3. Jim Schwartz, Eagles, def.
4. Rod Marinelli, Cowboys, def.
5. James Bettcher, Giants, def.
BEST UNIFORMS
1. Broncos
2. Redskins
3. Panthers
4. Packers
5. Steelers
BEST STADIUMS
1. Lambeau Field, Packers
2. U.S. Bank Stadium, Vikings
3. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Falcons
4. CenturyLink Field, Seahawks
5. AT&T Stadium, Cowboys
BIG DEALS
The highest paid NFL players this season, ranked by average yearly salary (in millions):
Total Player, Team
$33.5M Aaron Rodgers, Packers
$30M Matt Ryan, Falcons
$28M Kirk Cousins, Vikings
$27.5M Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
$27M Matthew Stafford, Lions
$25.005M Derek Carr, Raiders
$25M Drew Brees, Saints
$24.594M Andrew Luck, Colts
$23.5M Alex Smith, Redskins
$23.5M Khalil Mack, Bears
$22.5M Aaron Donald, Rams
$22.133M Joe Flacco, Ravens
$21.9M Russell Wilson, Seahawks
$21.85M Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
$21M Eli Manning, Giants
$20.8125M Philip Rivers, Chargers
$20.76MCam Newton, Panthers
$20.5M Tom Brady, Patriots
$20M Sam Bradford, Cardinals
$19.250M Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
$19.083M Von Miller, Broncos
$18M Odell Beckham Jr., Giants
$18M Case Keenum, Broncos
$17.4835M Blake Bortles, Jaguars
$17.143M Ezekiel Ansah, Lions
$17.143M DeMarcus Lawrence, Cowboys
SOURCE: Over the Cap; NFL.com
