2019 NFL Rank: Predicting the NFL's best 100 players for this season

Aug 26, 2019

With the 2019 NFL season about to kick off, it's time for our annual ranking of the top 100 players in the league.

We asked a panel of more than 40 ESPN NFL experts to rate players based on how good they will be in the 2019 season in comparison to their peers. Emphasis was entirely on predicting potential greatness for the upcoming season, rather than past performance or positional value. From those ratings, we were able to rank the best of the best.

It's probably not surprising that playoff favorites Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints dominated the list with seven representatives apiece. And 30 of the 32 teams had at least one player (sorry, no Titans or Redskins here).

For each player, our NFL Nation reporters weighed in on his 2019 outlook, ESPN Stats & Information provided a signature stat, and fantasy analyst Mike Clay projected a stat line for this season. Here's the full list:

99. Marshal Yanda

G | Ravens
Age: 34
2018 rank: 99

Yanda has been among the most dominant linemen of his generation. He is the second-best guard in Pro Football Focus' grading history (since 2006). Known for his toughness and technique, Yanda anchored an offensive line that helped the Ravens produce the NFL's No. 2 rushing attack (141.9 yards per game) last season. -- Jamison Hensley

Signature stat: Yanda was 10th in pass block win rate among guards last season, including the playoffs, at 82%.

No Redskins player was better in the fourth quarter than Brandon Scherff last year

By: Chris Roling | August 22, 2019 8:45 am ET

Washington Redskins guard Brandon Scherff set the tone for the team last year in the fourth quarter.

While he only played in eight games, Scherff made sure those counted — especially late, as Pro Football Focus pointed out in the above tweet.

Scherff shouldn’t have a problem leading in the same category again next season. He’s not worried about his comeback from the “fluke” injury and has said he isn’t too worried about the status of his contract as he is a candidate for extension.

The Redskins can’t afford to have Scherff regress in this area because one of the other guys on this list might be missing — Trent Williams. And thanks to his impact on the line, another guy on the list, Adrian Peterson, could perform worse too. Jamison Crowder is also gone.

Scherff has been a rock for the Redskins, at least, so if he’s healthy expect to see his name again.

TE A.J. Derby 'in tune' with Saints as 2nd preseason game nears

·         

·         BY AMIE JUST | STAFF WRITER 

·         AUG 16, 2019 - 5:21 PM

Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Reshard Cliett (43) attempts to take down New Orleans Saints tight end A.J. Derby (81) during the second half of an NFL pre-season football game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. 

STAFF PHOTO BY MAX BECHERER

COSTA MESA, Calif. — One player rising in the Saints’ stock is tight end A.J. Derby.

Derby, an Iowa native who went to Arkansas, joined the team a week into camp on Aug. 7 after a stint with the Miami Dolphins.

Back in 2015, the Saints did NFL Draft prep on Derby, but he was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round. The Patriots placed him on the injured reserve in August of that year.

“There’s some things he can do in the passing game,” Saints coach Sean Payton said of Derby. “I’d say he’s pretty in tune, too. It’s just establishing a confidence level as to what exactly and what’s the vision for the play.”

Payton added: “We’ve evaluated him before, certainly in the draft process. We’re aware of the player. Now you get a little bit more familiarity. He’s on your own roster. So we’re having a chance to look at him.”

In his three seasons in the league, Derby has 452 yards receiving on 40 catches with three touchdowns.

He had two receptions for 13 yards receiving in the Saints' preseason opener against the Vikings.