Counting Down the Top 50 NFL Players 10-1: Justin Herbert Bolts Above the Rest

Neil Parker breaks down the Top 50 NFL Players before the start of the 2022 NFL season. You can see 50-41 here, 40-31 here, 30-21 here, and 20-11 here.

With the 2022 NFL Season closing in and training camps beginning this week, it’s the perfect time to look ahead at the top 50 players in the league.

There’s no perfect approach or metric to rank players because of the disparity in positional importance. 

Still, consulting the various odds markets available offers insight into who bookmarkers consider the most likely to win the AP Regular Season MVP Award, AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, plus who will lead the NFL in passing, rushing, and receiving yards.

Here’s a look at the players ranked 10th through first with odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Check out the latest comprehensive and most trusted Sportsbook Reviews by SBR.

Counting Down the Top 50 NFL Players, 10-1

10. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams

The three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year and reigning Super Bowl Champion is as disruptive as any defender in the league. It’s difficult to quantify Donald’s dominance through his tackle, sack and quarterback hits statistics because opposing offenses consistently appoint multiple blockers to account for him.

Maybe this will help though. The Los Angeles Rams had the best scoring defense in the league two years ago and they won the Super Bowl last season. Donald was instrumental in both feats.

MVP Odds: +30000, Defensive Player of the Year Odds: +900 

9. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Smooth and efficient, Jefferson lacks the ideal size-speed combo of most of the top wide receivers in the league, but his numbers pop all the same. He’s brought home 196 receptions for 3,016 yards and 17 scores through his first two seasons, after all.

Perhaps most encouraging is the potential first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell will improve the entire offense. Additionally, Jefferson should annually further separate himself from veteran No. 2 receiver Adam Thielen as the target hog in the vertical attack.

MVP Odds: +15000, Odds to Lead NFL in Receiving Yards: +900 

8. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Quarterback Matthew Stafford arriving in Los Angeles turned Kupp into a star. The wideout topped the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He also won the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award last year.

It should be more of the same in 2022, and Kupp can still take a run at league-high marks with modest negative statistical regression.

MVP Odds: +10000, Odds to Lead NFL in Receiving Yards: +1000 

7. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

A second consecutive MVP Award — the fourth of his career — reaffirmed Rodgers’ standing as one of the league’s best quarterbacks in 2021.

Now, though, he’ll proceed without go-to No. 1 WR Davante Adams. The veteran quarterback doesn’t have a star-studded receiving corps at his disposal this season, and Green Bay might look to lean more on the ground game and its well-rounded defense. Still, you’re likely going to be discounting Rodgers at your own peril.

MVP Odds: +1000, Odds to Lead NFL in Passing Yards: +2500

6. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

The fact Jackson’s odds to lead the NFL in rushing yards are shorter than the odds for him to lead the league in passing yards highlight how difficult it is for opposing defenses to gameplan for him.

Furthermore, after the Ravens had the second most man games lost in 2021, a bounce-back showing from the entire team is all but inevitable. Jackson’s the best player on the Ravens, so he stands to be the largest beneficiary of an improved Baltimore showing this year.

MVP Odds: +2000, Odds to Lead NFL in Rushing Yards: +4000 

5. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Just how much improved quarterback play from 14-year veteran Matt Ryan helps Taylor is up in the air, as the running back is coming off a banner showing in 2021. The second-year rusher led the NFL in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, yards from scrimmage, and his 20 total touchdowns were tied for the league lead.

While the Indianapolis offense should be more balanced with Ryan behind center, it would be shocking if Taylor didn’t remain a dominant, high-volume runner. In fact, he might just show more effectiveness on the ground and become more dangerous through the air.

MVP Odds: +5000, Odds to Lead NFL in Rushing Yards: +500 

4. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

All the Bengals did to help Burrow after he led the NFL in completion percentage and yards per attempt was aggressively address their offensive line during the offseason to better protect the franchise quarterback.

It’s unlikely Burrow will be sacked more than any quarterback in the league again in 2022, and expectations entering his third season should be sky-high. He also has arguably the best collection of WRs in the league on his flanks, too.

https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1549831594965352448

MVP Odds: +1200, Odds to Lead NFL in Rushing Yards: +1200 

3. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

If the Chiefs didn’t blow an 11-point lead in the second half of the AFC Championship Game, Mahomes would have been in his third consecutive Super Bowl last season. 

Still, his yards per attempt were a career-low 7.4 last season, and he lost No. 1 WR Tyreek Hill during the offseason. Mahomes remains arguably the most talented quarterback in the league, but the AFC is stacked, and his supporting cast took a huge hit.

MVP Odds: +800, Odds to Lead NFL in Passing Yards: +800 

2. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

The consensus favorite to win the MVP Award in 2022, Allen has established himself within the inner circle of elite quarterbacks in the league. However, his completion percentage and yards per attempt dipped in 2021 from career highs the season before. It’s fair to question whether he’s already peaked.

It’s almost Super Bowl or bust for the Bills this year. And while Allen is all but guaranteed to have another monster season statistically, it’ll be his postseason performance that determines whether the 2022 season was a success or not.

MVP Odds: +700, Odds to Lead NFL in Passing Yards: +1100 

1. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

Considering his sophomore season trumped Herbert’s record-setting rookie season, it’s almost certain the trend will continue in 2022.

Herbert benefits from a stable of high-end skill-position players surrounding him, and the Chargers addressed the offensive line with the first-round selection of right guard Zion Johnson in the 2022 NFL Draft.

MVP Odds: +900, Odds to Lead NFL in Passing Yards: +700

Make sure to keep an eye on our Live Odds page throughout the week to get the best lines possible and connect with others in the SBR community on our popular sports betting forum.