Counting Down the Top 50 NFL Players 20-11: Will Father Time Catch Up to Tom Brady?

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, and 30-21 here.

With NFL training camps opening this week, it’s a fitting time to break down the top 50 players in the league.

There’s no exact science or statistic to rank players with the disparity of positional importance in mind. 

Still, looking at the different betting markets available provides a look behind the curtain at who bookmarkers view as the most likely to win the AP Regular Season MVP Award, AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, and who will lead the NFL in passing, rushing and receiving yards.

Here’s a look at the players ranked 20 through 11 with odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

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

Counting Down the Top 50 NFL Players 20-11

20. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

The San Fran star caught 77 passes for 1,405 receiving yards and also rushed for 365 yards en route to finding the endzone 14 times. Samuel moonlighted as a running back throughout the second half, and he also had nine receptions of over 40 yards on the campaign to showcase his dynamic skill set.

The downside is Samuel requested a trade during the offseason, and continued work in the ground game adds injury risk. Still, count on the game-breaking talent having another huge season in 2022.

MVP Odds: +10000, Odds to Lead NFL in Receiving Yards: +3000 

19. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Set to lead America’s Team for the seventh straight season, the 28-year-old Prescott had the highest completion percentage and threw for the most touchdowns of his career in 2021 despite nursing a calf injury through the middle of the season.

While he’s no longer as large a threat to call his own number near the goal line, and wide receiver Amari Cooper was dealt to the Cleveland Browns, Prescott remains one of the better quarterbacks in the league. 

MVP Odds: +1200, Odds to Lead NFL in Passing Yards: +1100

18. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

The versatile back was equally effective as a runner and receiver last year, and his 20 total TDs tied for the league lead. Los Angeles boasts one of the best offenses in the league, and Ekeler is vital to its success.

Aside from missing time during the 2020 campaign, Ekeler has been durable despite being generally considered undersized at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds. It’ll likely take a 2022 injury to prevent him from turning in another top-tier showing.

MVP Odds: +30000, Odds to Lead NFL in Rushing Yards: +3000 

17. Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

The move to Los Angeles led to a Super Bowl Championship, and Stafford ranked third in the NFL in yards per attempt (8.1) while tying his previous career-high 41 TD passes. 

The Rams should remain one of the better offenses in the league, and the chemistry Stafford developed with WR Cooper Kupp helped the former pace the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs. The 34-year-old QB is also garnering ample respect from bookmakers to have another monster season.

MVP Odds: +1400, Odds to Lead NFL in Passing Yards: +800

16. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

A Week 8 foot injury derailed Henry’s shot at leading the league in rushing yards for a third consecutive season. The punishing rusher did return for Tenneessee’s postseason loss, and he projects to be full steam ahead for the start of the 2022 campaign.

Henry has the second shortest odds to lead the NFL in rushing yards at FanDuel for a reason.

MVP Odds: +7500, Odds to Lead NFL in Rushing Yards: +600

https://twitter.com/PFF_Fantasy/status/1543644488349782016

15. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

While moving on from head coach Andy Reid’s offensive system and QB Patrick Mahomes’ elite play will be challenging for the speedster, Hill figures to remain among the league’s best receivers due to his game-breaking potential with the ball in his hands.

Additionally, first-year head coach Mike McDaniel should find creative ways to utilize Hill. The change of scenery might not cause as significant a dropoff in production as some pundits are forecasting. 

MVP Odds: +30000, Odds to Lead NFL in Receiving Yards: +2000 

14. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

While it’s easy to speculate how godly Chubb’s numbers would look with a bell-cow workload, he’s been incredibly efficient as a runner since entering the league and remains the primary rusher for the Browns. After all, he’s averaged 5.3 yards per tote during his career and topped that number in each of the past two seasons.

Now, the real question: what will the QB situation look like this season in Cleveland?

MVP Odds: +15000, Odds to Lead NFL in Rushing Yards: +1000 

13. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

With six consecutive seasons north of 1,000 receiving yards and seven straight Pro Bowl nods, Kelce is the undisputed top pass-catching tight end in the league.

Obviously, Reid and Mahomes warrant a lot of credit for Kelce’s success but the nine-year veteran might be all the more involved in the passing attack in 2022. The organization traded away No. 1 WR Tyreek Hill during the offseason, and he totaled 159 targets, 111 receptions, and 1,239 receiving yards last year.

MVP Odds: +30000, Odds to Lead NFL in Receiving Yards: +1600 

12. Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After leading the NFL in passing yards and TDs last season, this could prove to be a disrespectful rank for the seven-time Super Bowl Champion — especially considering how bullish FanDuel is about Brady having another big year.

Still, we’re looking ahead and not back. Brady is entering his age-45 campaign, and Father Time has a perfect record. 

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

11. Russell Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos

Following 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson will suit up for the Denver Broncos and first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett who was previously the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. Expect Hackett to let Wilson toss it up more than ever, and Denver has a deep and talented cast at the skill positions for that to flourish.

Of course, just because it looks good on paper doesn’t mean it will play out as envisioned on the field.

MVP Odds: +1400, Odds to Lead NFL in Passing Yards: +1600 

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.