Steven Cheah's NFL Top 100 Players in 2021: #90 - #81
This list officially began last week with #91 - #100. We roll on as these are my Top 100 Players I'm viewing for this upcoming season based on last season's performance and potential. I did run this by a few people in the league to ensure it's an accurate representation. Here are my guys #81 - #90. The next list will come out next Tuesday at 11am eastern.
*Note - This list is exempt of any Rookies and other Players that played zero games in 2020 due to either injury or opt outs.
90) CB Denzel Ward - Cleveland Browns (2020 Rank: N/R)
Ward has been a sticky Corner ever since he came into the league three years ago and was a surprise top five pick by the Browns. He's got average size at 5'11" 190 lbs, but he's got great hips and elite athleticism. A big key this past season was he became much more sure tackler reducing his missed tackles from 12 to 5. Check out this stick:
89) DT Vita Vea - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020 Rank: N/R)
Vita Vea is the engine that makes the Buccaneers defense go. The league's #1 rush defense for the second straight year is built around their 347 lbs. NT up front. He suffered a broken ankle in Week 5 against Chicago but worked very hard to return for the NFC Championship Game. And his impact was felt immediately. On his first two snaps, the Bucs got two sacks. His presence frees up other guys like Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul to go hunt because Quarterbacks cannot step up in the pocket with push like this coming up the middle
88) RB Jonathan Taylor - Indianapolis Colts (2020 Rank: N/R)
He had a bit of a rocky start to his rookie year. After 101 yards in Week 2, he failed to crack 70 yards rushing the next seven games. But it's not how you start, it's how you finish, and Taylor finished strong. He averaged 117 yards on the ground and accumulated nine total touchdowns over the final seven games. He needs a little more polish in the passing game, but he's a big, strong, instinctive runner that's also blazing fast.
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87) C Frank Ragnow - Detroit Lions (2020 Rank: N/R)
Ragnow just became the league's highest paid Center and he's a deserving guy. He's improved each year since being a surprise 1st rounder in 2018. His pass blocking continues to get better, but he makes his name in the run game where he blows holes open for Lions Runningbacks.
86) OT Ryan Ramcyzk - New Orleans Saints (2020 Rank: 17)
Ramcyzk had the worst year of his four year career per PFF, but that doesn't mean he was bad at all. He dealt with a concussion but didn't miss a game. He's a mauler with nimble feet capable of locking up your team's best EDGE rusher. He's still one of the top Right Tackles in football.
85) EDGE Jason Pierre Paul - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020 Rank: N/R)
My guy JPP was still dominant last year. He's a relentless force against both the run and the pass. He led the Super Bowl Champions in sacks and returned to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2012.
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He also had four forced fumbles and two picks! J-P-P I-N-T!!
84) QB Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers (2020 Rank: N/R)
Coming out of Oregon, Herbert had his critics. He didn't play well enough in big games and they weren't sure of his mental makeup as he'd never really been outside of Oregon. Well he showed up in LA and found out he was starting vs. Kansas City about 30 seconds before the coin toss in Week 2. He pushed the Chiefs to the brink and the Bolts haven't looked back. Herbert's physical tools shined bright in his rookie year as he carved up almost everyone he played and doing so with a lot of no names at Receiver. The arrow is firmly pointed up on the Chargers signal caller for 2021 and beyond.
83) WR Keenan Allen - Los Angeles Chargers (2020 Rank: 83)
Allen reached 100 catches last season but saw his YPC drop to 9.9 and failed to crack 1,000 yards. One of the craftiest dudes in the league off the line he is almost always open.
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82) CB Marcus Peters - Baltimore Ravens (2020 Rank: 62)
Marcus Peters has always had a sixth sense for where the ball is going. Does he gamble? Absolutely. But he's right a lot. It seems like every couple weeks we see a wild play like this:
But an added element to his game was the punch out. He had four forced fumbles this year which was tied for 4th in the league.
81) WR Cooper Kupp - Los Angeles Rams (2020 Rank: N/R)
Kupp had a down year with only three touchdowns, but he's one of the more underrated WR's in Football. He's a technician that can play all over the field and he's so quick in space he's almost unguardable.
Stay tuned next Tuesday at 11am eastern for the next installment of my Top 100 list, #71 - #80.