theScore's Top 100 NFL Players of 2016: 70-61

The Top 100 NFL Players of 2016 were selected by a panel of theScore's NFL editors including Justin Boone, Arun Srinivasan, Dan Wilkins, and David P. Woods based on the individual players' performance this past regular season.

theScore's Top 100 NFL Players of 2016

• 100-91
• 90-81
• 80-71
• 70-61
• 60-51
• 50-41
• 40-31
• 30-21
• 20-11
• 10-1

K.J. Wright, LB, Seahawks
126 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 FF

Wright is finally gaining recognition as one of the NFL's premier linebackers. The Seahawks veteran is an outstanding run stopper and excels in coverage, sporting the ability to track running backs and tight ends with incredible fluidity. - Srinivasan

Jordan Howard, RB, Bears
252 carries, 1,313 rushing yards, 6 TDs
29 catches, 298 receiving yards, 1 TD

Not a starter until Week 4, Howard quietly finished second in the NFL in rushing and bettered fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott’s 5.1 yards per carry by 0.1. Howard doesn’t offer a lot in the way of wiggle, but he’s a battering ram. - Woods

Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
92 catches, 1,137 yards, 9 TDs

Thomas was a second round pick in last year's draft, but he brought a maniacal work ethic to New Orleans, and soaked up all the knowledge he could while building chemistry with Drew Brees. As the season went on, Thomas' comfort level grew and he emerged not only as a red zone threat, but as the Saints' top receiver moving forward. - Boone

Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
3,667 passing yards, 23 TDs, 4 INTs
282 rushing yards, 6 TDs

How in the world did Prescott not hear his name called until Day 3 of last year's draft? He couldn't have landed in a better situation, but a fourth-round pick replacing Tony Romo leading Dallas to the top NFC playoff seed is incredibly impressive. Now imagine what he'll do after a full offseason of work as the starter. - Wilkins

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Giants
6 INTs, 21 passes defensed
49 tackles, 1 FF

The big-money acquisition of Janoris Jenkins got most of the attention, but New York's improvement in the passing game wouldn't have been possible without his running mate. Rodgers-Cromartie was just one short of the league-lead in interceptions, and just three shy of the top mark in passes defensed, all despite battling his share of injuries. - Wilkins

Calais Campbell, DE, Cardinals
53 tackles, 8 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT

Campbell had the best season of his career at age 30, notching eight sacks and four takeaways while terrorizing opposing linemen with his 6-foot-8, 300-pound frame. He’s an impending free agent and should command $10 million per year. - Woods

Richard Sherman, CB, Seahawks
4 INTs, 13 passes defensed
58 tackles

Sherman wasn't at the top of his game this season, which could be attributed to the undisclosed MCL injury he played through or it could be a little more difficult to play shutdown defense when your all-world safety Earl Thomas isn't there to back you up. Sherman is still one of the best, but cracks might be developing in his once pristine armor. - Boone

Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers
80 catches, 1,073 yards, 3 TDs

Carolina's Super Bowl hangover shouldn't do anything to overshadow another strong year from Olsen. In becoming the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, meanwhile stretching his start streak to 80 games, Olsen made a case as the NFL's most reliable player at the position. - Wilkins

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks
94 catches, 1,128 yards, 7 TDs

Remember when there was a debate whether Baldwin was a genuine No. 1 receiver? "Angry Doug" rendered his critics numb with another excellent season, working both as Russell Wilson's safety valve and downfield threat. Baldwin is an elite route runner and advanced stats routinely illustrate how he's consistently among the NFL's most efficient receivers. Count him out at your own risk. - Srinivasan

Jay Ajayi, RB, Dolphins
260 carries, 1,272 rushing yards, 8 TDs
27 catches, 151 receiving yards

Ajayi managed 1,272 yards rushing, including an NFL-best 656 yards after contact, and had three 200-yard rushing games. And he did it all behind an offensive line that battled major injury issues for most of the season. - Woods

theScore's Top 100 NFL Players of 2016

• 100-91
• 90-81
• 80-71
• 70-61
• 60-51
• 50-41
• 40-31
• 30-21
• 20-11
• 10-1