theScore's Top 100 NFL Players of 2016: 20-11

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' performances 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

Bobby Wagner, LB, Seahawks
167 sacks, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT

Michael Bennett and the Seahawks' secondary tend to steal the spotlight, but Wagner is the one who emerged as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2016. He filled the stat sheet, leading the NFL in tackles en route to another All-Pro honor, receiving 48 out of a possible 50 votes - the most of any other offensive or defensive player. - Boone

Zack Martin, G, Cowboys
2 sacks allowed

Remember when the Cowboys appeared close to selecting Johnny Manziel back in the first round of the 2014 draft? Well, it looks like they made the right choice. A Pro Bowler in his first three seasons, Martin is a key cog on a Dallas offensive line that's one of the best the NFL has ever seen. - Wilkins

Drew Brees, QB, Saints
5,208 passing yards, 37 TDs, 15 INTs
2 rushing TDs

Brees continues to shatter the barometer for quarterback production, leading the NFL in passing yards for the seventh time in his career. Earning his 10th Pro Bowl selection, he turned Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas into arguably the league's best receiving duo, before either player turned 24. At 38, Brees remains one of the NFL's best players, showing no signs of decline. - Srinivasan

Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
96 catches, 1,321 yards, 12 TDs

The most targeted receiver in football, Evans was the only threat in the Buccaneers' talent-deficient receiving corps. Facing constant double coverage, he outmuscled weaker defenders for 81 first-down catches - 15 more than any other player - and several highlight-reel grabs. - Woods

Landon Collins, S, Giants
125 tackles, 5 INTs, 4 sacks
13 passes defensed, 1 TD

Collins made significant strides after his rookie season, developing into a dominant force on the Giants' defense. The star safety finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting after becoming the first player in NFL history with at least 100 solo tackles, two sacks, five interceptions, and 12 passes defended in one season. - Boone

Travis Frederick, C, Cowboys
0 sacks allowed

It's just not fair for one team to have this much talent up front. Frederick joins Tyron Smith and Zack Martin as the third Cowboys lineman on this list, and he was the best of the bunch in 2016. The former first-round pick is the leader of a unit that paved the way for 149.8 rushing yards per game and put Dak Prescott in position to excel as a rookie. - Wilkins

Aqib Talib, CB, Broncos
3 INTs, 12 passes defensed
43 tackles, 1 TD

Talib was so effective in 2016 that he earned first-team All-Pro honors despite missing three games. Possessing an unmatched ability to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, he routinely shut down the NFL's premier wide receivers with relative ease. Talib didn't allow a single touchdown, while holding quarterbacks to a ghastly 49.5 passer rating, and was easily the NFL's best cornerback. - Srinivasan

Chris Harris Jr., CB, Broncos
2 INTs, 11 passes defensed
63 tackles, 1 FF

Pro Football Focus charted 28 defensive stops and just 8.9 yards per reception allowed to opposing receivers for Harris this season, giving him the slight edge over teammate Aqib Talib as the NFL's best cornerback. - Woods

Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
106 catches, 1,284 yards, 12 TDs

It's hard to imagine, but a 1,200-yard, 12-touchdown campaign is actually a down year for Brown, who averaged 1,677 yards per season over the last three years. His chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger is undeniable, with the duo making competitive Sunday games look like catch in the backyard. As long as Big Ben is under center, Brown will remain in the conversation for the league's top pass-catcher. - Boone

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Giants
101 catches, 1,367 yards, 10 TDs

The Giants' offense had no reliable threats outside of Beckham this season. Lucky for New York, the star wideout overcame the unfavorable looks he got in coverage and put forth yet another stellar year. Beckham is the rare player that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. Opposing secondaries are in trouble if the Giants can find any semblance of a running game to take some attention away from him going forward. - Wilkins

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