We've entered the final month of the season and the league's playoff picture is quickly beginning to materialize with a host of teams battling for 12 spots.
Some of the league's juggernauts have pretty much clinched their playoff berth, with the Patriots, Eagles, Steelers, and Vikings running away from their divisional foes as December kicks off in earnest.
Below are five players that will have the largest impact on the final month of the season:
Alvin Kamara
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Kamara has been one of the season's great revelations as the Saints rookie leads all players with a startling 7.1 yards per carry. The 22-year-old is rapidly becoming one of the NFL's most potent multi-purpose weapons, torching teams both as a runner and receiver, while the Saints march down their opponents' throats with a revitalized attack. Kamara has taken on a larger role as the season progresses and is the main reason the Saints are once again considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders, with his burst and field vision leaving defenders clueless. He'll be the player to watch with the NFC South up for grabs.
Aaron Donald
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The Rams' offense rightfully deserves due credit for their drastic turnaround, with Jared Goff and Todd Gurley engineering one of the league's most potent units. It's Donald that has once again starred as the NFL's best defensive tackle - and perhaps, its best defensive player - as the Rams hold opponents to 18.7 points per game. Donald is the rare defensive tackle that is the focal point of their team's pass-rush, and he's arguably the league's best run defender as well, cleaning up most of the Rams' mistakes made in the front seven. Los Angeles is experiencing a renaissance and will need Donald to remain in all-world form if it is to hold off Seattle in the NFC West.
Calais Campbell
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Campbell has been worth every penny for the Jaguars after inking a four-year, $60-million contract in March. The 31-year-old will be in the running against Donald and Seattle's Bobby Wagner for Defensive Player of the Year and has spurred "Sacksonville" to a league-best scoring defense of 15.3 points allowed per game. It's unfair for someone Campbell's size to move as well as he does and he's undergoing the best season of his career, with 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 11 games. Campbell will be asked to continue his All-Pro campaign if the Jaguars are to comfortably fend off the Titans, who boast an identical 7-4 record.
Kareem Hunt
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Hunt started the year on fire and many surmised whether he'd become the second consecutive rookie to win the NFL's rushing title, following in Ezekiel Elliott's footsteps. Although Hunt remains in the race, the hype has considerably died down and he hasn't gone over 100 yards rushing since an Oct. 8 win over the Texans. Hunt's rookie struggles mirror the Chiefs' decline as the club has dropped five of its last six games, allowing the Raiders and Chargers back into the playoff race. If the Chiefs are to stave off their contenders and refuse to orchestrate their own demise, Hunt will be counted upon to produce like a top lead back as he did throughout the fall.
Marcus Mariota
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Mariota hasn't been close to his best this season. In fact, it could be argued strongly that it's the worst season of Mariota's pro career, completing 63.1 percent of his passes for 2,273 yards, nine touchdowns, and 12 interceptions as the Titans somehow hold a share of the AFC South lead at 7-4. Not all is lost for Mariota, however, as the Titans have a manageable five games remaining with contests against the Rams and Jaguars in Week 16 and 17 standing out as highlights. If Mariota plays his best football of the year, the Titans could overtake the Jaguars in a spirited fight for the AFC South. Mariota is long overdue for a stellar performance and now is the right time to get hot.
