Ranking the 20 best players in the NFL playoffs

As the NFL playoffs approach, a number of talented players still have a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Here is theScore's ranking of the top 20 players who will participate in this year's postseason.

20. Stephon Gilmore, CB - Patriots

After battling injuries and inconsistencies earlier in his career, Gilmore was the very definition of a shutdown corner in 2018. Though he only intercepted two passes, the Patriots defensive back was sticky in coverage, forced two fumbles, and broke up a league-leading 18 passes, per Pro Football Focus. Elite athleticism and scheme versatility make Gilmore a difficult cornerback to target, and his upcoming opponents would be wise to look the other way.

19. Zack Martin, OG - Cowboys

There may not be another interior offensive lineman who directly impacts his team's success the way this Cowboy does. The premier guard in the NFL, Martin excels as a pass protector, but in his role as a run blocker, he really makes Dallas' offense click. Talented interior defenders remain as prevalent as ever, and the former first-round pick neutralizes them on a weekly basis.

18. Alvin Kamara, RB - Saints

The poster boy of the new NFL, Kamara is as dynamic a player as this postseason has to offer. His production's tailed off a bit recently, but you can bet that head coach Sean Payton's been saving a few set plays for Kamara in January. When the running back's rolling, the Saints can't be stopped. Averaging 4.6 yards per carry, hauling in 81 receptions, and totaling 18 touchdowns, he's a home-run threat on every touch.

17. Fletcher Cox, DT - Eagles

Philadelphia boasts one of the league's top defensive lines, and Cox is the cream of the crop. The 2012 first-rounder notched a career-high 10.5 sacks this year and consistently made opposing linemen look like high school football players. He accumulated the second-most quarterback pressures among defensive tackles, per PFF. The Eagles need their best player to continue his domination if they want to repeat as champions.

16. Tyreek Hill, WR - Chiefs

Pundits throw the word "dangerous" around a lot, but no offensive weapon can change a game more quickly than Hill. Arguably the league's fastest player, the Chiefs receiver caught 27 passes for 20-plus yards and eight for 40-plus yards - both of which lead the NFL. Perhaps most importantly, opponents have to account for Hill at all times. If defenders' concentration even subtly lapses, he'll be dancing in the end zone by the time they look back.

15. Travis Kelce, TE - Chiefs

While Rob Gronkowski and Zach Ertz may object, Kelce is the top tight end in the playoffs. He finished with 103 catches, 1,336 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in 2018, reliably making plays when his team needed him most. While some might attribute his production to the Chiefs' dynamic offense and his stud quarterback, that'd be a lazy mistake; he's better at getting open than anyone else at his position. Only four players had more catches on third down that moved the chains.

14. Todd Gurley, RB - Rams

Mr. Production himself, Gurley is a true threat to score on any play. His 21 total touchdowns in 14 games led all skill-position players - and put him ahead of 11 starting quarterbacks. The versatile fourth-year back finds his running lanes like few others and is equally dangerous in the passing game.

13. Ezekiel Elliott, RB - Cowboys

Elliott is perhaps the most valuable running back in the NFL, and the Cowboys' offense lives and dies with him. In his third season, he led the league in rushing while setting career highs in catches (77) and receiving yards (567). Dallas is 6-1 when Elliott rushes for at least 100 yards in 2018, creating an ideal formula for success in the postseason.

12. Michael Thomas, WR - Saints

You don't have to watch Thomas for very long to be convinced he's got the most accurate Twitter handle in the league (@cantguardmike). The former Ohio State Buckeye led the NFL with 125 receptions, hauling in a whopping 85.6 percent of his targets. Thomas combines strong hands with elite route-running skills to lead a dynamic Saints passing attack. Versatility, however, is his greatest asset. Thomas is dangerous out wide and in the slot, and he's utilized as a deep threat, a chain-mover, and a play-maker after the catch.

11. Philip Rivers, QB - Chargers

Though Rivers may not win MVP honors, he was as good as he's ever been. The veteran was incredibly efficient while consistently pushing the ball downfield. Rivers excels before the snap - opposing defenses rarely fool him with coverage disguises. His pinpoint accuracy puts his receivers in the best position to make a play. The Chargers fell short of the AFC West crown, but this could be the year their quarterback leads them to a Super Bowl.

10. Andrew Luck, QB - Colts

We can't say enough about how incredible Luck was this year. The former No. 1 pick showed no rust after missing the 2017 campaign with a shoulder injury, completing a number of jaw-dropping passes. He led the Colts, who went 4-12 last season, to their first playoff berth since 2014. A shoo-in for Comeback Player of the Year, Luck reclaimed his elite status under new head coach Frank Reich. He might even be better than ever.

9. Bobby Wagner, LB - Seahawks

Perennially underrated, Wagner's one of the NFL's best defenders. The Seahawks simply wouldn't be in the playoffs without their stud linebacker. The veteran is dominant against the run - he missed just one tackle all year - but it's his pass coverage that really sets him apart. If it wasn't for Aaron Donald, Wagner would be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.

8. Russell Wilson, QB - Seahawks

From Seattle's most important defender to its most important offensive player: Wilson threw a career-high 35 touchdown passes this season while tying a career low with just seven interceptions. No quarterback makes the most of his surroundings quite like the one-time Super Bowl champion. One of the league's most-sacked quarterbacks, Wilson's mobility and play-making aggression are his best traits - and make him a ton of fun to watch.

7. J.J. Watt, DE - Texans

In 2018, Watt reminded fans that he's among the NFL's finest defenders. Rebounding from two straight injury-riddled campaigns, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year registered 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles. It's almost like there's a reason why the Texans' scoring defense ranked inside the top 10 during Watt's last two full seasons (2015 and 2018) and outside the top 10 when he missed extended time (including a league-worst showing in 2017).

6. DeAndre Hopkins, WR - Texans

Don't be afraid to say it, folks: Hopkins is the league's top receiver. In his sixth season, he ranked third in receptions, second in yards, and fifth in touchdowns, making big play after big play. Nuk combines shifty route-running with strong hands and a catch radius unlike anything we've ever seen. Perhaps most impressively, he didn't drop a single pass on 159 targets.

5. Tom Brady, QB - Patriots

An off year for Brady looks pretty darn good for anyone else. While dealing with suspensions, injuries, and inconsistencies at receiver and tight end, the veteran led the NFL's fifth-ranked offense and eighth-ranked passing attack. Brady may not have been at his best during the regular season, but no player in league history is a more accomplished playoff performer. The 41-year-old has every chance to lead the Patriots to another Super Bowl.

4. Drew Brees, QB - Saints

What a season for the future Hall of Famer. Brees was at the top of his game as the Saints earned the NFC's top seed. He set a career high by completing 74.4 percent of his passes (breaking the single-season NFL record that he set last year) and a career low with just five interceptions. Surgically accurate, Brees is getting better with age.

3. Khalil Mack, LB - Bears

If the Bears knew what kind of impact Mack would have on their team, maybe they would have sent the Oakland Raiders a third first-round pick. The outside linebacker changed Chicago's defense as soon as he arrived, consistently abusing opposing blockers while making everyone around him better. A terror in run defense, the edge rusher also accumulated 12.5 sacks in 14 games - his highest total since 2015. Mack is simply unblockable at times and he could be this postseason's biggest X-factor.

2. Patrick Mahomes, QB - Chiefs

Twelve wins, 5,097 yards, and 50 touchdowns as a first-year starter: That should seem absurd, but Mahomes displayed such immense talent that his raw numbers aren't so shocking. The front-runner for league MVP, he was unstoppable for long stretches of the season, combining elite improvisation with incredible arm talent. Any team that wants to knock off Kansas City will have to outscore this gunslinger - not an easy task.

1. Aaron Donald, DT - Rams

The NFL's most dominant player deserves the No. 1 spot. Donald led the league with 20.5 sacks - two shy of the all-time single-season record. Along with his direct impact on seemingly every snap, that's unprecedented for a defensive tackle. The All-Pro lineman is a wrecking ball that simply cannot be left in one-on-one situations, and he's a near-lock for his second straight Defensive Player of the Year award.