Already planning your “Madden NFL 18” fantasy draft? Or just itching to play when the newest version of the game – with Tom Brady on the cover – drops later this month?
We’ve got you covered with the highest-rated players at each position in the game. Go here to view the top-rated player on all 32 teams.
Quarterback: Tom Brady, New England Patriots (99)
Best sub-category: Awareness, stamina, throw accuracy short, play-action (99)
Madden ratings for every 2017 first-round pick
How many 40-year-olds have been ranked as the top anything in a sports video game – other than maybe as a coach? That should give some perspective on Brady and how the Madden Cover Boy is viewed both in the NFL and Madden worlds. Unfortunately, if you use Brady, you should be confined to only wearing his sleep recovery pajamas and eating avocado ice cream while controlling him. You shouldn’t mind much, though, because when you do use him, you’ve got the best of all time.
Next-closest QBs: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay (98), Matt Ryan, Atlanta (96)
Running back: Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (97)
Best sub-category: Juke move (98)
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers (91)
Best sub-category: Injury (93)
Wide receiver: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (98)
Best sub-category: Awareness (99)
Antonio Brown was the top guy last year, and he’s right behind Jones this year. Some could argue he should be ahead of him. But virtual and real-life Jones have earned the spectacular catch rating he has (98) after an 83-catch, 1,409-yard season last year – better than Brown’s 1,284 yards. Jones and Brown are together in catching (98) and are close in spectacular catch (Brown is 97), catch-in-traffic (Brown is 98, Jones is 97) and route-running (Brown is 97, Jones is 96). They are close in almost every rating except strength, where Jones is a 78 and Brown is a 54. That might have been the difference.
Next-closest WRs: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh (97), A.J. Green, Cincinnati (94).
Tight end: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (98)
Best sub-category: Catch in traffic (96)
Offensive tackle: Trent Williams, Washington Redskins (95)
Best sub-category: Pass block footwork (97)
Offensive guard: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens (96)
Best sub-category: Toughness (99)
Center: Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys (93)
Best sub-category: Run-block strength (99)
Defensive end: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams (99)
Best sub-category: Power moves (96)
Defensive tackle: Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins (93)
Best sub-category: Strength, toughness (98)
Outside linebacker: Von Miller, Denver Broncos (99)
Best sub-category: Pursuit (98)
Inside linebacker: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers (98)
Best sub-category: Stamina, toughness (99)
Cornerback: Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos (94)
Best sub-categories: Man coverage (Harris 97, Talib 96)
Safety: Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks (95)
Best sub-category: Hit power (97)
Kicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens (87)
Best sub-category: Kick power, kick accuracy (98)
Punter: Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams (86)
Best sub-category: Kick power (97)
Same argument for Hekker that I made for Tucker. Why so low, Madden raters? Yes, Tucker and Hekker are very specialized, but they are some of the best ever at their position. Hekker has the third-best punting average in NFL history, tied with Detroit’s Sam Martin at 46.9 yards. They are behind Shane Lechler (47.5 ypp) and Thomas Morstead (47.0 ypp). Hekker’s the most accurate punter in the game (96 rating) but his power is behind Marquette King and Tress Way (98 each).
Next-closest P: Bryan Anger, Tampa Bay and Marquette King, Oakland (85)
Top-rated players on each team, by rating
Denver Broncos: OLB Von Miller, 99Los Angeles Rams: DE Aaron Donald, 99New England Patriots: QB Tom Brady, 99Atlanta Falcons: WR Julio Jones, 98Carolina Panthers: MLB Luke Kuechly, 98Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers, 98Houston Texans: DE J.J. Watt, 98Oakland Raiders: OLB Khalil Mack, 97Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Le’Veon Bell & WR Antonio Brown, 97Baltimore Ravens: OG Marshal Yanda, 96Dallas Cowboys: OG Zack Martin, 95Philadelphia Eagles: DE Brandon Graham, 95Seattle Seahawks: S Kam Chancellor, 95Washington Redskins: OT Trent Williams, 95Arizona Cardinals: RB David Johnson, 94Cincinnati Bengals: WR A.J. Green, 94Kansas City Chiefs: S Eric Berry & TE Travis Kelce, 94Miami Dolphins: DT Ndamukong Suh, 93Minnesota Vikings: S Harrison Smith, 93New York Giants: WR Odell Beckham Jr., 93Tennessee Titans: TE Delanie Walker, 93Buffalo Bills: RB LeSean McCoy, 92Cleveland Browns: OT Joe Thomas, 92New Orleans Saints: QB Drew Brees & DE Cameron Jordan, 92Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Calais Campbell, 91San Francisco 49ers: FB Kyle Juszczyk, 91Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck, 90Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans & DT Gerald McCoy, 90Chicago Bears: OG Josh Sitton, 89Detroit Lions: CB Darius Slay Jr., 89Los Angeles Chargers: WR Keenan Allen & Melvin Ingram, 89New York Jets: DE Leonard Williams, 85
