Another week, another NFL’s Top 100 Players on 2016 show to debate. Let’s get right to it.
80. Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Derrick Johnson has been one of the most underrated inside linebacker in the league for the last five seasons. Since 2010 he’s surpassed 100 tackles ever year except 2014, when he missed all but one game with an injury. You could say that last season was his best, but you’d be wrong because his 116 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions were just what he seems to deliver every single season. Last year: Not on the list
79. Ryan Kalil, Center, Carolina Panthers
Funny how an epic Super Bowl run can shine the spotlight on guys that have been unheralded too long. As bad as the offensive tackles may have looked in the Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos, Kalil kept his feet and his blocks. He’s one of the best in the business at one of the most under appreciated positions in the NFL. Last year: Not on the list
78. Chris Ivory, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
I’m not sure Ivory should be on this list. I’m not even sure he was the best running back on the New York Jets roster last season or the Jaguars’ roster this season. He’s OK and a hard runner, but one 1,000-yard season (and he just barely crossed the threshold) does not a Top 100 player make. Last year: Not on the list
77. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins
The Redskins handed the full-time tight end position to Reed last season and it paid off with 87 catches for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns. It was a break-out season and one the fourth-year man out of Florida should have no trouble building on regardless of how good the Redskins turn out to be this season. Last year: Not on the list
76. Linval Joseph, DT, Minnesota Vikings
Here’s another guy that doesn’t look like a Top 100 player to me at all. He’s a good player and can rise to the occasion at times, but he completely disappears on passing downs. In his entire career, six seasons, he’s amassed a total of 12.5 sacks. And the half a sack came last year. It was the only time he even sniffed a quarterback’s aftershave. Last year: Not on the list
75. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Charles took a huge tumble in the rankings but it wasn’t his fault. He got injured five games into the season. At the time he was averaging 5.1 yards per carry, had gained 364 yards and scored four touchdowns. Last year: No. 12
74. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos
Sanders just posted his second consecutive 1,000-plus yard season and it’s no surprise he’s back on the list. When the rest of the Broncos offense was down, Sanders still delivered in the clutch with difficult catches and a career-high 14.9 yards per catch average. Last year: No. 95
73. Harrison Smith, Safety, Minnesota Vikings
Smith was such a good local player in the area I cover in prep sports, there are adults his age that still curse his name from when he played at Knox Catholic. Smith is a dynamic, prototype free safety at 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds. Last season he was fantastic, making 66 tackles, getting 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and scoring a defensive touchdowns and all those numbers were down from his career average and he missed three games due to injury. Last year: Not on the list
72. Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have had an underrated receiving corps the last few seasons and Baldwin was probably their best-kept secret. After catching 78 passes for 1,069 yards and 14 (yes, 14!) touchdowns, the secret is out. Baldwin plays 100 percent every down, runs excellent route and it’s obvious from his touchdown total that there are few better receivers in the end zone. Last year: Not on the list
71. Calais Campbell, DE, Arizona Cardinals
We finish up 80-71 with only our third returning player to the list. Campbell is a decent defensive end in the Cards’ 3-4 scheme, which really makes him play like a defensive tackle. If you put his numbers up against any DT in the league, 61 tackles, five sacks, one fumble recover, he’s among the best. As a pure defensive end, he’d barely be in the rotation on some teams. Last year: No. 99
