Most entertaining player on every NFL team

Patrick Peterson is the Cardinals' best player, but unless you're a hardcore cornerback-head/film junkie, it's hard to see too much of his work. Johnson has disappointed millions of fantasy teams but remains the most watchable part of a bad Cardinals season. The fourth-year running back enters Week 13 averaging only 3.7 yards per carry and will fall well short of his 1,000-1,000 hopes. (He's at 692-325.) But this is still one of the league's premier ball-carriers, and better days are ahead.

Jones is on track to go down as the best player in Falcons history. Deion Sanders left Atlanta after five seasons. In Jones' eighth, he continues a Hall of Fame course. This year, he's at an NFL-best 1,305 receiving yards. One of the best size-speed packages in league history, Atlanta's top weapon has eight 100-plus-yard showings this season and could finish it as only the second player ever to record 1,900 receiving yards. Jones, who already has the No. 2 all-time, single-season receiving-yardage figure, has an outside shot at breaking Calvin Johnson's record (1,964 yards).

This isn't a particularly flashy team. The second of the Ravens' 2018 first-round picks stands out. Although Jackson was believed to be behind the curve compared to his first-round QB brethren in terms of passing polish, he's one of the most dangerous runners to ever take NFL snaps. The Ravens' current starter amassed 190 rushing yards in his first two starts. It will be interesting to see where this goes, but the 2016 Heisman Trophy recipient already has put John Harbaugh to a decision. Joe Flacco might not reacquire his job. 

Although not at fault entirely, LeSean McCoy is averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Buffalo's offense is not entertaining. But the Bills have shown consistent pluck on defense this season. Hughes is 30 and may not be part of Sean McDermott's future plans, but the defensive end leads the Bills in sacks (six), quarterback hits (16) and tackles for loss (10). Hughes is an integral cog on a defense that ranks second in DVOA. Said defense resides as the main reason why a Bills team many expected to vie for next year's No. 1 pick has four wins.

Usage-rate hero Christian McCaffrey may be newer and shiftier, but Carolina's quarterback remains a historically unique commodity. Newton has added four rushing TDs this year to give him 58 in eight seasons; he is now 15 ahead of every other quarterback ever. Newton, who has thrown at least two touchdown passes in a career-high 10 straight games, operates a new-look Panthers offense that has received a vital update from Norv Turner. As long as Newton is playing for the Panthers, he will likely be their top draw.

Chicago's preseason trade for Mack transformed its defense from good to great, doing so in a year when most of the NFL's best teams do not possess high-level defensive capabilities. Vic Fangio's sans-Mack group cracked the top 10 in 2017; this one leads the league in DVOA by a considerable margin. Mack (eight sacks, five forced fumbles) gives Chicago an edge game-wrecker, setting up an interesting playoff profile if the Bears run into the Rams or Saints in January. Next week's Rams-Bears Sunday night game will be must-see, and no way is that the case if Mack is still a Raider. 

Not mentioned often enough with the elite NFL receivers, Green has gone to seven straight Pro Bowls. The eighth-year player has hovered among the league's best since arriving as 2011's No. 4 overall pick. Green's importance to the Bengals showed this month, with the team dropping each of the three games it was forced to play without its best player. A moderate Green foot injury likely buried the Bengals even before Andy Dalton's season-ending malady may send them toward a possible top-10 pick. Green (No. 3 in receiving yards since 2011 with 8,900) should not be taken for granted.

Baker Mayfield's post-Hue Jackson emergence proving sustainable will make the biggest difference in whether the John Dorsey blueprint will produce a winning Browns run. But Garrett is the most talented player in Cleveland. It's not really close. The freakishly gifted defensive end collected his 10th sack on Sunday in Cincinnati, blowing by poor Cedric Ogbuehi, and is on his way to the Pro Bowl. The explosiveness this 272-pound edge man possesses is obviously historically rare at this size, and it's the 2018 Browns' best aesthetic feature.

Before this season began, Elliott would have been the easy Cowboys choice. But the rises of Byron Jones and Leighton Vander Esch ignited a Dallas defense that has catalyzed a late-season surge. Still, the Cowboys center around their running back. Checking all the boxes for a modern, three-down back, Zeke returned to top form in November. He's totaled 667 yards from scrimmage during the Cowboys' four-game win streak and scored five touchdowns. These team-elevating capabilities, and his various run-ins with the Salvation Army kettle, make Elliott the pick.

Saquon Barkley is this year's best rookie running back. Amazingly, a player not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine comes in second. The start of Lindsay carries look different from most of his contemporaries'. The Broncos' top back is just 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds but sprints toward holes with nearly unparalleled ferocity. Von Miller is the Broncos' on-field centerpiece and one of the most marketable NFLers, but Lindsay (780 rushing yards, seventh in the NFL) coming from where he did and gliding toward a historic rookie season has made a major difference in Denver's mini-resurgence. 

The Lions are without their 1,000-yard wideout duo from 2017, with Golden Tate now an Eagle and Marvin Jones on injured reserve. Lion fans can at least observe their latest burgeoning standout develop in a lost season. Golladay has displayed a penchant for acrobatic grabs, and the 2017 third-round pick (804 receiving yards, five touchdowns) is on pace for his own 1,000-yard slate. He will be Detroit's future at the receiver position, and if the team will ever coax elite play from Matthew Stafford, Golladay stands to be a big part of it. 

While there still may be no more talented passer in NFL history, this has not been the greatest Rodgers year. The Packers are nearing disarray, and their iconic quarterback often seems unhappy. (The 35-year-old passer's potential to take the go-to NFL pitchman baton from Peyton Manning isn't off to a great start, either, with Rodgers' comic timing needing some work.) But Rodgers' ability to make throws almost no one else can, coupled with the dissatisfaction he clearly has developed for Mike McCarthy, still makes a substandard Green Bay team worth watching. 

This is one of the more difficult calls. J.J. Watt being nearly back to mid-2010s form (a level almost no one in NFL history reached) would give the revered defensive end the nod on most other teams. But the Texans boast one of the most exciting young players in the game. The Texans went to the playoffs without Watt in 2016, but when their dual-threat quarterback went down last season, they cratered. Watson is not yet among the league's elite, but when he heats up — best 2018 example: his five-TD-pass demolition of the Dolphins  the Houston offense is must-see. 

Of the Colts' four second-round picks this year, Leonard entered the pros with the lowest profile. Coming out of Division I-FCS South Carolina State, the linebacker injected himself immediately into the Defensive Rookie of the Year race. Leonard's 114 tackles lead the NFL by 12, and Indianapolis' small-school gem has a team-high six sacks. He also intercepted a pass and forced four fumbles. In addition to rewarding IDP fantasy owners who swooped in with early waiver claims, Leonard is a cornerstone player for a Colts team that is ahead of schedule on a long-overdue rebuild.

The Eagles should be grateful the Jaguars exist, the latter eclipsing the Super Bowl champions' 2018 cliff dive. Jacksonville is one of the more disappointing teams in many years, but if the Jags manage to upgrade at quarterback in 2019, they still have a ready-made defense on which to rely. Ramsey may not be too mature, his random shots at various offensive players backfiring, but the All-Pro cornerback is the most interesting Jaguar. His shtick isn't for everyone, but for the most part, the tenacious third-year corner backs it up.

This isn't necessarily an obvious pick, with Tyreek Hill in the conversation for fastest NFLer ever. But the Chiefs' quarterback makes it all work. Alex Smith threw a career-high 26 touchdown passes last season. Mahomes enters December with a league-best 37 and a chance to threaten Peyton Manning's single-season record (55). Andy Reid's Chiefs offenses transitioned from "Jamaal Charles plays here, but everything else is dull" (2013-15) to intriguingly collegy (2016-17) to "holy hell, what is happening?" The rest of Reid's cast helps, but Mahomes makes that last descriptor possible.

Even if Melvin Gordon were healthy, this would still be the choice. Bosa is one of the game's best pass rushers. The explosive technician looks back in form after missing the first half of the season, and his two-sack game pretty much cost Cardinals right tackle Andre Smith his job. Bosa returning from his foot injury elevates the Chargers defense to perhaps the best stoppage unit among true AFC contenders. Los Angeles' left defensive end may be the weapon capable of lifting the Bolts to a road playoff conquest. 

On a team full of weapons, no other Ram is on Donald's level. This is a future Hall of Famer at the height of his powers. The interior rusher's short-area burst rivals any defensive tackle in NFL history. He overwhelms guards at the point of attack, despite frequent double-teams, and he brings speed that make his edge rushes resemble those of a top-flight defensive end. In a season when this era's other top defenders — J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Khalil Mack — are on first-team All-Pro courses, Donald (14.5 sacks) has a clear lead in the Defensive Player of the Year race. He may end up as one of the best defenders ever.

The Dolphins' most electric players — Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson — are on IR, and this team does not look like a true playoff contender. But is it not fun to see a 35-year-old running back stay productive and further etch his name in NFL lore? A Miami native, Gore has not scored a touchdown this season but is averaging nearly a full yard more per carry (4.5) than in any of his Colts years. Watching Gore (fourth all time in rushing) grind out yards is a good reason to follow the Fins in December. 

Second in the NFL in receiving yards, Thielen is already an all-time sports success story. Although Danielle Hunter is an amazing edge rusher, Thielen is the obvious Vikings pick. Minnesota's go-to wideout accumulated 100-plus yards in nine of 11 games this season. With 1,138 this year, the Division II product is on track to threaten Randy freaking Moss' single-season Vikings record (1,632 yards in 2003). Thielen is one of the league's most captivating players and will help set the Vikings' ceiling if/when they make the playoffs.

Gronkowski occasionally flashes the form he showed when he was submitting his greatest-tight end-ever case. Even if Gronk is no longer in his prime, the Patriots will need him if they are to turn one of their worst Tom Brady-era teams into a Super Bowl entrant. Gronkowski can still do what few on the planet can, and his otherworldly physicality/catch-radius combination may matter during one more stretch run. On a Pats team that does not flash like recent New England outfits, this is still the player who can force the most double takes. Gronk's off-field antics don't lack for entertainment, either. 

Alvin Kamara is one of the NFL's most unique talents, but Brees vying for his first MVP months before his 40th birthday is the most interesting Saints storyline entering this season's final month. The New Orleans quarterback will almost certainly break his own completion percentage record and is chasing Aaron Rodgers' passer rating standard. Sean Payton's machine does not feature much skill-position depth, but Brees (76 percent completion rate, 123.2 rating) makes it work. This may be the best Saints team ever, and its Brees-piloted quest for home-field advantage will determine how much hope the rest of the NFC has.

Odell Beckham Jr. would secure this distinction on nearly every other team. But the Giants eschewed a possible franchise quarterback to draft one of the most talented running backs available in years. Barkley carries do not resemble many other NFL running backs' work. His runs — behind a below-average offensive front — show the kind of raw skill just about no other active back possesses. Beckham has proved to be a top-tier wideout, but his rookie teammate is supplying backfield talent a near-100-year-old franchise has never seen, giving him a slight entertainment edge.

This unofficial title may change hands after an expected Jets spending spree in free agency, when a well-rested running back may agree to wear green in 2019. But for now, Adams is the choice. A dynamic run-stopper who won his Week 12 battle against Rob Gronkowski, the second-year safety is one of Gang Green's cornerstones. New York's roster will need to be overhauled to help Sam Darnold grow into a franchise-caliber quarterback, but Adams will be part of that revitalization attempt. 

Weird? Yes. A nice moment for the center profession? Possibly. A sign of a rock-bottom Raiders team with no interest in competing until Vegas? Likely. Unless you're really into Jalen Richard, who is a capable third-down back, the choice in the post-Khalil Mack era should be what this team does best. Hudson has made the past two Pro Bowls, and Pro Football Focus grades him as 2018's best pass-blocking center. Doug Martin (2.9 yards per carry in 2016 and 2017) is averaging 4.4 yards per tote. While not classic entertainment, Oakland's interior line is not throwing in the towel.

The defending champion Eagles are not as scary as last season's title-starved team, but they are not eliminated yet. A key reason: Zach Ertz is a more dangerous weapon than he was during Philadelphia's Super Bowl run. Ertz is on pace to break Jason Witten's record for most receptions in a season by a tight end (110). His 84 catches through 11 games already give him a career yardage high (895). Also on pace to become just the seventh tight end with 1,200-plus yards in a season, Ertz is carrying Philly's passing game. This pursuit is worth watching even if the champs fall out of the race.

Although JuJu Smith-Schuster may have the edge in on- and off-field comedy, Brown may still be the NFL's best wide receiver. An all-time great in his prime, the 30-year-old wideout commands the largest font on opposing defenses' game plans. This has helped Smith-Schuster lead the Steelers with 77 receptions for 1,055 yards. A prodigious route-runner with still-elite separation skills (and historically on-point sideline balance), Brown has totaled just 874 air yards. But he has 11 touchdowns and remains the key to Pittsburgh reaching its long-elusive ceiling. 

Even before the 49ers cut Reuben Foster, their roster needed improvements at many spots. The Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch rebuild is developing slowly. But one place the power duo does not need to address will be tight end, where George Kittle has become a revelation. The second-year tight end already has more receiving yards (823) than he did in four years at Iowa. He's trying to become the first San Francisco tight end to amass 1,000 yards in a season (Vernon Davis came closest in 2009) and is thriving with backup quarterbacks. That's damn entertaining.

Wilson didn't need to prove his greatness entering 2018, but this season has further entrenched him as one of the era's premier quarterbacks. Stripped of the Legion of Boom and just about every key defender from the Super Bowl years, the Seahawks run through Wilson. He is quietly enjoying an important season. The Seattle passer has thrown multiple touchdown passes in 10 games and rallied his team to victory in consecutive weeks. He's also been the top QB against blitzes this year. One of this century's great NFL underdog stories, Wilson is authoring an interesting second act thus far.

Tampa Bay's general manager, head coach and starting quarterback may be elsewhere in 2019. No matter who is calling the plays or throwing the passes, the Buccaneers' top wide receiver will be the cornerstone of the next era. Evans gets lost at times in dominant-wideout discussions, but at 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds, he's a physical specimen amid a career year. Evans has posted six 100-yard games, tied for third-most this season, and 1,073 yards for a bad Bucs team. He is the top reason to keep checking in on their games.

Despite playing in a limited offense, Davis is ahead of his 2017 first-round wide receiver peers. Neither Mike Williams nor John Ross has shown what the Titans' top target has thus far. Displaying an all-around game that made the Titans take a Western Michigan alum at No. 5 overall, Davis (702 receiving yards) is on track for a 1,000-yard season. He has a ways to go to be considered one of the NFL's best, but the Titans are not teeming with weapons. Davis looks like a long-term fit in Nashville.

Credit the Redskins and Dolphins for investing in spry veteran backs. Washington's choice, which came in August after Peterson spent five months in free agency, has made a big difference in its season. Peterson's 758 rushing yards rank ninth, and the three-time rushing champion has added another key chapter to his legacy. Peterson's rampages led to Washington wins this season, keeping a team devoid of many skill-position threats in the playoff race. The 33-year-old ball-carrier is just more talented than almost anyone who has ever played this position.