If you want to start a fight in a sports bar, just pull up the latest NFL Top 100 Players list and start reading the names out loud. Seriously. It works every time because this list isn't just a collection of stats or PFF grades. It’s a peer-voted popularity contest that often flies in the face of logic, which is exactly why it's so fun to talk about.
Look at the 2025 rankings that wrapped up a few months ago. Saquon Barkley at number one.
Yeah, you read that right. After a monster 2,005-yard rushing season and a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles, the players decided he was the best on the planet. It’s the first time a running back has taken the top spot since the list started back in 2011. Most "experts" would have put Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson there, but the guys who actually have to tackle Saquon felt differently.
The Weird Science of Peer Voting
The way the NFL Top 100 Players actually gets made is kinda chaotic. The league sends out ballots to all 32 teams around Thanksgiving. The players don't rank 100 people; they just list their personal top 20.
A number one vote gets 20 points, number two gets 19, and so on. Basically, if you aren't in someone's top 20, you don't exist to them. This is how you end up with weird snubs or guys like Sam Darnold showing up at number 72 because he had a few lights-out weeks in Minnesota before moving to Seattle.
Players don't watch film like scouts do. They remember who "got" them. If a corner got burned for a 60-yard TD by Justin Jefferson (who climbed back to number nine this year), that corner is definitely putting JJ on his ballot.
Why the 2025 List Broke the Internet
This year’s edition was particularly messy. The Philadelphia Eagles had 10 different players on the list. That’s a record. Usually, the Super Bowl winner gets a bump, but 10% of the entire list coming from one roster? It felt a little heavy, especially when you realize guys like Marlon Humphrey got left off entirely despite a career-high six interceptions.
📖 Related: 2024 25 bowl games: What Really Happened During College Football’s Wildest Postseason
Then there’s the quarterback drama.
- Saquon Barkley (RB)
- Lamar Jackson (QB)
- Josh Allen (QB)
- Ja'Marr Chase (WR)
- Patrick Mahomes (QB)
Mahomes at five? Honestly, that’s just the players getting bored of him winning. We see this every few years where they penalize "consistent greatness" because it’s not as exciting as a comeback story or a massive statistical outlier.
Defensive Disrespect and the Trenches
One thing that always bugs me about the NFL Top 100 Players is how they treat the big guys in the middle. This year, only one center made the cut: Creed Humphrey at number 93.
One.
For a league that’s supposedly won in the trenches, the voters sure don't seem to care once they have a pen in their hand. Guards and centers are basically invisible unless they’re getting pancaked. Meanwhile, edge rushers like Myles Garrett (number eight) and T.J. Watt (number 11) are perennial locks because sacks are flashy.
It’s also worth noting how much weight the players give to "sticky" coverage. Patrick Surtain II climbed all the way to number 10 and took home the Defensive Player of the Year honors in the eyes of his peers. If you’re a QB and you’re scared to throw toward a guy, he’s going on your list.
Surprising Debuts and Falling Stars
We saw some massive jumps this year. Dion Dawkins from the Bills rose 54 spots. Think about that. That’s half the list in one year. On the flip side, some legends are starting to fade. Travis Kelce stayed in the top 10 for 2024 but started to slip down toward the 80s in the 2025 reveal as the "new guard" of tight ends like Trey McBride and Brock Bowers started taking over the conversation.
And let's talk about the rookies. Malik Nabers (92) and Brian Thomas Jr. (61) managed to crack the code early. It’s rare for rookies to get respect because, again, players usually vote for the guys they’ve already played against.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about the NFL Top 100 Players is that it’s supposed to be a projection of who will be good next year. It’s not. It’s a rearview mirror.
When players were filling out these ballots in late 2024/early 2025, they were thinking about the hits they just took. They were thinking about the guy who made them look silly on a Monday night. That's why you see "prisoner of the moment" picks like Jerry Jeudy at 82. He had a couple of massive games that everyone remembered, even if his season-long stats weren't elite.
The list is a snapshot of "respect," not a definitive ranking of talent.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to actually use this list for anything other than arguing, keep these points in mind:
- Look at the Jumps: When a player jumps 30+ spots, it usually means their peers have finally started "fearing" them. That’s a great indicator of a player entering their prime.
- Check the Snubs: Use the "players who missed" lists to find value in fantasy drafts or betting lines. If the players ignored a guy like Marlon Humphrey, he’s probably going to play with a massive chip on his shoulder the next season.
- Watch the QB Tiers: Notice how the players grouped the QBs this year. Jared Goff at 15 over Jalen Hurts at 16? That tells you the league respects Goff’s processing and system more than the media does.
At the end of the day, the NFL Top 100 Players is the ultimate locker room talk. It’s biased, it’s inconsistent, and it’s occasionally nonsensical. But it's the only time we get to see what the players actually think of each other when the cameras aren't rolling.
If you’re tracking these for your own player evaluations, pay less attention to the specific number and more to the grouping. Being in the top 20 is a tier. Being 21-50 is a tier. Everything else is basically a toss-up based on who had a good game on a national TV slot.