The 2019 NFL Season is on the horizon, and excitement about league action is beginning to ramp up. NFL fans from casual to rabid are warming up their favorite armchairs and stocking up the snack pantry in anticipation of the opening day kick-off for their favorite teams.
A new NFL season is always a special time - since opening day provides a renewed opportunity for every fan to make a fresh case why their team is going all the way, or why their favorite player will dominate the league this year.
As a result of the fan excitement intellectual debates and even full-blown arguments are also a big part of the season Debates by fan experts, Monday morning Quarterbacks and actual professional analysts and reporters can add to the fan base for teams and improve the legendary status of the individual players. The ever-expanding reach of Fantasy Football has taken the level of interest in players rankings to an all-time high and made Top Player Lists a must have for Fantasy Football enthusiasts.
It has been my experience that the professional analysts lists of Top Players are usually too backward looking, and do a great job of ranking what was, but not so good a job of predicting what will happen next. However; have no fear. I have a history of winning my Fantasy leagues because I assess individual player talent each year, without getting hung up on the pontificating of so-called experts raving on and on about last season's star.
With that in mind; here is my short list of the Top 5 Players to watch in the 2019 NFL season along with some insight into what makes them a sure bet to have big-time production this year.
#5 Russell Wilson
There's a reason why the Seattle Seahawks made Wilson the highest-paid (4 yr., $140 Million with $65 million signing bonus) quarterback in the league. Wilson is a one-man attack who makes everyone around him better. In the prime of his career the 30-year-old Wilson is a proven winner who has already been to two Super Bowls, winning one and having a second win stolen from him by a poor coaching decision.
In 2018 he threw for 35 touchdowns and had only 7 interceptions, he also has rushed for over 3600 yards in his career with 16 rushing touchdowns. A revamped Seahawk defense will give Wilson and the offense more opportunities in 2019 and with his skillset and experience Danger, Russ can be counted on to make the most of the extra touches, and be one of the Top 5 NFL players this season.
#4 Khalil Mack
Mack joined the Bears for the 2018 season and the team immediately shifted into high gear, making the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season. He is the sole defensive addition to this list because I think he has a chance for a historic season this year. Last year the Bears made Mack the highest paid defensive player in NFL history, signing him to a 6-year $141 million contract.
The 2017 defensive player of the year has now found a home on one of the best defensive units in the NFL. The Bears are an up and coming team and Mack will get the benefit of having a lot of young and talented teammates. At 28 years old Mack is just entering his prime and I believe has only scratched the surface of his abilities. I think he is in a perfect situation to be a Top 5 NFL player, rewrite league records and achieve unprecedented greatness this season with the Bears.
#3 Ezekiel Elliott
The Dallas Cowboys are my pick to win the NFC East this year with Zeke leading the charge. In three NFL seasons, Elliot has rushed for over 4,000 yards and has 28 rushing touchdowns, he has added 6 receiving TD's and 1,199 receiving yards to boot. These numbers have come despite having unstable team rosters, an inconsistent defense, a young quarterback and underachieving receivers. In other words, teams knew Zeke was coming and met him with a loaded box.
That has all changed! The Cowboys have added Amari Cooper to stretch the field and signed former Packers slot receiver Randall Cobb to a one-year deal worth $5 million. They also enticed hall of fame tight end Jason Witten out of retirement to round out the offensive skill players. The maturity and comfort of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (who might have been the number 6 player on this list), and the quality of the offensive line means that the pieces are aligning for Elliot to have a monster season. The Dallas defense should be a top ten (maybe top 5) unit this year and the team should be playing from the front (running the ball) much more often. Elliott and the Cowboys are both in a position to have a terrific 2019; umm if Jerry Jones will wise up and pay the man... Zeke will be a Top 5 NFL player for sure. Stay Tuned!
#2 Drew Brees
The 2019 season will simply be another day at the office for Brees. He will take the reins of one of the top offenses in the league and one with a chip on its shoulder. The Saints have been ousted from the playoffs the last two seasons by a fluke catch (2017) and an awful pass interference call (2018).
As for Brees - in 2018 he threw for 3,992 yards with 32 TD's and only 5 Interceptions. He is also chasing All-Time Records in Career Passing Attempts (Favre - 10,169) and Career Passing Touchdowns (P. Manning - 539). Put it all together and Brees is a can't miss Top 5 NFL player and should have an outstanding season in 2019.
#1 Patrick Mahomes
This is a no brainer - where Mahomes is concerned the numbers do not lie. In only one full year as a starter Mahomes passed for 5,097 yards and 50 TD's averaging 318 passing yards per game. The fact that he is playing for a high-powered Chiefs offense with offensive guru Andy Reid at the helm, makes his potential for the season almost unlimited. His phenomenal passing ability, fleet-footed style of play and his ability to think clearly on the fly make the reigning league MVP a can't miss superstar in 2019 and for years to come.
There you have it, a quick look at the Top 5 NFL players who I feel will have terrific seasons in 2019.
I hope the Nachos and cold Drinks are ready; Have a great 2019 season.
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