Week 17 Rankings

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1.	Jalen Hurts	Eagles	Cardinals
2.	Lamar Jackson	Ravens	Dolphins
3.	Dak Prescott	Cowboys	Lions
4.	Josh Allen	Bills	Patriots
5.	Brock Purdy	49ers	@Commanders
6.	Patrick Mahomes	Chiefs	Bengals
7.	C.J. Stroud	Texans	Titans
8.	Justin Fields	Bears	Falcons
9.	Kyler Murray	Cardinals	@Eagles
10.	Matthew Stafford	Rams	@Giants
11.	Baker Mayfield	Buccaneers	Saints
12.	Jordan Love	Packers	@Vikings
13.	Jared Goff	Lions	@Cowboys
14.	Trevor Lawrence	Jaguars	Panthers
15.	Nick Mullens	Vikings	Packers
16.	Jake Browning	Bengals	@Chiefs
17.	Geno Smith	Seahawks	Steelers
18.	Tua Tagovailoa	Dolphins	@Ravens
19.	Derek Carr	Saints	@Buccaneers
20.	Joe Flacco	Browns	Jets
21.	Jacoby Brissett	Commanders	49ers
22.	Easton Stick	Chargers	@Broncos
23.	Jarrett Stidham	Broncos	Chargers
24.	Will Levis	Titans	@Texans
25.	Tyrod Taylor	Giants	Rams

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1.	Christian McCaffery	49ers	@Commanders
2.	Kyren Williams	Rams	@Giants
3.	Rachaad White	Buccaneers	Saints
4.	Alvin Kamara	Saints	@Buccanneers
5.	Saquon Barkley	Giants	Rams
6.	James Cook	Bills	Patriots
7.	Jahmyr Gibbs	Lions	@Cowboys
8.	Breece Hall	Jets	@Browns
9.	Joe Mixon	Bengals	@Chiefs
10.	Travis Etienne	Jaguars	Panthers
11.	Josh Jacobs	Raiders	@Colts
12.	Isiah Pacheco	Chiefs	Bengals
13.	Jonathan Taylor	Colts	Raiders
14.	Raheem Mostert	Dolphins	@Ravens
15.	Bijan Robinson	Falcons	@Bears
16.	Austin Ekeler	Chargers	@Broncos
17.	Kenneth Walker	Seahawks	Steelers
18.	Derrick Henry	Titans	@Texans
19.	Tony Pollard	Cowboys	Lions
20.	D’Andre Swift	Eagles	Cardinals
21.	Aaron Jones	Packers	@Vikings
22.	James Connor	Cardinals	@Eagles
23.	Jaylen Warren	Steelers	@Seahawks
24.	David Montgomery	Lions	@Cowboys
25.	De’Von Achane	Dolphins	@Ravens

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1.	Ceedee Lamb	Cowboys	Lions
2.	Amon-Ra St. Brown	Lions	@Cowboys
3.	Tyreek Hill	Dolphins	@Ravens
4.	Justin Jefferson	Vikings	Packers
5.	A.J. Brown	Eagles	Cardinals
6.	Deebo Samuel	49ers	@Commanders
7.	Mike Evans	Buccaneers	Saints
8.	Chris Olave	Saints	@Buccaneers
9.	Puka Nacua	Rams	@Giants
10	Keenan Allen	Chargers	@Broncos
11.	Rashee Rice	Chiefs	Bengals
12.	Nico Collins	Texans	Titans
13.	Michael Pittman	Colts	Raiders
14.	Stefon Diggs	Bills	Patriots
15.	Davante Adams	Raiders	@Colts
16.	Ja’Marr Chase	Bengals	@Chiefs
17.	DK Metcalf	Seahawks	Steelers
18.	Brandon Aiyuk	49ers	@Commanders
19.	Cooper Kupp	Rams	@Giants
20.	Amari Cooper	Browns	Jets
21.	D.J. Moore	Bears	Falcons
22.	DeVonta Smith	Eagles	Cardinals
23.	Garrett Wilson	Jets	@Browns
24.	Chris Godwin	Buccaneers	Saints
25.	Calvin Ridley	Jaguars	Panthers

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1.	Travis Kelce	Chiefs	Bengals
2.	Trey McBride	Cardinals	@Eagles
3.	Sam LaPorta	Lions	@Cowboys
4.	George Kittle	49ers	@Commanders
5.	David Njoku	Browns	Jets
6.	Evan Engram	Jaguars	Panthers
7.	Jake Ferguson	Cowboys	Lions
8.	Isaiah Likely	Ravens	Dolphins
9.	Darren Waller	Giants	Rams
10.	Dalton Schultz	Texans	Titans
11.	Dallas Goedart	Eagles	Cardinals
12.	Cole Kmet	Bears	Falcons
13.	Kyle Pitts	Falcons	@Bears
14.	Chigoziem Okonkwo	Titans	@Texans
15.	Tucker Kraft	Packers	@Vikings
16.	Hunter Henry	Patriots	@Bills
17.	Gerald Everett	Chargers	@Broncos
18.	Logan Thomas	Commanders	49ers
19.	Dalton Kincaid	Bills	Patriots
20.	Tyler Conklin	Jets	@Browns
21.	Juwan Johnson	Saints	@Buccaneers
22.	Cade Otton	Buccaneers	Saints
23.	Tyler Higbee	Rams	@Giants
24.	Michael Mayer	Raiders	@Colts
25.	Jonnu Smith	Falcons	@Bears

Defense

Rank	Team	Opp
1.	Browns	Jets
2.	Bills	Patriots
3.	49ers	@Commanders
4.	Falcons	@Bears
5.	Colts	Raiders
6.	Bears	Falcons
7.	Rams	@Giants
8.	Jets	@Browns
9.	Jaguars	Panthers
10.	Raiders	@Colts
11.	Chargers	@Broncos
12.	Chiefs	Bengals
13.	Broncos	Chargers
14.	Chargers	@Broncos
15.	Eagles	Cardinals
16.	Seahawks	Steelers
17.	Texans	Titans
18.	Vikings	Packers
19.	Steelers	@Seahawks
20.	Ravens	Dolphins

Pros and Cons of New Cleveland Head Coach Rob Chudzinski

Pro: Offensive Aptitude

The man knows a thing or two about the tight end position. Chudzinski, also known as “Chud”, won two national championships during his time at the University of Miami where he was the starting tight end for three years. He returned to his alma mater as a tight ends coach where helped develop Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey, and Kellen Winslow II over an eight year span.

Chud has coached tight ends in the NFL for five years with the Cleveland Browns and the San Diego Chargers.

For the past two seasons Chud was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. During his first season in Carolina he transformed a bleak, ineffective offense into a juggernaut.

His Panthers boasted the seventh overall offense in the league, as well as ranking fifth in points scored, and setting a franchise record for total yards. Having Offensive Rookie of the Year, Cam Newton, as his starting quarterback may have had something to do with that.

To say that the dude knows a thing or two about running an offense is an understatement. Chud has been at it for nearly two decades. His ten years in college football and nine years in the NFL must have enticed Jimmy Haslam and company.

Con: Lack of experience as Head Coach

After nine years in the NFL, this is Chud’s first head coaching gig. Former Cleveland head coach Pat Shurmur, provides an example of the difficult transition between offensive coordinator and head coach.

The Harbaugh brothers have recently set a high standard for first time head coaches in the NFL; however, it is unreasonable to expect that same level of production from others such as Chudzinski.

Pro: Experience with Browns

Chudzinski was born and raised a Cleveland Browns fan in Toledo, Ohio.

“My cousins and I, … we wanted to be in that stadium, in the Dog Pound so bad that we would watch games in December out in the snow, said Chudzinski. We’d flip the TV around in the window, and that was (like) us being there, being in the stands and being part of that.”

This will be his third stint with the Browns.  In 2007, as offensive coordinator, he took an ineffective offense to new heights, much like he did in Carolina. The team finished eighth in the league in total offense and featured five offensive Pro Bowl members: Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow II, Josh Cribbs, and Joe Thomas.

Cribbs’ future with the team remains unclear, but Joe Thomas remains on the roster. If Chud can utilize Brandon Weeden’s rocket of an arm like he did with Anderson, combined with the deep threat ability of Josh Gordon like he did with Braylon Edwards, Cleveland fans will be in for a real treat.

Chudzinski has had success with athletic tight ends like Winslow in Cleveland and at the University of Miami as well as Antonio Gates in San Diego. Gates is a converted basketball player from Kent State who shares a few similarities with Cleveland’s tight end Jordan Cameron who also played basketball in college. Perhaps Chud can propel Cameron to new heights.

Con: The Cleveland Brown’s 2008 Season

As encouraging as the success of the ‘07 campaign under Chudzinski was, 2008 proved equally agonizing. So bad, in fact, that the new management in place decided to part ways with Chud after the season.

The Brown’s offense fell from the top ten overall in ‘07 to twenty fourth in the league in points per game and twenty fifth in yards per game in ’08.

Chudzinski wasn’t solely responsible for the meltdown, many different factors contributed to Cleveland’s regression. Nonetheless, his departure was hardly protested by fans.

Pro: Coaching Staff

One consolation of Cleveland fans who opposed the hiring of Chudzinski is the rest of the coaching staff in place.

The Browns recently signed Ray Horton as their defensive coordinator. His name was buzzing around rumor mills as teams searched for new head coaches this offseason. Horton felt betrayed when he wasn’t upgraded from defensive coordinator to head coach by the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, so he decided to accept the defensive coordinator position with Cleveland.

Horton comes with experience in the AFC North. He spent seven years coaching the secondary of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2004-2010.

Norv Turner joins Chudzinski again in Cleveland, but this time, Chud is running the show. Most recently, Chudzinski served as the assistant head coach to Turner in San Diego.

If Chudzinski ever finds himself overwhelmed during his first attempt at coaching, he need to look no further than Turner and his fifteen years of NFL experience for advice.

Con: His nickname is ‘Chud’

Before the hiring of Chudzinksi, fans were teased with rumors of “sexy” name head coaching candidates such as Nick Saban, Chip Kelly, Ken Wisenhunt, Bruce Arians and others.

Chud’s nickname and reputation are about as sexy as Miley Cyrus’ new haircut. One ESPN analyst recently said that Haslam and Banner promised steak, but came back with Spam.

Every head coach needs an opportunity to build a reputation for himself. The accolades which make certain candidates so enticing are not just given, they are earned. Perhaps Chud’s current position as Cleveland’s head coach will serve as a launching pad to bolster his reputation.