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Best Offensive Players In The NFL- AFC SOuth and West
by Jamie MacLachlan
In this series of articles, I will be looking at who I believe to be the best Offensive players for each team in the NFL.
This time it’s a look at the AFC South which just lost one of the biggest names in the NFL and the AFC West which gained it.
AFC South
Houston Texans- Andre Johnson, WR
Although injuries seem to be starting to have more of an impact on Johnson he is still a key cog in the Texans offense. Johnson has led the league twice in receiving yards and been voted to 5 Pro Bowls and has been All-Pro 4 times. He has broken the 1,000 yard mark in 5 of his 9 seasons, falling just 24 yards short in his rookie year, and 149 yards short in 2007 despite only playing 9 games, I would say 2003 is his only sub-par year as he started 13 games but only recorded 688 yards. The Texans have arguably failed to capitalise on Johnson’s best years by not adding another receiving threat meaning opponents can double cover Johnson regularly but he has still consistently been one of the best Wide Receivers in the NFL.
This time it’s a look at the AFC South which just lost one of the biggest names in the NFL and the AFC West which gained it.
AFC South
Houston Texans- Andre Johnson, WR
Although injuries seem to be starting to have more of an impact on Johnson he is still a key cog in the Texans offense. Johnson has led the league twice in receiving yards and been voted to 5 Pro Bowls and has been All-Pro 4 times. He has broken the 1,000 yard mark in 5 of his 9 seasons, falling just 24 yards short in his rookie year, and 149 yards short in 2007 despite only playing 9 games, I would say 2003 is his only sub-par year as he started 13 games but only recorded 688 yards. The Texans have arguably failed to capitalise on Johnson’s best years by not adding another receiving threat meaning opponents can double cover Johnson regularly but he has still consistently been one of the best Wide Receivers in the NFL.
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Indianapolis Colts- Reggie Wayne, WR
In his career so far Wayne has broken the 1,000 yards receiving mark 7 times, and in total has 862 receptions, 11,708 yards and 73 touchdowns, he has also managed to make the Pro Bowl 5 years in a row from 2006 to 2010. Some may say that these stats are inflated due to playing with one of the best Quarterbacks to ever grace the league, but the important thing is that even when Manning was down in 2011 Wayne was still able to contribute with 960 yards and 4 touchdowns. Although he may not be revisiting the Super Bowl anytime soon Wayne will still be important to Indianapolis as a reliable target for Luck as the franchise attempts to rebuild without Manning. Jacksonville Jaguars- Maurice Jones-Drew, RB Jones-Drew is a dangerous Running Back when being handed the ball or receiving out of the backfield. In 2011, despite being the only offensive threat on the Jacksonville team Jones-Drew still put in a league leading and Franchise record 1,606 rushing yards and another 374 yards receiving, meaning he accounted for over 47% of their yards. Having been voted to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro for the last 3 years in a row Jones-Drew has proven himself to be one of the best backs in the league, meaning that those teams who selected a Running Back in the first 59 picks of the 2006 draft must regret passing on him. |
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Tennessee Titans- Chris Johnson, RB
Although Johnson is coming off of his worst season so far he still made it to over 1,000 yards rushing and added another 418 yards receiving, with his worst season totalling over 1,450 yards it shows how dangerous Johnson is. When in open space Johnson has the ability to outrun anybody as was shown when he posted a 4.24 in the 40 yard dash at the combine. As one of the 6 players to have made it over 2,000 rushing yards in a season where he also added 500 yards receiving Johnson will go down in history for one of the best season’s ever and if he can continue at his usual level he may go down as one of the best backs ever.
Although Johnson is coming off of his worst season so far he still made it to over 1,000 yards rushing and added another 418 yards receiving, with his worst season totalling over 1,450 yards it shows how dangerous Johnson is. When in open space Johnson has the ability to outrun anybody as was shown when he posted a 4.24 in the 40 yard dash at the combine. As one of the 6 players to have made it over 2,000 rushing yards in a season where he also added 500 yards receiving Johnson will go down in history for one of the best season’s ever and if he can continue at his usual level he may go down as one of the best backs ever.
Andre Johnston
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Reggie Wayne
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Maurice Jones-Drew
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Chris Johnson
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AFC West
Denver Broncos- Peyton Manning, QB Manning has been one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL ever since he entered as the 1st pick in 1998 and has made it to every Pro Bowl apart from 1998, 2001 and 2011. Manning holds a lot of Indianapolis’ franchise passing records, and a number of the league wide records as the fastest person to reach 50,000 passing yards and 4,000 completions. Manning led the Colts to the Super Bowl twice winning it once where he was named MVP, and the Broncos are hoping that he can have the same success in Denver even if he can’t he’s destined to end up in the NFL’s Hall Of Fame. |
Kansas City Chiefs- Dwayne Bowe, WR
Bowe managed to contribute immediately as rookie falling just 5 yards short of the 1,000 yard mark and leading all rookies, and has performed to a consistent level ever since apart from the 2009 season where he had a 4 game suspension. Even with a disappointing 2009 though Bowe averages just under 1,000 yards, and 7 touchdowns a season. His best season in 2010 saw him voted to the Pro Bowl and named All-Pro, he also helped take the Chiefs into the post-season.
Oakland Raiders- Darren McFadden, RB
Despite having some injury issues which have lead to McFadden missing 19 games in just 4 seasons, he was voted to the 60th spot on the NFL Top 100 players of 2012. McFadden flashed his potential in 2010 where he managed to start 13 games and had 1,157 rushing yards, 507 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns, and he looked set to reach the 1,000 yard mark in 2011. It will be interesting to see what numbers McFadden puts up when he manages to stay injury free for a season and with no reliable back-up the Raiders could do with it being 2012.
San Diego Chargers- Antonio Gates, TE
Having focused on a basketball career Gates wasn’t taken in the 2003 Draft, but has since proven that he is one of the best Tight Ends around having been voted to 8 consecutive Pro Bowls and named All-Pro 5 times. Averaging over 8 touchdowns and 800 yards a season Gates is a dangerous receiving threat, and if he can stay healthy is likely to be close to 10 touchdowns and 1,000 yards. As Rivers’ go to guy opposing teams know the ball’s going to Gates regularly but still the majority of defences can’t stop him.
Bowe managed to contribute immediately as rookie falling just 5 yards short of the 1,000 yard mark and leading all rookies, and has performed to a consistent level ever since apart from the 2009 season where he had a 4 game suspension. Even with a disappointing 2009 though Bowe averages just under 1,000 yards, and 7 touchdowns a season. His best season in 2010 saw him voted to the Pro Bowl and named All-Pro, he also helped take the Chiefs into the post-season.
Oakland Raiders- Darren McFadden, RB
Despite having some injury issues which have lead to McFadden missing 19 games in just 4 seasons, he was voted to the 60th spot on the NFL Top 100 players of 2012. McFadden flashed his potential in 2010 where he managed to start 13 games and had 1,157 rushing yards, 507 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns, and he looked set to reach the 1,000 yard mark in 2011. It will be interesting to see what numbers McFadden puts up when he manages to stay injury free for a season and with no reliable back-up the Raiders could do with it being 2012.
San Diego Chargers- Antonio Gates, TE
Having focused on a basketball career Gates wasn’t taken in the 2003 Draft, but has since proven that he is one of the best Tight Ends around having been voted to 8 consecutive Pro Bowls and named All-Pro 5 times. Averaging over 8 touchdowns and 800 yards a season Gates is a dangerous receiving threat, and if he can stay healthy is likely to be close to 10 touchdowns and 1,000 yards. As Rivers’ go to guy opposing teams know the ball’s going to Gates regularly but still the majority of defences can’t stop him.
Peyton Manning
Dwayne Bowe
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Darren McFadden
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Antonio Gates
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