The NFL Top 100 Players of 2021 is the eleventh season in the NFL Top 100 series. It premiered on August 15, 2021, and concluded on August 28, 2021. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the number one player.
Episode list Episode No.Air dateNumbers revealed1 August 15100–91290–81380–71470–61560–51650–417 August 2240–31830–21920–1110 August 2810–6115–1
The list RankPlayerPosition2020 team2021 teamRank changeReferenceYear accomplishments1Patrick MahomesQuarterbackKansas City Chiefs 3 Second consecutive AFC Championship 3rd Pro Bowl selection 1st Second-team All-Pro selection Became the fastest quarterback to reach 10,000 passing yards (34 games) Became the fastest quarterback to reach 100 passing touchdowns (40 games) Broke NFL records for career passing yards per game (307.7), career quarterback rating (108.7), and career interception percentage (1.4%, tied) by recording his 1,500th pass attempt2Aaron DonaldDefensive tackleLos Angeles Rams 1 NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 5) 3rd AP DPOY Award 6th First-team All-Pro selection 7th Pro Bowl selection3Aaron RodgersQuarterbackGreen Bay Packers 13 11th player to pass for 50,000 career yards Threw 400th career touchdown pass NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 13) NFC Offensive Player of the Month (December) Led league in touchdown passes (48, career high) 3rd AP MVP Award 3rd First-team All-Pro selection 9th Pro Bowl selection4Derrick HenryRunning backTennessee Titans 6 2× AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 6, 17) Led league in rushing yards (2,027) and rushing touchdowns (17) 8th 2,000 yard rushing season in NFL history 1st AP OPOY Award 1st First-team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection5Travis KelceTight endKansas City Chiefs 13 Broke single season tight end receiving yards record (1,416) Broke record for 1,000 receiving yards seasons by a tight end 3rd First-team All-Pro selection 6th Pro Bowl selection League leader among tight ends in receiving yards and touchdowns6Davante AdamsWide receiverGreen Bay Packers 51 First team All-Pro selection 4th consecutive Pro Bowl selection Career high in receptions (115) Led league in touchdown catches (18)7Tom BradyQuarterbackTampa Bay Buccaneers 7 NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 4) 7th Super Bowl championship 5th Super Bowl MVP award8DeAndre HopkinsWide receiverArizona Cardinals 0 NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 10) tied career high in receptions (105) 2nd Second-team All-Pro selection 5th Pro Bowl selection9T. J. WattOutside linebackerPittsburgh Steelers 16 AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 2) 2× AFC Defensive Player of the Month (September, November) Led league in sacks (15) AFC Defensive Player of the Year 2nd First-team All-Pro selection 3rd Pro Bowl selection10Josh AllenQuarterbackBuffalo Bills 77 4× AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Weeks 2, 9, 13, 15) 2× AFC Offensive Player of the Month (September, December) Career highs in completions (396), passing yards (4,544) and passing touchdowns (37) 1st Second-team All-Pro selection 1st Pro Bowl selection11Stefon DiggsWide receiverBuffalo Bills 43 AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 16) Led league in receptions (127) and yards receiving (1,535) (both career highs) 1st First-team All-Pro selection 1st Pro Bowl selection12Russell WilsonQuarterbackSeattle Seahawks 10 2× NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 1, 3) NFC Offensive Player of the Month (September) Career highs in pass completions (384) and touchdown passes (40) Walter Payton Man of the Year 8th Pro Bowl selection13Jalen RamseyCornerbackLos Angeles Rams 24 2nd First-team All-Pro selection 4th Pro Bowl selection14Alvin KamaraRunning backNew Orleans Saints 28 Tied NFL record for most rushing touchdowns in a game (6) NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 16) Career highs in rushing yards (932) and touchdowns (16) 2nd Second-team All-Pro selection15Tyreek HillWide receiverKansas City Chiefs 7 AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 12) Career highs in receptions (87) and touchdowns (15) 3rd First-team All-Pro selection 5th Pro Bowl selection16Myles GarrettDefensive endCleveland Browns 64 AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 4) AFC Defensive Player of the Month (October) 1st First-team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection17Xavien HowardCornerbackMiami DolphinsNR Led league in interceptions (10) (2nd time in career) and passes defensed (20) 1st First-Team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection18Deshaun WatsonQuarterbackHouston Texans 2 AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 11) Career high in completions (382) Led league in passing yards (4,823) 3rd Pro Bowl selection19Budda BakerFree safetyArizona Cardinals 78 NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 6) NFC Defensive Player of the Month (October) Tied career high in sacks (2) 2nd First-team All-Pro selection 3rd Pro Bowl selection20Dalvin CookRunning backMinnesota Vikings 1 2× NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 8, 9) NFC Offensive Player of the Month (November) Career highs in rushing yards (1,557) and rushing touchdowns (16) 2nd Pro Bowl selection21Fred WarnerLinebackerSan Francisco 49ers 49 NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 16) Career high in interceptions (2) 1st First-team All-Pro selection 1st Pro Bowl selection22DK MetcalfWide receiverSeattle Seahawks 59 Career highs in receptions (83), yards (1,303), and touchdowns (10) 1st Second-team All-Pro selection 1st Pro Bowl selection23Khalil MackOutside linebackerChicago Bears 4 1st Second-team All-Pro selection 6th Pro Bowl selection24Lamar JacksonQuarterbackBaltimore Ravens 23 First NFL quarterback to have multiple seasons surpassing 1,000 rushing yards25Bobby WagnerMiddle linebackerSeattle Seahawks 12 NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8) 6th First-team All-Pro selection 7th Pro Bowl selection26Nick ChubbRunning backCleveland Browns 10 Career high in rushing touchdowns (12) 2nd Pro Bowl selection27DeForest BucknerDefensive tackleIndianapolis Colts 29 AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 15) AFC Defensive Player of the Month (December) Tied career-high in forced fumbles (2) 1st First-Team All-Pro selection28Devin WhiteLinebackerTampa Bay BuccaneersNR Career highs in tackles (97), sacks (9) and passes defensed (4) 2× NFC Defensive Player of the Week (7, 15) Super Bowl champion (1st time)29Julio JonesWide receiverAtlanta FalconsTennessee Titans 1830Aaron JonesRunning backGreen Bay Packers 3 Career high in rushing yards (1,104) 1st Pro Bowl selection31Jamal AdamsStrong safetySeattle Seahawks 4 Career high in sacks (9 1/2) 2nd Second-Team All-Pro selection 3rd Pro Bowl selection32Joey BosaDefensive endLos Angeles Chargers 2 2nd First-Team All-Pro selection 3rd Pro Bowl selection33Quenton NelsonGuardIndianapolis Colts 4 3rd First-Team All-Pro selection 3rd Pro Bowl selection34Chris JonesDefensive tackleKansas City Chiefs 18 Tied career high in sacks (13) 2nd Second-Team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection35Darren WallerTight endLas Vegas Raiders 64 1st Pro Bowl selection Career highs in receiving yards (1,196) and touchdown receptions (9) Led league in receptions among tight ends (107)36David BakhtiariOffensive tackleGreen Bay Packers 26 2nd First-Team All-Pro selection 3rd Pro Bowl selection37Shaquille LeonardOutside linebackerIndianapolis Colts 13 Career high in fumbles recovered (2) AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 17) 2nd First-Team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection38Marlon HumphreyCornerbackBaltimore Ravens 48 Career high in tackles (68) Led league in forced fumbles (8) 2nd Pro Bowl selection39Kyler MurrayQuarterbackArizona Cardinals 51 3× NFC Offensive Player of the Week (5, 7, 15) Career highs in completions (375), passing yards (3,971) and touchdown passes (26) 1st Pro Bowl selection40Bradley ChubbOutside linebackerDenver BroncosNR 1st Pro Bowl selection41Jaire AlexanderCornerbackGreen Bay PackersNR 1st Second-Team All-Pro selection 1st Pro Bowl selection42Trent WilliamsOffensive tackleSan Francisco 49ersNR 8th Pro Bowl selection43Lavonte DavidLinebackerTampa Bay Buccaneers 57 NFC Defensive Player of the Month (September) Super Bowl champion (1st time) 2nd Second-Team All-Pro selection44Christian McCaffreyRunning backCarolina Panthers 3845Justin SimmonsFree safetyDenver BroncosNR Career highs in tackles (75) and interceptions (5) 1st Pro Bowl selection46Cameron JordanDefensive endNew Orleans Saints 23 NFC Defensive Player of the Month (November) 6th Pro Bowl selection47Stephon GilmoreCornerbackNew England PatriotsNew England Patriots/Carolina Panthers 38 4th Pro Bowl selection48Mike EvansWide receiverTampa Bay Buccaneers 18 Career high in touchdown receptions (13) Super Bowl champion (1st time) Record 7th consecutive season with 1,000 yards receiving49J. C. JacksonCornerbackNew England PatriotsNR Career high in interceptions (9)50George KittleTight endSan Francisco 49ers 4351Za'Darius SmithOutside linebackerGreen Bay Packers 3 NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 4) 1st Second-Team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection52Minkah FitzpatrickFree safetyPittsburgh Steelers 17 Career high in tackles (60) 2nd First-Team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection53Justin JeffersonWide receiverMinnesota VikingsNR 1st Second-Team All-Pro selection 1st Pro Bowl selection PFWA All-Rookie Team54Grady JarrettDefensive tackleAtlanta Falcons 37 2nd Pro Bowl selection55Keenan AllenWide receiverLos Angeles Chargers 22 Tied career high in touchdown receptions (8) 4th Pro Bowl selection56Justin HerbertQuarterbackLos Angeles ChargersNR 2× Offensive Rookie of the Month (October, November) AP Offensive Rookie of the Year PFWA All-Rookie Team57Cameron HeywardDefensive tacklePittsburgh Steelers 27 Recorded first interception of career (Week 1) 1st Second-Team All-Pro selection 4th Pro Bowl selection58Tyrann MathieuSafetyKansas City Chiefs 19 Career high in interceptions (6) 3rd First-Team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection59Jason Pierre-PaulOutside linebackerTampa Bay BuccaneersNR Career high in interceptions (2) Super Bowl champion (2nd time) 3rd Pro Bowl selection60Corey LinsleyCenterGreen Bay PackersLos Angeles ChargersNR 1st First-Team All-Pro selection61Chase YoungDefensive endWashington Football TeamNR NFC Defensive Player of the Month (December 2020) AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 1st Pro Bowl selection PFWA All-Rookie Team62A. J. BrownWide receiverTennessee TitansNR Career highs in receptions (70), yards (1,075) and touchdown catches (11) 1st Pro Bowl selection63Fletcher CoxDefensive tacklePhiladelphia Eagles 10 6th Pro Bowl selection64Demario DavisInside linebackerNew Orleans Saints 3 1st Second-Team All-Pro selection65Calvin RidleyWide receiverAtlanta FalconsNR Career highs in receptions (90) and yards receiving (1,374) 1st Second-Team All-Pro selection66J. J. WattDefensive endHouston TexansArizona Cardinals 21 Recorded 100th career sack (Week 9)67K. J. WrightOutside linebackerSeattle SeahawksLas Vegas RaidersNR68Josh JacobsRunning backLas Vegas Raiders 4 Career high in rushing touchdowns (12) 1st Pro Bowl selection69Ryan KellyCenterIndianapolis ColtsNR 1st Second-Team All-Pro selection 2nd Pro Bowl selection70Eric KendricksLinebackerMinnesota Vikings 13 Career high in interceptions (3)71Baker MayfieldQuarterbackCleveland BrownsNR AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 7)72Michael ThomasWide receiverNew Orleans Saints 6773Trey HendricksonDefensive endNew Orleans SaintsCincinnati BengalsNR Career highs in tackles (22) and sacks (13 1/2)74James BradberryCornerbackNew York GiantsNR Career high in passes defensed (18) Tied career high in interceptions (3)