JKFOOTBALL Top 100 Players for 2023: 60-51

 After our first two portions of the list were released by the 20, today we take a smaller step towards getting through the list with only 10 players as we make our way to the top 50. Today we will see players #60-51 in preparation for a clean break into that top 50. Without further a-due, lets keep chugging along here!

60. Terry McLaurin, Wide Receiver, Washington Commanders | LAST YEAR: #49 |

2022 stats: 77 receptions for 1,191 yards, 5 TDs receiving

Kicking off the top 60 is one of the most underrated wide receivers in our game. As far as my list goes, I feel like I finally have him fairly ranked. McLaurin fits the DeAndre Hopkins type of mold. By that, I mean he can produce no matter who is under center. McLaurin has not really had any consistent QB play at all in his young career, and it simply has not mattered. Scary Terry just put up his third straight 1000 yard season and has gone for over 1k in three of his four career seasons (his rookie year he put up 900 yards). He is just damn consistent, no matter who it is that is getting him the football. The stats (which are very good at that) don't even tell the full story. McLaurin probably is a top 3-5 receiver in the league in terms of catching passes with the highest degree of difficulty. Circus catches are average for this guy, similar to DeAndre Hopkins. While I hate to have such a good player underrated, until he proves me wrong, this 49-70 range might be where he lives until he gets a consistent QB that can really take him to the next level. McLaurin deserves more than 77 catches in a season, with the volume of 90-100 catches like most of the other top end wideouts, imagine just how good his numbers could be.

59. Joey Bosa, Edge Rusher, Los Angeles Chargers | LAST YEAR: #31 |

2022 stats: 10 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble (limited to just 5 games)

Joey Bosa continues to be such a hard player to rank on these annual lists. We all know how damn great he is when he is playing, but his availability continues to be a major question mark. Bosa has played a total of just 84 games out of 114 possible in his career so far. It seems to be every other season that he has a big time injury. Last year I had him in the ranks of the best of the best at #31, coming off of a 10.5 sack/7 forced fumble season. We all know he still has that in him. This year he played just 5 games and was pretty much a non-factor when he was on the field, aside from creating a good amount of pressures. At 28, Bosa is in the midst of his prime, and could still win a DPOY award if healthy, but that is just such a question. Ranking him near the middle of the list feels fair for a guy who could be as high as top 10 at his ceiling, but as low as outside the top 100 altogether if he can't stay healthy again...

58. Deebo Samuel, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers | LAST YEAR: #50 |

2022 stats: 56 receptions for 632 yards, 2 TDs receiving | 42 carries for 232 yards, 3 TDs rushing (limited to 13 games)

Everyone's favorite jack-of-all-trades returns to the list in the 50s! One year ago, Deebo burst onto the scene, making his top 100 debut inside the top 50 AT 50. One year later, Samuel looks just as good. While his numbers were not close to the same as his 1700+ all purpose yard season a year ago, Samuel was injured for 4 weeks this year, and played through injury as well. There are few offensive players who shoulder a bigger load and take as many brutal hits as Deebo. It doesn't matter where Kyle Shannahan decides to line him up, Samuel is going to produce, and be a nightmare to bring down. He can play outside, he can play slot, he can play running back. Even in a banged up 2022 campaign, Samuel went for nearly 1000 all-purpose offensive yards and 5 scores. He also was his elite-self in the post-season, having an 150+ yard performance to dismantle the rival Seahawks. Expect more of the same in 2023, and with health could easily come another easy All-Pro season like 2021! 

57. Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins | LAST YEAR: N/A |

2022 stats: 75 receptions for 1,356 yards, 8 TDs receiving

Jaylen Waddle somehow did not make my list after a rookie season in which he broke the NFL record for most receptions in a rookie season with 104. I should have known another huge jump would come in his sophomore season. Waddle was an elite deep threat as a rookie, with his top flight speed and tracking ability, he only took that to the next level in 2022 as he teamed up with Tyreek Hill and it made life so much easier. While his reception count certainly took a hit with Hill on board, everything else went up. Waddle torched secondary after secondary to the tune of 1,300 yards (7th most in the NFL) and 8 scores. Who could forget his week 2 explosion for 170 yards and 2 scores either? Waddle is one of the 3 or 4 fastest players in football, and he has another one of the top 4 on the opposite side of the field as him in Hill. This makes for arguably the best WR duo in the game and one that should only be better in 2023, especially with the hopeful health of QB Tua Tagovailoa. After I missed him on the list in 2021, Waddle comes in comfortably inside the top 60 after his second season. Could he make another huge jump in 2023? Time will tell. 

56. Haason Reddick, Edge Rusher, Philadelphia Eagles | LAST YEAR: N/A |

2022 stats: 49 total tackles, 16 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 3 pass deflections

Listed in the 'just missed' section of my list a year ago, Haason Reddick proved to the world that not only was he a top 100 player, but he had a case for top 50. I obviously have him just outside, but the argument is clear as day there for him to be higher. Reddick cashed in on back-to-back double digit sack seasons in the 2022 off-season, signing a large deal to head to Philly a join a loaded DL. No one saw coming the domination Reddick had in store this season. Reddick exploded for 16 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. That sack total was second most in the league (second to the DPOY winner) and the forced fumbles was first in the league. Reddick was arguably the sudden best defensive player on the second best defense and team in the NFL. For the first time in his career, he earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. At 28 years old, the juiced and twitched up edge defender is in the midst of his prime and will be ready to build off a season for the ages. He certainly could have been inside the top 50 but I instead am going to see if he can do it again, or if he is a one season wonder. I'm banking on the latter. 

55. DK Metcalf, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks | LAST YEAR: #40 |

2022 stats: 90 receptions for 1,048 yards, 6 TDs receiving | 10 receptions for 136 yards, 2 TDs in one playoff game

While many seem to underrated DK for whatever reasons, I am giving him his respect. While I do not have him inside the top 50 again like I did last year, #55 is a great spot for a guy who everyone seems to leave off of top receiver lists. We all know the superhuman size/speed combination that Metcalf possesses, but he is more than just that. He produces. Metcalf is coming off of his fourth straight 900+ yard season and is yet to miss a single game in his four year career. The 25 year old also adjusted to life with a new QB pretty well, recording the most receptions and targets of his career this year with 90 and 141. Metcalf also continues to show up in the biggest moments, he has played in 4 career post-season games, and gone for at least 90 yards and a score in 3/4 of those games, including this year's 10-136-2 wildcard game. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba entering the Seattle offense in 2023, it is just going to make things even easier for Batman here. If you considered 2022 a 'down year' for Metcalf, just wait and see what he has in store for 2023!

54. Darius Leonard, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts | LAST YEAR: #9 |

2022 stats: N/A (only 3 games played due to injury)

The first member of last year's top 10 hits the list at 54. It is crazy what a difference a year can make. Darius Leonard still is an elite elite Linebacker, but 2022 clouded his reputation a bit. Leonard missed pretty much all of the season with injury, and in the very very limited time he played on the field, he did not look the same. Still, Leonard is just 28 years old and in the midst of his prime. He made it inside of my top 10 a year ago because of the insane impact he had on the game on a week to week basis (122 total tackles, 8 forced fumbles, 4 INTs, 8 pass deflections). I believe he can be right back inside the top 10-15 with a bounceback season in 2023. If fully healthy, there is no reason to believe Leonard won't be the same enforcer that we have all come to know and love. A bit of a fall from grace for him, but all is not lost.

53. Trey Smith, Offensive Guard, Kansas City Chiefs | LAST YEAR: N/A |

2022 stats: 1,039 snaps played, 6 penalties, 2 sacks allowed, 71.5 PFF grade

In no way shape or form am I discrediting the IMMENSE value offensive linemen bring to the table in the NFL, but I will say that when it comes to my personal top 100, I do not put as many O-linemen in as I probably should. That just means the ones that do truly have my respect and awe for just how damn good they are. That is Trey Smith for you. The second year guard for the Chiefs had my attention after he proved to be one of the better guards in football as a 6th round rookie, but man he stepped it up another notch in 2022. Smith was one of the main reasons Patrick Mahomes won another MVP and that the Chiefs won another Super Bowl. Going into that big game, many thought the Eagles would win due to their elite pass rush that no one had been able to stop all season. While it was obviously not ALL Smith, he played a huge part in the Chiefs allowing ZERO sacks to that insane front in the Super Bowl. That game was a testament to the elite blocking season Smith had all year long. In over 1,000 snaps, Smith allowed just 2 sacks on Mahomes, and that is even crazier given how long we know Mahomes can hold onto the ball to make magic happen. There are few better maulers/pancakers in the game today, and Smith is only just scratching the surface as a 24 year old entering his third pro season. The sky is the limit for Trey Smith in terms of just how good he can become as a blocker, and for all we have seen so far, he checks in at an ELITE #53 on my big list!

52. Tristan Wirfs, Offensive Tackle, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LAST YEAR: #47 |

2022 stats: 931 snaps played, 4 penalties, 2 sacks allowed, 83.8 PFF grade

Here's another young O-lineman that has commanded my respect so early in his career. Wirfs is back on the list for another year, and he is damn near in the exact same spot as he was last year, which is insanely high for an OL for me as you know. Wirfs has become one of the best players at a top 3 most valuable position in the NFL. His perimeter protection for Tom Brady over the past few seasons has been a huge reason as to why Brady had so much late career success in Tampa. Wirfs allowed just 2 sacks all season long and earned an elite 83.8 PFF grade on the year. He received his second straight Pro Bowl nod and his second straight All-Pro nod. Wirfs is also just 24 and not even in his prime yet. There will likely be a day where Wirfs is universally known as the best O-lineman in the league, and that day is not far. Back-to-back top 52 rankings for the youngster, not bad at all. 

51. Saquon Barkley, Running Back, New York Giants | LAST YEAR: N/A |

2022 stats: 295 carries for 1,312 yards, 10 TDs rushing | 57 receptions for 338 yards receiving

While Saquon Barkley has been thought of amongst the NFL's elite since the very moment he stepped football on an NFL field, 2021 was truly a year that made everyone question everything about him for the first time in his career. Barkley was banged up and looked like he was somehow maybe even washed up at just 25 years old after multiple injuries. Anyone who thought that was wrong (partly me for dropping him from the top 100 altogether). Barkley burst back onto the scene with health in 2022. He ran for over 1300 yards and 10 scores and caught 57 passes for 330 yards on top of that. He was once again back to being one of the most feared offensive players in football, and the Giants made a shocking run to the Divisional Round of the playoffs for the first time in years on the back of Barkley. At just 26, Barkley is right in his prime, and playing with the new motivation of the franchise tag, he should have a massive year in store in 2023. After a one year hiatus from my big list, Barkley is back as nearly a top 50 player at #51!

The Top 100 will continue within the next few days as we get into the top 50...