While the seemingly endless period between the NFL Draft and the beginning of the preseason can be a boring time for many NFL fans, it is never too early to analyze the best players in the league. This week, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be compiling a list of the ten best players in each division heading into the 2016 season. The focus of this article is the AFC West.
Top Players of the AFC West Heading into 2016
1. Von Miller, Linebacker, Denver Broncos
When the Denver Broncos selected Von Miller with the second overall pick in 2011, they didn’t know that they had just locked up a Super Bowl win. It took five seasons, but ultimately it was Miller that made all the difference for the Broncos. In the 2015 AFC Championship game, Miller not only sacked Tom Brady 2.5 times, but he also snagged an interception. Two weeks later in Super Bowl 50, Miller had another 2.5 sacks, while also forcing two fumbles, both of which resulted in touchdowns. This performance was so dominant that the talented linebacker was named the MVP of Super Bowl 50. Beyond that, Miller has been a phenomenal player for the Broncos during the regular season as well, recording double digit sacks in four of his five seasons, and taking down opposing quarterbacks 18.5 times in 2012. Miller may be a free agent at the end of the 2016 season, but for now he’s the best player in the AFC West.
1b. Khalil Mack Defensive End/Linebacker, Oakland Raiders
In the LWOS war room, the placement of Khalil Mack versus Von Miller was hotly debated. So much so that the Oakland Raiders young star warranted the creation of another number one spot. And when you look at what Mack accomplished in 2015, there’s no questioning that he’s earned it. In 2015, Mack registered 15 sacks, and became the first player in NFL history to be named a First-Team All-Pro at two different positions. In a breakout game of historical significance, Mack sacked Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler five times in a single game. According to Pro Football Focus, Mack registered at least two quarterback pressures in every game of 2015, and he registered at least five pressures in twelve games. While Miller is purely a pass rusher, Mack has also proven to be a spectacular run-stopper. In 2015, only Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett had a better grade against the run. At the end of the day, Mack can line up anywhere in the front seven and terrorize everyone on offense, and the Raiders are lucky to have him.
3. Justin Houston, Linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs
In the history of the NFL, only ten men have registered 20 sacks in a season. Mark Gastineau was the very first, back in 1984, and Michael Strahan had the most with 22.5 in 2001. In 2014, Kansas City’s Justin Houston came half a sack short of Strahan’s record. Houston’s 22 sacks in 2014 is the second-best of all-time, and a sack and a half better than three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt has ever had. Injuries limited the exceptional pass rusher in 2015, but despite only playing in eleven games, he still managed to rack up 7.5 sacks and snag two interceptions. It’s unsure when Houston will suit up for the Chiefs again due to nagging injuries, but I bet the quarterbacks in the AFC West would encourage him to take his time.
4. Philip Rivers, Quarterback, San Diego Chargers
In 2015, the San Diego Chargers were very bad. They went 4-12, were swept in the division, were 20th in total defense, and only the Detroit Lions had fewer rushing yards. While the rest of the AFC West got better, the Chargers simply got worse, and while the run game and defense struggled, San Diego’s quarterback thrived. Despite being held down by his team, Philip Rivers managed to complete 66% of his passes for 4,792 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Even after losing his star wide receiver Keenan Allen in Week 8, Rivers still managed to throw for an average of 288 yards, one touchdown, and only a single interception per game. Kansas City’s Alex Smith is a safe quarterback that won’t make mistakes, and Oakland’s Derek Carr is on his way up, but with the retirement of Peyton Manning, Rivers becomes the best quarterback in the AFC West, and it could be argued that he has been for the last two seasons.
5. Eric Berry, Safety, Kansas City Chiefs
In December of 2014, safety Eric Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Before the diagnosis, Berry was among the NFL’s best defensive backs, being very good in coverage and in the box. In 2013, Berry made 74 tackles, recorded 3.5 sacks, forced a fumble, and grabbed three interceptions. After the diagnosis, if Berry had never played football again, nobody would have blamed him. But unfortunately for offensive players in the AFC West, that’s not what happened. Berry was back in 2015, and he played in all 16 games. He registered 61 tackles and picked off two passes. Berry conquered cancer just like he conquers NFL offenses and he is one of the best safeties in the league. The Chiefs are ecstatic to have him back.
6. Chris Harris Jr., Cornerback, Denver Broncos
For most players, going undrafted is the beginning and the end of their NFL story. Going undrafted means that 224 players were taken ahead of said player, and his only hope is to scratch and claw his way into a roster spot, and hope he impresses coaches. Denver Broncos legend Terrell Davis was undrafted, and he helped the Broncos win two Super Bowls. In 2015, another undrafted standout helped Denver win the Lombardi Trophy. In 2015, only Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu and Detroit’s Darius Slay had a higher Pro Football Focus grade than Chris Harris Jr. The year before that, he ranked first. Despite being undersized, Harris’ understanding of the game and athleticism have helped him become one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. Over the last two seasons, only Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has scored a touchdown on Harris.
7. Derek Carr, Quarterback, Oakland Raiders
In the history of the NFL, only Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino has thrown more touchdowns through the first two seasons of his career than Oakland’s Derek Carr. After only two years, Carr has already thrown 53 touchdown passes. He’s proven to be one of the best young passers in the league, and only looks to improve. Despite never having a dominant running game and only having the brilliant Amari Cooper healthy for the first half of 2015, Carr has thrived. The Raiders invested in the trenches in the off-season, and the addition of Kelechi Osemele will no doubt give Carr even more time in the pocket as he chases Marino.
8. Aqib Talib, Cornerback, Denver Broncos
Aqib Talib is the last Denver Bronco to make our list, and there’s no doubt that his contributions, along with those of Harris Jr. and Von Miller, helped the Broncos win the Super Bowl last season. Harris and Talib formed the best cornerback duo in football last year. Despite only grabbing three interceptions all season, they were dominant. In Super Bowl 50, they held Offensive Player of the Year and MVP Cam Newton to only 265 yards and zero touchdowns. The Broncos suffered some losses in free agency on both sides of the ball, but they didn’t lose Talib, and that should help them moving forward as they attempt to repeat.
9. Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos
When Peyton Manning joined the team in 2012, Demaryius Thomas went from a role player to a fantasy stud. Over the last four years, the 6-foot-3 receiver has averaged 101 catches for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns per season. That means Thomas’ average numbers over the past four seasons are better than Odell Beckham Jr.’s 2015 season. Thomas will miss the brilliant play-calling of Peyton Manning, and he might not match his production with a quarterback like Paxton Lynch or Mark Sanchez, but he’s used to questionable passing. The 2015 version of Manning was far removed from MVP form, and it’s worth noting that Thomas’ most memorable play was a pass from Tim Tebow.
10. Jamaal Charles, Running Back, Kansas City
There were eight running backs selected before the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Jamaal Charles in 2008, and of those eight, only Chris Johnson and Matt Forte have more yards and neither of them are on the team that drafted them. It’s worth mentioning that Charles has also missed 26 games so far in his career, and only trails Johnson, who is currently a free agent, by 2,222 yards. Incredibly, the speedy Charles currently holds the record for most yards per carry at 5.5. The Chiefs managed to end the season on a 10-game winning streak without Charles in 2015, and if they can pick up where they left off, they’ll be even more dangerous with him.
Honorable Mentions: Travis Kelce, Emmanuel Sanders, Keenan Allen
Main Photos
