This week, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be selecting starting lineups consisting of the best players from each division. In this article, the\u00a0NFC North\u00a0offense is the focus.<\/p>\n
He may be on the back nine of his career, but Aaron Rodgers<\/a><\/strong> is still a definitive top three passer in the NFL. Rodgers may be a top ten quarterback of all time. He certainly is the top signal caller in the NFC North. While 2015 was a down year (by his standards), and his team got off to a 4-6 start last season, he turned it around leading his team to six straight wins and an NFC North crown. The six time Pro Bowler threw 40 touchdowns last year, leading the league in both touchdowns and passing yards. Unfortunately for the rest of the division, Rodgers is still the best quarterback in the division by a wide margin.<\/p>\n A fifth round pick in 2016, Jordan Howard<\/a><\/strong> started 13 games yet ended second in the league in rushing yards. He still has to prove that last season was no fluke, but he has the best combination of past NFL production and opportunity of any back in the division.\u00a0While players like Dalvin Cook<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>may be able to challenge Howard in terms of talent, Chicago is the only team that will rely on a single back for most of their production.\u00a0Howard will likely be the focal point of a Bears offense without a proven talent at quarterback. He is the safest bet to be the best runner in the NFCN in 2017.<\/p>\n Call\u00a0Jordy Nelson<\/a><\/strong> a product of Aaron Rodgers, call him interchangeable in the Green Bay offense, but he just had a 1,200 yard season at 32 years old coming off an ACL injury. Oh, and he also caught 14 touchdowns. While it is true that his numbers are inflated by his offense, he still should be credited for standing out on a team and in a league brimming with pass-catching weapons.<\/p>\n Stefon Diggs<\/a><\/strong> may have not have had a 1,000 yard season, and he didn’t even lead his team in yards or touchdowns. But he is still a top receiver in the NFC North and the league. Diggs fell to the fifth round of the 2015 draft due to injuries, and unfortunately those injuries have followed him in the NFL. He was limited to 13 games last season, yet he still had over 900 receiving yards, catching 75 percent of balls thrown his way. For spans last season, he was spectacular. He had 285 yards and a score over the first two games of the season. He also set an NFL record with 13 catches in back-to-back games. If Diggs can remain healthy, gain some consistency, and score against non-division opponents, he will be a household name.<\/p>\n Golden Tate<\/a><\/strong> lined up far less in the slot last season than he did in 2015 (26 percent as opposed to 51 percent), but that was mostly due to the presence of slot-specialist\u00a0Anquan Boldin<\/a><\/strong>, who is no longer with the team. Tate had his second 1,000 yard season in 2016 and while his numbers may be lower in the slot, he can still be productive. Just ask any Vikings fan how dangerous he can be.<\/p>\n This was a tough decision between\u00a0Kyle Rudolph<\/a><\/strong> and recent Packers signing\u00a0Martellus Bennett<\/a><\/strong>. Both are strong at the point of the catch, both can make plays after the catch, and both are some of the better blocking tight ends in the league. Ultimately, though, Rudolph’s leadership and recent history set him apart. Bennett is entering the season on his fifth team in ten seasons, while Rudolph will enter his eighth season with the team that drafted him in 2011. Bennett has been criticized as a poor locker room presence, while Rudolph is one of the most vocal leaders and positive off-field presences in Minnesota. Rudolph’s career is also on the upswing as he has increased his yardage and touchdown outputs each of the last three years, and he is in an offense which features the tight end more than any other in the division.<\/p>\n One of the most underrated (and handsy) blind-side protectors in the NFL,\u00a0David Bakhtiari<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>faces the unique challenge of blocking for a quarterback who likes to hold the ball and run in circles before throwing while matching up against one of the best edge-rushing divisions in the league. He was ranked by Pro Football Focus as the best pass protector in the league in 2016.<\/a><\/p>\n Josh Sitton<\/a><\/strong> has played all over the line during his time in the NFL, and he would likely make this list at either guard position. Sitton made the move to Chicago last off-season after the Packers unexpectedly cut the four time Pro-Bowler. The Bears may be a bad team, but Sitton is still a great player at 31 years old.<\/p>\n Travis Swanson<\/a><\/strong> may be one of the most under appreciated linemen in the league. Entering his fourth professional season, Swanson has only allowed 4.5 career sacks. He also five career penalties. Swanson disappointed in his first two seasons, and the Lions already have drafted his replacement in\u00a0Graham Glasgow<\/a><\/strong>, but Swanson stepped up last season to be the best player at one of the weaker positions in the division.<\/p>\n Another longtime Packer guard,\u00a0T.J. Lang<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>left Green Bay for the Motor City this offseason. After an up-and-down start to his career Lang gained consistency, reducing his sacks allowed each year since 2012. Lang turns 30 at the beginning of the season, but he still should stand out as the top right guard in the division.<\/p>\n Ricky Wagner<\/a><\/strong>, brought to Detroit from Baltimore via free agency, has had an up and down career to this point. According to Pro Football Focus, Wagner was very solid last season and in 2014, but he had a down year in 2015<\/a>. The Lions are hoping that 2015 was a fluke and that Wagner will remain steady in Detroit.<\/p>\n Now that the offense has been discussed, check out the NFC North all-division defense\/special teams<\/a>.<\/p>\nRunning Back: Jordan Howard<\/a>, Chicago Bears<\/h3>\n
Wide Receiver: Jordy Nelson<\/a>, Green Bay Packers<\/h3>\n
Wide Reciever: Stefon Diggs<\/a>, Minnesota Vikings<\/h3>\n
Slot Receiver: Golden Tate<\/a>, Detriot Lions<\/h3>\n
Tight End: Kyle Rudolph<\/a>, Minnesota Vikings<\/h3>\n
Left Tackle: David Bakhtiari<\/a>, Green Bay Packers<\/h3>\n
Left Guard: Josh Sitton<\/a>, Chicago Bears<\/h3>\n
Center: Travis Swanson<\/a>, Detroit Lions<\/h3>\n
Right Guard: T.J. Lang<\/a>, Detroit Lions<\/h3>\n
Right Tackle: Ricky Wagner<\/a>, Detroit Lions<\/h3>\n