Madden 21: 8 NFL players who deserve a 99 rating

2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Despite the immense amount of running back talent currently in the NFL, no one is arguing that Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey is a head above the rest of the pack. His ability as a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield makes him the only back who should get a 99 rating.

McCaffrey put forth a 1,000/1,000 season in 2019, despite the Panthers’ horrendous overall quarterback play. He finished the year with 1,387 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns to go with 116 receptions, 1,005 receiving yards and four more scores.

While Run CMC might not be the fastest running back on Madden 21 nor the most elusive or even the strongest, the totality of what he does is what makes him so great. Expect high stat ratings across the board to get him the 99 he deserves.

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Honestly, what do you need to say about Patrick Mahomes? There is no chance he’s not a 99 overall rating on Madden 21. While he didn’t earn back-to-back covers — something that would never happen — and while he didn’t win MVP last season, he’s bar none the best quarterback in the NFL right now and is coming off of his first-ever Super Bowl victory.

Mahomes may not have the speed of Jackson but he’s plenty athletic and dangerous with his legs, which translates well to the game. Furthermore, his arm talent is second to none in the league as he can sling it with gusto to all levels of the field. The Chiefs quarterback will likely give Madden players just as much trouble as he does real-life defenses.