Top 100 NFL players entering the 2020 season: No. 10-1

8. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

CMC didn’t win the OPOY award, but he made history in 2019. The former eighth overall pick became the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in a single season. At this point, McCaffrey is more productive as a pass-catcher than most of the league’s receivers. Putting him ahead of Michael Thomas on the top 100 wasn’t a hard decision.

In 2018, McCaffrey got snubbed from the Pro Bowl. However, the Stanford product earned Second-Team All-Pro honors from the AP and Pro Football Focus (PFF). The back upped his game this past season, sweeping all major running back awards. He finished the year with 1,387 rushing yards, 116 receptions, and 1,005 receiving yards. His 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 total touchdowns led the NFL.

Did I mention that McCaffrey is only 24 years old? No wonder the Panthers signed him to a record-setting extension this offseason.

7. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

After going 6-1 but struggling as a starter during his rookie season, Jackson turned the NFL world upside down. At Louisville, Jackson set records and captivated the nation, but many analysts doubted his ability to play in the pros. Jackson faced more than his fair share of criticism for his reckless running style that reminded too many people of Robert Griffin III and his trouble connecting on deep passes.

The 23-year-old put his critics in a tight spot last year by leading the Ravens to a 13-2 record as a starter and winning the MVP. Jackson became the first quarterback since Michael Vick to throw for at least 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season. However, Jackson outdid Vick’s performance.

During his miraculous 2006 campaign, Vick only completed 52.6 percent of his pass attempts for 2,474 yards, 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. In comparison, Jackson connected on 66.1 percent of his attempts for 3,127 yards, a league-leading 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He finished 2019 with a 113.3 passer rating.

Jackson’s 1,206 rushing yards ranked sixth in the entire league, and his 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards tied Nick Chubb for the league-lead. No player among the top 50 in rushing yards last season averaged over six yards per carry, except Jackson. The 23-year-old averaged a league-leading 6.9 yards per attempt. Jackson ran for seven touchdowns.