The Franchise
05-16-2014, 09:41 AM
They've yet to release the top 10.
11. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
Charles may have ended up with a higher yards per attempt mark in 2012, but we were more impressed with his running in 2013 as evidenced by such a high placed finish. Of course with Andy Reid in town it wasn’t just his rushing that wowed us as Charles was a more potent (and reliable) weapon in the receiving game, and it was that which pushed him so far up this list along with an incredibly strong (five green graded games on the bounce) finish to the regular season.
Best Performance: Week 15, KC @ OAK, +4.9
Key Stat: Averaged 1.75 yards per route run, the most of any feature back.
21. Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
Houston would finish the year our top-ranked 3-4 outside linebacker, with the only thing keeping him from going higher in this list are the five games he missed at the end of the season. Before that (and when he returned for the playoffs) he was phenomenal, grading negatively just twice (and no worse than a -0.4) and being the kind of all-around playmaker that teams crave from a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Best Performance: Week 11, KC @ DEN, +9.4
Key Stat: Would finish with the fifth-best Pass Rushing Productivity and Run Stop Percentage scores of all 3-4 outside linebackers.
30. Dontari Poe, DT, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
One of (if not the) most durable defensive tackles in the league, Poe proved to be some kind of athlete to manage the workload he did while grading in the green in 11 of 16 games he featured in. Particularly strong against the run (where his 30 defensive stops were 3rd most of all nose tackles) this every down terror showed no signs of slowing down as the year went on, registering a pressure in all but two games with eight games of three or more. Described as a workout warrior before entering the league, there aren’t any tagging him for his combine numbers instead of his performance now.
Best Performance: Week 5, KC @ TEN, +4.6
Key Stat: His 1,004 regular season snaps were the most of any defensive tackle and he was rested in Week 17.
37. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
It’s not easy for a safety to go at No. 5 overall and justify the pick, but Berry is a man who has made that happen. His 2013 season wasn’t perfect but it was a highlight reel of what it takes to be a complete safety in the NFL. A rare athlete capable to play linebacker in dime packages, match up man-on-man with tight ends, and perform more traditional safety roles (whether in the box or not). Berry put forth a tremendous season that would earn him the highest grade of any strong safety in the regular season.
Best Performance: Week 12, SD @ KC, +3.6
Key Stat: It’s true that Berry led all defensive backs with 17 combined sacks, hits and hurries.
57. Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
Another double digit sack season for Hali who would log 970 regular season snaps in a season with his customary heavy workload. As ever his pass rushing was the key to his success as he led his position in quarterback disruptions during the regular season before adding another seven in a big postseason showing. He may have been upstaged by his partner in crime, but Hali nonetheless was incredibly productive on his way to finishing sixth overall during our regular season rankings.
Best Performance: Week 4, NYG @ KC, +4.3
Key Stat: 77 quarterback disruptions were the most of any 3-4 outside linebacker.
72. Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas City Chiefs (67th)
Death, taxes and yet another excellent year from Derrick Johnson. In this age that we live in those are some certainties you can believe in. Johnson was particularly strong in coverage where he would earn the highest grade of all inside linebackers thanks in part to his two picks, three pass breakups and 16 defensive stops in that regard. Throw in some decent work in the run game and a useful 23 quarterback disruptions and you’ve got a nice little season.
Best Performance: Week 1, KC @ KAX, +5.0
Key Stat: His 27.7 Pass Rushing Productivity score was the highest of all inside linebackers.
11. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
Charles may have ended up with a higher yards per attempt mark in 2012, but we were more impressed with his running in 2013 as evidenced by such a high placed finish. Of course with Andy Reid in town it wasn’t just his rushing that wowed us as Charles was a more potent (and reliable) weapon in the receiving game, and it was that which pushed him so far up this list along with an incredibly strong (five green graded games on the bounce) finish to the regular season.
Best Performance: Week 15, KC @ OAK, +4.9
Key Stat: Averaged 1.75 yards per route run, the most of any feature back.
21. Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
Houston would finish the year our top-ranked 3-4 outside linebacker, with the only thing keeping him from going higher in this list are the five games he missed at the end of the season. Before that (and when he returned for the playoffs) he was phenomenal, grading negatively just twice (and no worse than a -0.4) and being the kind of all-around playmaker that teams crave from a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Best Performance: Week 11, KC @ DEN, +9.4
Key Stat: Would finish with the fifth-best Pass Rushing Productivity and Run Stop Percentage scores of all 3-4 outside linebackers.
30. Dontari Poe, DT, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
One of (if not the) most durable defensive tackles in the league, Poe proved to be some kind of athlete to manage the workload he did while grading in the green in 11 of 16 games he featured in. Particularly strong against the run (where his 30 defensive stops were 3rd most of all nose tackles) this every down terror showed no signs of slowing down as the year went on, registering a pressure in all but two games with eight games of three or more. Described as a workout warrior before entering the league, there aren’t any tagging him for his combine numbers instead of his performance now.
Best Performance: Week 5, KC @ TEN, +4.6
Key Stat: His 1,004 regular season snaps were the most of any defensive tackle and he was rested in Week 17.
37. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
It’s not easy for a safety to go at No. 5 overall and justify the pick, but Berry is a man who has made that happen. His 2013 season wasn’t perfect but it was a highlight reel of what it takes to be a complete safety in the NFL. A rare athlete capable to play linebacker in dime packages, match up man-on-man with tight ends, and perform more traditional safety roles (whether in the box or not). Berry put forth a tremendous season that would earn him the highest grade of any strong safety in the regular season.
Best Performance: Week 12, SD @ KC, +3.6
Key Stat: It’s true that Berry led all defensive backs with 17 combined sacks, hits and hurries.
57. Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs (Unranked)
Another double digit sack season for Hali who would log 970 regular season snaps in a season with his customary heavy workload. As ever his pass rushing was the key to his success as he led his position in quarterback disruptions during the regular season before adding another seven in a big postseason showing. He may have been upstaged by his partner in crime, but Hali nonetheless was incredibly productive on his way to finishing sixth overall during our regular season rankings.
Best Performance: Week 4, NYG @ KC, +4.3
Key Stat: 77 quarterback disruptions were the most of any 3-4 outside linebacker.
72. Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas City Chiefs (67th)
Death, taxes and yet another excellent year from Derrick Johnson. In this age that we live in those are some certainties you can believe in. Johnson was particularly strong in coverage where he would earn the highest grade of all inside linebackers thanks in part to his two picks, three pass breakups and 16 defensive stops in that regard. Throw in some decent work in the run game and a useful 23 quarterback disruptions and you’ve got a nice little season.
Best Performance: Week 1, KC @ KAX, +5.0
Key Stat: His 27.7 Pass Rushing Productivity score was the highest of all inside linebackers.