The Indianapolis Colts had some notable omissions in PFF’s end-of-year Top 101 player rankings.
With the NFL season concluding, end-of-year rankings are beginning. Everyone is reflecting on the 2021 season and is curating list of the best. Best games, best players, best moments, etc.
Pro Football Focus, or PFF, has released its annual Top 101 players list for the season. This list is a ranking of the top 101 players, specifically for the 2021 season.
PFF says, “all positions are created equal” and the postseason is also taken into account.
With those criteria understood, it’s fair to say that PFF’s ranking absolutely disrespected the Indianapolis Colts, snubbing several worthy players.
The only Indianapolis players to make the rankings were Jonathan Taylor at No. 15 and Darius Leonard at No. 56. That’s it. Taylor and Leonard were the only Indy players considered top 101 players in the league.
Colts only have two players in PFF’s Top 101 player rankings
Taylor was ranked at No. 15 but PFF wrote, “The MVP talk for Taylor went a little too far,” and that likely explains why Taylor’s ranking isn’t in the top-10.
Taylor was undoubtedly one of the top-10 players in the NFL this season and he was also a legitimate MVP candidate. He literally ran the Colts to all of their victories and it doesn’t get more valuable than that.
Even with Taylor and Indy missing the playoffs, there aren’t 14 players that had a better year start to finish than Jonathan Taylor.
Our OPOY. pic.twitter.com/uyUoMHVdbW
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) February 11, 2022
Darius Leonard at No. 56, was praised for his turnover ability, but even this ranking underrates his defensive impact. However, PFF did get it right to include Leonard in the list.
As far as Indianapolis, PFF didn’t get much else right. The Colts, who had a league-high seven Pro Bowlers, only had two top 101 players this season? That doesn’t sound right.
For starters, Kenny Moore’s versatility makes him one of the best defenders in the NFL. His ability to excel at several responsibilities makes him one of the top 101 players in the NFL.
Additionally, when explaining Jonathan Taylor’s ranking, PFF emphasized how much of a “catalyst” the Colts offensive line was in his production. However, there aren’t any Indianapolis linemen in the rankings.
While a case can be made for the inclusion of Ryan Kelly, the omission of Quenton Nelson is unreasonable. Nelson has been one of the best players since he stepped foot in the NFL and that didn’t stop this season.
Even with the Colts not receiving a postseason boost, it’s fair to say they should’ve had more than two players in the rankings. As Darius Leonard has pointed out, Indianapolis being snubbed has become commonplace.
The players must return next season even more dominant and avoid any letdowns. It will be on the Colts to go out and take the respect that they deserve.
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