NFCE Position Rankings – Mid-year check-in
By: Joey Esquire
Last offseason I wrote a series of 11 articles ranking the NFCE teams on the strength of each position group: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line, Interior Defensive Line, Edge Defenders, Off-Ball Linebackers, Cornerbacks, Safeties and Special Teams. Now through 8 weeks I’m taking a look back to see how I did. I’ll do offense this week then review the defense next week.
Quarterback:
Pre-season: 1. Redskins; 2. Eagles; 3. Cowboys; 4. Giants
Mid-season:
1. Philadelphia Eagles – My preseason ranking was based mostly on the expectation that Wentz would take a step forward in year two. I didn’t expect quite so big a jump. Wentz is probably the winner of the prestigious Griffin Trophy, awarded to the mid-season MVP.
2. Dallas Cowboys – Dak reliably and consistently hits the open guy, which is all you can really ask for from your QB. Add to that some impressive running plays and plays outside the pocket and he’s been legitimately good.
3. Washington Redskins – There may not be a QB in the NFL with a wider disparity between the stats and the films. Kirk has been Kirk. The Redskins rack up a ton of yards, but not as many points as they should.
4. New York Giants – I said before the season I thought Eli was cooked. He hasn’t had any help from his OL or his run game and his wide receivers have been decimated by injury, with Beckham and Marshall done for the year, and Shepard having missed time as well. But Eli is cooked.
Running back
Pre-season: 1. Cowboys; 2. Redskins; 3. Eagles; 4. Giants
Mid-season:
1. Dallas Cowboys – Elliott got off to a slow start, but seems to have returned to form the last three weeks or so. Just in time to get suspended.
2. Washington Redskins – This group has been a disappointment with the exception of Chris Thompson, who has emerged as one of the premiere receiving RBs in the NFL, and is no slouch as a runner either.
3. Philadelphia Eagles – This group has also underwhelmed apart from Legarrette Blount. Blount is among the best in the NFL at picking up yards after contact and is a legitimate weapon in the four-minute offense. The Eagles suffered some injuries to this group, with Sproles and Pumphrey both out for the year.
4. New York Giants – This group gets no help from the OL, but also they just are not very good.
Wide receiver
Pre-season: 1. Giants; 2. Cowboys; 3. Eagles; 4. Redskins
Mid-season (Note – WRs in the division have been so disappointing for all four teams, I almost don’t want to rank them):
1. Philadelphia Eagles – Mostly by default, but Nelson Agholor has been by far the best receiver in the division. Alshon Jeffery hasn’t put up big numbers, but has been a solid chain mover and draws attention on the outside which has opened up the middle of the field.
2. Dallas Cowboys – Dez Bryant is basically a red zone specialist at this point in his career. Cole Beasley has been MIA, and Terrance Williams still stinks. Brice Butler has probably been their most efficient WR, and they don’t use him.
3. New York Giants – The Brandon Marshall signing turned out to be useless. This group has been killed by injuries, none bigger than Odell Beckham.
4. Washington Redskins – The Giants have played a couple games with all three of their starting WRs injured and two are out for the season, and I have them ahead of the Redskins. That’s how bad the Redskins have been. An otherworldly disappointment.
Tight End:
Pre-season: 1. Redskins; 2. Eagles; 3. Cowboys; 4. Giants
Mid-season:
1. Philadelphia Eagles – Zach Ertz has been a stud. He is among the league leaders for TEs in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Trey Burton has also added some big first down catches and a touchdown.
2. Washington Redskins – Jordan Reed has been pretty terrible this season. He has apparently been battling injury (surprise, surprise), but he looks slow and has been terribly inefficient. Vernon Davis has made up for it, making big play after big play from the TE spot.
3. Dallas Cowboys – Jason Witten still isn’t what he once was, but he’s a reliable pass catcher that helps keep the offense moving forward, and still an outstanding blocker. The Cowboys don’t have much in the way of depth at TE.
4. New York Giants – Evan Engram has adapted surprisingly well to the NFL. At this point he’s already a better receiver than Witten, but doesn’t offer anything as a blocker so he stays at the bottom of the rankings.
Offensive Line:
Pre-season: 1. Cowboys; 2. Redskins; 3. Eagles; 4. Giants
Mid-season:
1. Dallas Cowboys – A few weeks ago they may have been as low as third on this ranking, but they seem to have gotten their act together and turned the corner.
2. Washington Redskins – This unit struggled both games against the Eagles, but was dominant against the Rams and Raiders and really strong against the Chiefs. They are banged up top to bottom, so we’ll see how they look going forward.
3. Philadelphia Eagles – This is a tough grade for a unit that has performed really well, but they do allow a decent number of pass pressure and the Eagles run game has been pretty inconsistent week-to-week. The loss of Jason Peters is huge.
4. New York Giants – LOL.
Next week I’ll review the defensive rankings.
