NFL Network continued The Top 100 Players 2015 countdown on Wednesday, revealing players 90 through 81 on the list. Our five takeaways from the latest episode:
»Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (No. 89) cracks the Top 100 for the first time. It's an overdue honor for the most dependable option Cam Newton's ever had. Olsen went over 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his eight-year career in 2014.
» Who took the biggest year-to-year tumble in the Top 100 this week? That would Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, who came in at No. 84, a 58-spot drop from his 2014 ranking. Strange, considering Suggs increased his sack total by two (from 10 to 12) and finished fourth out of 46 qualified 3-4 outside linebackers in Pro Football Focus' ratings. If anything, this was a course correction after his overly generous ranking in 2014.
» We have our first running back on the list. Eagles tailback Darren Sproles shows up at No. 81 after putting himself back on the map in Chip Kelly's offense last season. Not bad for a guy who got traded for a fifth-round pick last spring.
» Gregg Rosenthal on Lions safety Glover Quin showing up at No. 88: "This is this season's Charles Clay/Dennis Pitta/Random player 'WTF' moment. A guy shouldn't make the list just because some teammate puts him in the top five." Ouch.
»DeMarcus Ware (No. 87) proved he still had it in his first year with the Broncos, tallying 10 sacks and two forced fumbles over 16 games. His reward? A 31-spot drop from last year, when he was coming off the worst season of his career. These lists are fun to look at, but they remain the furthest thing possible from an exact science.
- The latest Around The NFL Podcast reacts to the most recent developments in the Tom Brady suspension saga and makes rookie predictions. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.*
