In just his second NFL season, Devonta Freeman had a breakout year in 2015. His 11 rushing touchdowns were tied for the most in the NFL, and he didn't even start the first two games of the season! But once he took over, his impact was significant.

Freeman became the only player since the 1970 merger to rush for at least three touchdowns in each of his first two career starts. He then became the eighth player since 1960, and first Falcon, to score seven rushing TDs in the first four weeks of a season.

Last season, Fletcher Cox had a career year playing as a 3-4 defensive end. He posted career-highs in sacks (9.5), tackles for loss (11) and QB hits (20) plus earned his first career pro bowl invitation.

In 2016, Cox will move to defensive tackle in new defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz's 4-3 scheme, but don't expect that to slow his production. Among all defensive linemen since 2014, Cox is just one of two players with 125 tackles and 10 or more sacks. The other? J.J. Watt.

When the Cardinals traded for Chandler Jones it was out of necessity. Since 2000, the Cardinals have had only two players with 10-plus sacks in a season (John Abraham, 11.5 in 2013; Bertrand Berry, 14.5 in 2004). Chandler Jones had 10-plus sacks in two of the past three seasons.

Jones accounted for 22.1 pct of Patriots sacks since 2013, which was the most by any New England player. And over the last three seasons Jones tallied the same number of sacks as QB-hunter, Von Miller (30).

Eli Manning has benefited greatly since Ben McAdoo took over the offense in 2014. He has posted back-to-back 4,000-yard/30-TD seasons and last year finished one passing TD shy of tying the Giants' single-season record (36 held by Y.A Tittle in 1963).

But Manning has also been efficient as evidenced by a career-high 93.6 passer rating in 2015. That mark was the highest passer rating in a season by a Giants QB since Y.A. Tittle posted 104.8 in 1963.

Last season was a mix of highs and lows for Philip Rivers. He set career highs in completions (437), attempts (661) and passing yards (4,792), but a career-low in wins (4).

Since the NFL went to a 16-game season in 1978, only two other QBs have had more passing yards in a losing season than Rivers had last year. Drew Brees did so in 2015 (4,870), 2014 (4,952) and 2012 (5,177) and Matthew Stafford in 2012 (4,967).

Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams has been a dominant force ever since he was selected fourth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He has been named an offensive captain every season since 2011 and selected to the Pro Bowl every season since 2012.

Williams joins Chris Samuels (2005-08) and Joe Jacoby (1983-86) as the only Redskins tackles to make four consecutive Pro Bowls since the 1970 merger. Williams could become the first Redskins tackle to extended the streak to five seasons should he make the Pro Bowl again in 2016.

Tyler Eifert was drafted in 2013 and through his first two seasons recorded 42 receptions, 482 yards and two TDs. But in 2015, Eifert came on strong with 52 receptions, 615 yards and a whopping 13 receiving TDs (most among TE).

Eifert, who played in just 13 games, became the fourth tight end in NFL history to average more than one receiving TD per game for a full season (min. 10 games). The others on this impressive list are Rob Gronkowski (2011 & 2012), Jimmy Graham (2013) and Antonio Gates (2010).

Last season Ezekiel Ansah was a disruptive force, finishing third in the NFL in sacks (14.5) and tied for fourth in QB hits (34). Ansah has come on strong over the last two seasons becoming one of just three players with 60 or more QB hits in that span. The only players to also reach that mark are Carlos Dunlap (62) and J.J. Watt (100).

When the Cowboys selected Tryon Smith ninth overall in the 2011 draft, they knew he was special, considering it was just the fourth time in team history the Cowboys selected an offensive lineman in the first round. They have since drafted center Travis Frederick (2013) and guard Zack Martin (2014) in the first round.

Smith, in combination with the Cowboys' offensive line, is among the best in the business. Since 2014, the Cowboys are the only team in the NFL to finish in the top three in rushing (132.6 YPG) and QB hits allowed (116).

How important is Le'Veon Bell to the Steelers? Over the course of his career, the Steelers are 22-13 when Bell plays and 7-6 when he does not play. The Steelers also average 23.8 more rushing YPG when Bell is on the field.

Simply put, Bell can do it all. Since 2014, Bell leads all NFL players in scrimmage yards per game by a significant margin. Bell averages 132.1 scrimmage yards per game while the next closest player on the list is Arian Foster at 115.5.