The NFL's seismic shift to the air has made it imperative to
build an offense around a passer, pass catcher and/or playmaker. The best teams
in the league are essentially sports cars with a designated player pegged as the
"engine" of the unit.
Naturally, most teams would prefer the quarterback serve as
the driving force of the offense, based on the league's pass-happy premise, but
there simply aren't enough elite signal-callers to make that happen. Teams
without special passers in place will build around running backs with unique
talents or pass catchers with explosive playmaking abilities on the perimeter.
Looking ahead to the 2018 season, I think the first week of
the preseason is the perfect time to identify the engine on each and every
offense around the league. Here's my take
Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Le'Veon Bell and
WR Antonio Brown. Yes,
this is a cop-out. But when an offense features the NFL's top running
back and top wide receiver, it is hard to determine which one
is most important. Bell is a hybrid running back with a slippery running style
and WR-like skills in the passing game. Brown is an unstoppable catch-and-run
specialist with a knack for getting open against any coverage. Although each
player is capable of running the show as the offense's No. 1 option, the Steelers'
spread-it-around offense allows both to shine as interchangeable go-to guys.
Arizona Cardinals: RB David Johnson. Back
in 2016, "DJ2K" nearly joined Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk as the
only running backs with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a
single season. Johnson could definitely earn entry into the exclusive club as
the Cardinals build
their new offense around his talents as a runner/receiver out of the backfield.
With Steve Wilks and Mike McCoy intent on taking the pressure off the
quarterback, particularly if they are forced to play a rookie QB (Josh Rosen),
Johnson could put up monster numbers as the Cardinals'
No. 1 option.
Atlanta Falcons: WR Julio Jones.
Matty Ice might've won the league's MVP award in 2016, but defensive
coordinators will quickly tell you Jones is Public Enemy No. 1 on the Falcons'
roster. The electric pass catcher has posted four straight seasons with at
least 1,400 receiving yards while flashing a dynamic set of skills that make
him nearly impossible to defend. If the Falcons can
come up with a solid red-zone plan, Jones could make a legitimate run at the
MVP award.
Baltimore Ravens: RB Alex Collins. It
is uncommon for a player with only two career 100-yard rushing games to be
viewed as the catalyst of the offense, but Collins' emergence as the Ravens'
RB1 last season steadied an offense that has struggled in recent years. The
hard-nosed runner excels at finding cracks between the tackles and exhibits the
finishing power to punish defenders on the second level. With the Ravens at
their best when using a run-centric approach, the team's surprising RB1 is the
most important piece of the offensive puzzle.
Buffalo Bills: RB LeSean McCoy. Take
a quick glance at the Bills'
roster, and it's easy to spot the team's top offensive player. No. 25 is an A+
talent as a rusher/receiver with a combination of quickness and "shake and
bake" that gives defensive coordinators night terrors when they're
crafting plans to slow down the Bills'
offense. Considering Buffalo only has one 1,000-yard skill player outside of
McCoy since 2015 (Sammy Watkins,
1,047 receiving yards in 2015), it is all on the 30-year-old back to carry the
load, particularly with question marks at the QB1 spot.
Carolina Panthers: QB Cam Newton. Despite
the hate constantly spewed toward Newton, the former No. 1 overall pick has
played like a franchise quarterback from Day 1. As an explosive dual-threat
with the size, strength and power to run through defenses and the A+ arm talent
to throw all over the yard, Newton is the first player in NFL history to have
at least 25,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards in his first seven
seasons. With his 54 rushing touchdowns ranking as the third-most by any player
in the NFL since he entered the league, Newton is the ultimate scoring machine
as a runner/passer.
Chicago Bears: RB Jordan Howard. The Bears are
committed to building an offense around young quarterback Mitch Trubisky, but
the Pro Bowl running back
remains the straw that stirs the drink in Chicago. Howard flashed "one-man
show" potential while posting back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons on
an offense with zero perimeter stars.
Cincinnati Bengals: WR A.J. Green. With
six 1,000-yard seasons in seven years, Green is not only one of the most consistent
performers in the league -- he is one of the true elites at his position. The
acrobatic playmaker has posted big numbers with a B/B- quarterback at the helm,
which is a testament to his ability to create separation on the perimeter with
his quickness, length and leaping ability. In a league that has shifted to an
aerial emphasis, the presence of a dominant pass catcher capable of racking up
100-yard games without an elite QB is quite valuable -- definitely the kind of
piece to build an offense around.
Cleveland Browns: WR Jarvis Landry. It
only took one episode of "Hard Knocks" to realize Landry is the most
explosive offensive weapon on the Browns.
Despite being pegged as a slot receiver, the three-time Pro Bowler is a
spectacular route runner with sticky hands and exceptional running skills. In
an offense that's designed to feature more high-percentage passes, the Browns appear
to have the ideal "chain mover" to feature between the hashes.
Dallas Cowboys: RB Elliott. The 2016 NFL rushing
king is unquestionably the driving force of the Cowboys'
offense. He's a workhorse runner with size, speed and power. Zeke not only sets
the tone with his powerful running style, but his presence allows Dak Prescott to
thrive as a complementary playmaker from the pocket. Don't believe me? Just
look at No. 4's production with and without Elliott as proof of No. 21's
impact.
Denver Broncos: QB Keenum. It’s hard to imagine
many NFL executives or coaches viewing the longtime journeyman as a franchise
quarterback, but after watching Keenum guide a team to the precipice of a Super Bowl, you could make the case that
he is ready to be the engine for an organization willing to tweak the offense
to suit his game. With Gary Kubiak and Vance Joseph familiar with his talent
and potential from their time together in Houston, Keenum will step into a
scheme that fits him like a custom suit.
Detroit Lions: QB Matthew
Stafford. You could make the argument that Stafford
is quietly one of the NFL's top clutch performers, based on his track record in
the fourth quarter throughout his career (fourth-most fourth-quarter comebacks
among active players with 26). While detractors will point to Stafford's
sub-.500 record (60-65), it is hard to win games when the team has only had
seven 100-yard rushers in Stafford's 125 career games (none since Thanksgiving 2013).
Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers. The
2017 season let the football world know the Packers'
championship hopes still hinge on Rodgers' ability to play at an MVP level. The
perennial Pro Bowler not only elevates the team's perimeter players with his
pinpoint passing, but he masks the Packers'
roster flaws with his spectacular playmaking ability. Rodgers is the epitome of
a franchise quarterback, as an ultra-talented passer with the capacity to rack
up wins with or without a strong supporting cast.
Houston Texans: QB Deshaun
Watson. It took Watson just seven games to establish
himself as the alpha dog on the Texans'
offense. The extraordinary playmaker transformed a pedestrian attack into a
scoring machine with his combination of running and passing skills tormenting
defenders on the perimeter. Watson posted a 19:8 touchdown-to-interception
ratio, a 61.8 percent completion rate and 103.0 passer rating during his brief
tenure as a starter, prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury in
practice. If he returns to health, there's no doubt DW4 gives the Texans a
chance to make a run at the Super Bowl.
Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck. Despite
missing all of 2017 recovering from a shoulder injury, Luck is the epicenter of
the Colts'
offense. He's been effective in that role since entering the league as the No.
1 overall pick in 2012, but the team lacks established playmakers on the
perimeter outside of T.Y. Hilton.
While Frank Reich has discussed implementing a rhythm passing game with a bunch
of quick throws designed to get the ball out of the QB's hands quickly, the
onus is on Luck to make good decisions and avoid unnecessary hits in the
pocket.
Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Leonard Fournette. Whenever
a coach discusses the possibility of playing a game with zero pass attempts, you know he believes
in running the ball with his RB1. Fournette has taken some criticism for his
2017 average of 3.9 yards per attempt, but you can't dispute the physicality
and toughness he displays with the ball in his hands. For a team that prides
itself on hard-nosed, smash-mouth football, Fournette is the ideal runner to
build an offense around.
Kansas City Chiefs: RB Hunt. It is not a
coincidence that Smith played at an MVP level with Hunt in the backfield
behind him. The NFL's reigning rushing king bowled over opponents as a rugged
runner, while also flashing soft hands and underrated route-running skills as a
pass catcher. Hunt's emergence as a hybrid runner added a dimension to
the Chiefs'
offense that will help K.C. transition into the Patrick
Mahomes era. With the young quarterback trying to find his
groove, the Chiefs will
lean on Hunt's running style and playmaking ability out of the backfield to
alleviate the pressure on No. 15's shoulders.
Los Angeles Chargers: QB Philip Rivers. Say
what you want about Rivers' bravado -- the wily ol' gunslinger remains one of
the best in the business due to his ability to elevate the play of any and
every playmaker who steps onto the field for the Chargers.
Rivers has a remarkable connection with his pass catchers, which prompted Ken
Whisenhunt to rely on a pass-first approach down the stretch in 2017. With
Rivers cutting down his turnovers and negative plays, the Bolts can go
toe-to-toe with any contender on the schedule this season.
Los Angeles Rams: RB Todd Gurley. The
2017 Offensive Player of the Year not only led the league in scrimmage yards and
touchdowns, but he helped Jared Goff play
at a Pro Bowl level by
forcing opponents into more "plus one" defenses to account for his
explosiveness as a hybrid RB1. With Gurley's mere presence and playmaking
potential altering the way opponents defend the NFL's highest-scoring offense
in 2017, there's no doubt No. 30 is the guy who makes the Rams'
attack go.
Miami Dolphins: QB Ryan
Tannehill. The jury is still out on whether
Tannehill will ever play like a top-10 quarterback during his time in the
league, but he is unquestionably the MVP of the Dolphins'
offense when he is on the field. Sure, the young signal-caller missed all of
last season with a torn ACL, but the Dolphins are
counting on their franchise player to regain the form that helped him guide the
team to a 7-1 run in the middle of the 2016 campaign, piling up a 13:5
TD-to-INT ratio and 100.1 passer rating during that span.
Minnesota Vikings: WRs Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. It
is impossible to designate No. 14 or No. 19 as the team's WR1 based on their
interchangeable games and dynamic playmaking abilities. Diggs and Thielen are
not only capable of thriving in the lead role, but they form a 1-2 punch on the
perimeter that routinely delivers haymakers in key moments. With an $84 million
quarterback (Kirk Cousins) in place to distribute the ball like a dealer at a
blackjack table, Diggs and Thielen will continue to come up big for the Vikings.
New England Patriots: QB Tom Brady. The
G.O.A.T. is the definition of a franchise quarterback. Brady consistently leads
his team to the winner's circle -- with or without A-level players on the perimeter
-- using a high football IQ and an efficient game to pick apart defenses. In
addition, TB12 is a clutch performer with a knack for orchestrating two-minute
drills with the game hanging in the balance. Given Brady's track record as a
championship playmaker and his current status as the league's reigning MVP,
there isn't any doubt about which Patriot makes the offense go.
New Orleans Saints: QB Drew Brees. One
of the most prolific passers in NFL history remains an elite player at the
position despite his advanced age. Brees set the NFL completion percentage
record (72.0) in 2017 on his way to posting his 12th straight season with 4,000
passing yards (a run which includes an NFL-record five 5,000-yard passing
seasons). Although he has morphed into more of a "dink and dunk"
passer at this stage of his career, Brees is an unstoppable pass-first point
guard for the Saints.
New York Giants: WR Odell Beckham
Jr. It's not a coincidence that Manning struggled in 2017
without OBJ on the field. No. 13 is one of the most prolific pass catchers in
NFL history through this stage of his career, with an uncanny ability to score
from anywhere on the field. Beckham's explosive potential forces opponents to
account for his whereabouts on the field, which creates big-play opportunities
for others on the perimeter.
New York Jets: QB Sam Darnold. Yes,
it is crazy to suggest an unproven rookie quarterback is the driving force of
an NFL offense, but the Jets don’t have a blue-chip player on that side of
the ball outside of the No. 3 overall pick. Darnold's gun slinging ways and
spectacular playmaking ability will add a little sizzle to a pedestrian offense
that could struggle putting points on the board without a dynamic playmaker on
the perimeter. Although the rookie hasn't won the job outright or been publicly
discussed as the starter by Todd Bowles, it is only a matter of time before
Darnold becomes the leader of the unit.
Oakland Raiders: QB Derek Carr. The Raiders hired
Jon Gruden with the sole purpose of taking Carr's game to the next level. While
the fifth-year pro is coming off a sub-par season, Carr remains a dangerous
playmaker with the weapons the Raiders have
assembled around him. If Amari Cooper, Martavis
Bryant and Jordy Nelson can
quickly develop a rapport with Carr in this system, the gunslinger could get
back to being an MVP candidate in Gruden's high-percentage passing scheme.
Philadelphia Eagles: QB Carson Wentz. Nick Foles led
the Eagles to
a title -- earning Super Bowl
MVP honors in the process -- but Wentz is unquestionably the team's franchise
player. The former No. 2 overall pick was not only playing at an MVP level when
he suffered a season-ending knee injury during Week 14 of the 2017 season, but
he was entering the conversation as one of the top five quarterbacks in the
game. With the third-year pro recovering from his injury ahead of schedule,
the Eagles appear
poised to make a legitimate run at back-to-back titles.
San Francisco 49ers: QB Jimmy
Garoppolo. It didn't take long for Jimmy G to
establish himself as the 49ers'
top player when he stepped into the lineup in the back half of last season. The
young QB1 transformed a team that couldn't get a "W" into one of the
hottest groups down the stretch. With Garoppolo's ability to reverse the team's
offensive fortunes without a legitimate WR1 on the perimeter, it is easy to get
excited about No. 10's prospects as a franchise player for the 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks: QB Russell
Wilson. NFL quarterbacks aren't supposed to lead the
team in passing and rushing yards, but that's what Wilson did
for the Seahawks in
2017. The QB single-handedly carried an offense that struggled to generate
first downs with his magic as an improvisational wizard inside and outside of
the pocket. While it is not ideal to put so much of the offensive burden on the
quarterback, it's impressive when a QB1 can shoulder the load and keep his team
in playoff contention. Wilson did it in 2017, and he will have to do it again
for the 'Hawks to have a chance in the NFC West.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans. Jameis
Winston should occupy this spot as the team's franchise
quarterback, but you could argue that Evans might be a more important piece of
the puzzle for the squad. The big-bodied pass catcher is one of only three
players in NFL history with 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of his first
four seasons (joining A.J. Green and
Randy Moss). With Evans' game and production seemingly unaffected by the team's
inconsistent quarterback play, he is the focal point of the Buccaneers'
game plan each and every week.
Tennessee Titans: QB Marcus
Mariota. If you didn't believe the Titans were
all in on No. 8, the decision to reshape the coaching staff with offensive
innovators confirms the team's belief in the young franchise quarterback. The
dual-threat playmaker is not only an efficient passer off play-action, but his
running skills add some sizzle to the mix. If Matt Lafleur uses the same
formula that previously helped Jared Goff and Matt Ryan find their
groove, the Titans'
QB1 could become quite a weapon at the position.
Washington Redskins: TE Jordan Reed. Say
what you want about the oft-injured pass catcher, but Reed is a difference
maker when he is on the field. No. 86 has tallied 19 touchdowns over his last
32 games, including 11 in 2015. As a hybrid pass catcher with the size of a
tight end and the athleticism of a wide receiver, Reed is the focal point of an
offense that works inside out.
