The 2020 NFL season is more than halfway over and plenty of fan bases are either coming to terms with missing the playoffs or getting ready for a playoff push. Every year, the league sees several teams defy expectations, while others that are thought to be great end up falling short.
Madden 21 has been updating its rosters as the year has gone on and players have been rewarded with improved overalls. Who are the best players on the best teams in the league, though? It’s time to take a look.
10 Tom Brady (Buccaneers)
Does Tom Brady still deserve to have a Madden rating above 90? Recent struggles in his game have led fans to begin to question whether the New England Patriots legend is still that good in Tampa Bay as a member of the Buccaneers.
Brady’s best trait was that he made good decisions and got the ball out quickly. Those are two things that have seemingly disappeared under a Bruce Arian’s coached offense. In Madden 21, Bradt sits at a 93 overall, but if his play continues to decline, it may end up in the 80s somewhere.
9 Myles Garrett (Browns)
If someone had to declare the Defensive Player of the Year tomorrow, the easiest choice would be Cleveland Browns’ defensive end, Myles Garrett. Since entering the league, he has shown consistent growth and it is only a matter of time before he earns one of those trophies.
In the 2020 season, Garrett has finally put it all together; consequently, Madden 21 has rewarded the gentle poetic giant with an overall of 98, the second-highest defensive player rating in the game.
8 Derrick Henry (Titans)
Depending on who you ask the best running back in the league is either Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, or Dalvin Cook. Each has a solid case, but Henry possesses one thing the other two don’t: the ability to stay consistently healthy.
Henry’s ability to chew the clock and wear down defenses plays a key role in the Tennessee Titans’ continued success under head coach Mike Vrabel. Henry is sitting at an overall of 94 in Madden 21, a number which will only climb higher as the season comes to a close.
7 Quenton Nelson (Colts)
Offensive linemen aren’t the most exciting to watch during a game of football, but their performance often dictates the outcome. Quenton Nelson is arguably the game’s best guard, and could also be considered its best lineman regardless of position.
Unfortunately, the Indianapolis Colts built the league’s best offensive line after Andrew Luck retired, but it is what it is. An overall of 95 is nice, but there’s no reason Nelson shouldn’t be sitting next to Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin with a rating of 98.
6 Davante Adams (Packers)
You may be at a loss for words trying to understand how Davante Adams has a higher rating than Aaron Rodgers, and you’re not alone. Adams is one of the league’s best at his position, but his 97 overall communicates how poor the rating of 95 is for Rodgers.
Adams has been Rodgers’ #1 target his entire career. When healthy, Adams can outrun and outmaneuver the best defensive backs in the league. His 97 overall is matched by a release attribute of 97 that showcases his ability to get off the line of scrimmage in a hurry.
5 Stefon Diggs (Bills)
For years Stefon Diggs was considered one of the NFL’s best wide receivers despite playing with poor quarterback performers in Minnesota as a member of the Vikings. Diggs was traded to the Buffalo Bills during the 2020 NFL offseason and it was unclear how he’d adjust to life in New York.
Now playing with a quarterback who can take advantage of his deep route prowess, Diggs has hit the ground running. He is more than deserving of a rather impressive Madden 21 rating of 94, with a spectacular catch attribute of 96.
4 Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Early in the 2020 NFL season, Russell Wilson was looking like the clear favorite for the MVP award, but recently he’s had less than stellar performances. He still manages to be a part of the 99 overall club in Madden, and it is mostly due to his decision making from within and outside the pocket.
Wilson’s awareness rating in Madden 21 sits at 96, which fits his high football IQ and the decision making he astounds with every week. Wilson is far and away the best player on the Super Bowl contending Seattle Seahawks.
3 Michael Thomas (Saints)
The 2020 NFL season hasn’t been too kind to Michael Thomas for a variety of reasons. He began the season dealing with nagging injuries and missed a lot of the first half of the season. Upon his return, he was met with a team disciplinary punishment, and, recently, his starting quarterback Drew Brees was placed on injured reserve.
Despite all of that, Thomas still has a 97 overall in Madden 21. However, depending on how he finishes the year, that rating could drop significantly upon the release of Madden 22.
2 Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)
If it wasn’t for the Pittsburgh Steelers being undefeated, the Kansas City Chiefs would be considered the best team in the NFL this season. Most would argue that they are indeed the best team regardless of record.
Their roster is filled with talent across the board but none of it is possible without the face of the NFL, Patrick Mahomes. He has a 99 overall in Madden 21 and is part of the elusive club of 99 overalls in the game. Mahomes’ throwing power is off the charts and players can make anything happen with him behind center.
1 T.J. Watt (Steelers)
Defensive players rarely get the recognition that their offensive counterparts receive, and TJ Watt’s overall in Madden 21 is a good example of this. Despite playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level the last two seasons, Watt has been gifted with an overall of 93.
Most fans would consider him one of the top defensive players this season, so it’s a shame Watt’s overall doesn’t reflect that. Either way, he still manages to be the best player on an undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers roster that has greatly outperformed media expectations.
NEXT: Madden 21: The NFL’s 10 Best Defenses In The Game, Ranked
