As an official Associated Press voter for both the All-Pro Team and the end-of-season awards for the fifth year in a row, I have the privilege of sharing my selections and reasoning for each position. My choices were solely based on player performance through Week 17 of the season, and any statistics mentioned reflect data up to that point.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: In a tight race between Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, I ultimately leaned towards Jackson due to his exceptional season in terms of DVOA and team performance.
Running Back: Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens stood out as the top running back for the season, showcasing his dominance even against tough defenses. Saquon Barkley’s numbers were impressive, but Henry’s overall impact earned him the top spot.
Fullback: Patrick Ricard of the Baltimore Ravens and Alec Ingold of the Miami Dolphins were my top picks, with Ricard excelling in rushing EPA/play and Ingold showcasing versatility with receiving value.
Wide Receiver: The trio of Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown led my list, with Nacua making a notable appearance despite missing games. A.J. Brown and Mike Evans rounded out the second spot due to their solid performances.
Tight End: George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders were my top choices, with Kittle’s record-breaking season and Bowers’ impactful role in his team’s offense.
Defense
Edge Rusher: Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns claimed the top spots, followed by Danielle Hunter and Andrew Van Ginkel for their contributions to their respective teams.
Interior Lineman: Zach Allen of the Denver Broncos and Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs showcased dominance in their positions, with Leonard Williams and Cameron Heyward also earning recognition for their performances.
Linebacker: Zack Baun, Frankie Luvu, and Fred Warner led my selections for linebackers, with notable contributions from the second-team members as well.
Cornerback: Pat Surtain II, Christian Benford, Jaylon Johnson, and Byron Murphy Jr. were recognized for their strong performances in coverage throughout the season.
Safety: Kyle Hamilton, Kerby Joseph, Xavier McKinney, and Budda Baker stood out for their roles in anchoring their teams’ defenses, with Joseph and Hamilton making significant impacts.
Special Teams
Kicker: Chris Boswell of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys were the top kickers on my list, based on their performance in FG/XP values.
Punter: Jack Fox of the Detroit Lions and Corey Bojorquez of the Cleveland Browns were my top choices, with Fox’s efficiency per punt earning him the top spot.
Kick Returner: KaVontae Turpin and Ihmir Smith-Marsette were recognized for their standout performances in kick returns, based on my analysis.
Punt Returner: Kalif Raymond and Marvin Mims earned top spots for their contributions in punt returns, with Raymond’s impressive performance standing out.
Special Teamer: J.T. Gray and Jeremy Reaves led my list for their exceptional contributions on special teams, showing their impact beyond their primary positions.
Long Snapper: Andrew DePaola of the Minnesota Vikings and Ross Matiscik of the Jacksonville Jaguars were my top picks for their consistent and reliable snapping abilities.