Lamar Jackson Is No. 2 Again, Derrick Henry Soars in NFL Top 100 Rankings
The countdown of the NFL Top 100 concluded Monday night with the reveal of the top 10. Lamar Jackson was No. 2 for the second year in a row, while Derrick Henry made a huge jump to No. 7.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was No. 1 in the rankings, which are determined through voting by players. Last year, Jackson finished behind Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
"The top-rated quarterback on the Top 100, Jackson continues to raise the bar as one of the most dynamic players the NFL has ever seen," NFL.com’s Michael Baca wrote. "In 2024, Baltimore's superstar turned in his best statistical season as a passer with career highs in yards, touchdowns, yards per attempt and passer rating (119.6) while also boasting his lowest interception total as a full-time starter. In addition to leading all QBs in rushing yards, Jackson set multiple eye-opening records. The 28-year-old became the first player in [history] to throw for 4,000-plus yards and rush for 800-plus yards in the same season, the only QB to throw for 40-plus TDs with fewer than five INTs and the first player to lead the league in both yards per pass attempt (8.8) and yards per rush attempt (6.6), per NFL Research.
"Already the all-time leader for rushing yards among QBs through six and a half seasons, Jackson's prolific passing game has shaped him into a one-of-a-kind game changer who's got the Ravens in Super Bowl contention every year. While he was edged out of earning his third most valuable player award, Jackson's peers see him as the best QB in the NFL."
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, was No. 3, followed by Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Henry moved up 47 spots from last year's rankings.
"King Henry stiff-armed Father Time to maintain his status as one of the NFL's elite running backs," Baca wrote. "His age-31 season saw 1,921 rushing yards, which were produced at a staggering average of 5.9 yards per attempt, and it stands as the greatest production from any RB past age 30 in league history, per NFL Research. Cataloging Henry's ninth NFL campaign required more than 30 minutes of highlight footage; it's an entertaining reel chock full of his trademark stiff arms and broken tackles that carried him toward a tie for a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns. Henry wasn't just a bruiser in 2024, however, as he galloped for several long gains that not only showed there's plenty of burst in his veteran legs but also helped the Ravens in big moments along a 12-win season.
"Henry's first campaign in Baltimore and alongside Lamar Jackson provided one of the best one-two punches in recent memory. While it didn't end in Super Bowl glory for the Ravens, Henry entered another thrilling chapter in a career destined for Canton after nearly becoming the first player ever to eclipse the 2,000-yard rushing mark twice. As he looks ahead toward the all-time rushing list's top 10, Henry proved he isn't slowing down any time soon."
The Ravens ended up with four players in the rankings. Inside linebacker Roquan Smith (No. 40) and safety Kyle Hamilton (No. 51) were the other two.
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey's exclusion was one of the things the players got wrong, according to NFL.com’s Jeremy Bergman.
"A reigning first-team All-Pro cornerback was not recognized in this year's Top 100, and he can blame wide receivers for his misfortune," Bergman wrote. "Marlon Humphrey racked up a career-high six interceptions last season and was an All-Pro slot corner alongside Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II and Derek Stingley Jr., but for the second straight season, Humphrey did not make the ranking.
"I'd argue Humphrey's absence is, once again, the fault of well-known receivers clogging up spots on the Top 100 ranking. Though there were fewer this year (16) than in past years, wideouts outpaced their contemporaries in the defensive backfield again (seven CBs, six safeties)."
Why Ravens Can Win the Super Bowl
The lethal combination of Jackson and Henry is one of the reasons the Ravens are among the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season.
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer came up with 10 reasons why this could be the year the Ravens capture the franchise's third Lombardi Trophy. Here are three from his list:
Their special teams play is bound to bounce back.
"From 2020 to 2023, the Ravens never ranked lower than third in overall special teams efficiency, according to FTN. Last season, they ranked 23rd, by far the team's worst ranking since 2011. Mistakes cost the Ravens dearly in losses to the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles.
"Even a middle-of-the-road season would mark a dramatic improvement on 2024. And there are potential difference makers in place for coordinator Chris Horton. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop was steady throughout the summer and has a powerful leg. Punter Jordan Stout had a strong preseason and is playing for a new deal. And rookie punt returner LaJohntay Wester and kickoff returners Rasheen Ali and Keaton Mitchell offer dynamism that last year's team lacked."
They have impressive coaching consistency.
"Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken's credentials grow with every season. The 2024 Ravens led the NFL, by far, in yards per play. They scored at least 30 points in 11 of 17 regular-season games. Jackson took another step forward as a passer and presnap operator. The offense found explosive plays from under center and in the shotgun, with heavy personnel and with wideout-heavy lineups.
"Zach Orr's first season as Ravens defensive coordinator wasn't too dissimilar from that of his predecessor, Mike Macdonald: slow start, strong finish. A similarly dominant Year 2 isn't out of the question. Orr's streamlined communication and safety shuffling helped the Ravens find a late-season groove last year. Even when the Ravens' pass rushers struggled to win, Orr's smart schemes helped create pressure up front."
They have the depth to handle adversity.
"The Ravens won't have the injury luck they did last year. But, with their depth, they should be able to withstand a couple of big blows. Their depth at running back, tight end and cornerback is among the league's best."
Pundit Ranks Baltimore's Defense As League's Best
A defense that could be dominant is also cause for optimism about the Ravens' championship aspirations.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton put the Ravens at No. 1 in his ranking of the top defenses heading into the regular season.
"With proven veterans and emerging stars at every level, the Ravens possess an elite defense that's poised to shut down offenses throughout 2025," Moton wrote.
The Ravens' pass defense went from porous in the first half of last season to impermeable in the second, while the run defense was stout throughout. Moton expects opposing teams to struggle through the air and on the ground against the Ravens this season.
"The Ravens' secondary features a mix of established veterans and emerging talent," Moton wrote. "Baltimore signed Jaire Alexander, who can perform at a Pro Bowl level if he stays healthy. Without him, the Ravens can still stifle aerial attacks with their top two cornerbacks (Humphrey and Nate Wiggins) and two physical safeties with coverage skills (Hamilton and first-round pick Malaki Starks).
"All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith is the centerpiece of the unit and a big reason why the Ravens gave up the fewest rushing yards last year. Kyle Van Noy has aged well in Baltimore. Since signing with the team's practice squad in 2023, he's recorded 21.5 sacks and 37 pressures. Last year, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod. In 2024, Odafe Oweh made significant strides, logging career highs in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (nine)."
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano is also high on the Ravens' secondary. He included the unit on his list of offseason winners.
"Star safety Kyle Hamilton recently earned a four-year, $100.4 million contract extension for his stellar first three seasons in the NFL, but he could be on the verge of delivering a career season based on the moves the Ravens made in the secondary this offseason," Manzano wrote. "Last year, Hamilton spent plenty of time downfield to help the Ravens' leaky coverage. He can now return to making plays closer to the line of scrimmage, where he thrived as a first-team All-Pro in 2023, because the team added veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander and rookie safety Malaki Starks. There's also the possibility of a breakout season from second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins, and versatile cornerback Marlon Humphrey is coming off an All-Pro season.
"With the way Lamar Jackson & Co. can score in a hurry, expect opposing offenses to make plenty of regrettable decisions against this secondary just to keep pace on the scoreboard."
What Analytics Say About Ravens' Fate This Season
As pundits continue to roll out their season predictions, analytics experts are weighing in with their projections.
NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund projected the ceiling and floor for every AFC team's win totals. She had the Ravens' win total at 11.6, with a ceiling of 13.1 and floor of 9.8.
The Bills were the only team with a higher projected win total (11.8). The Chiefs (11.2 wins) had the highest ceiling (13.4), with the Ravens and Bills next at 13.1. The Ravens' floor was second to the Bills (10.0).
Frelund's simulations included 1,000,000 runs of every single regular-season game, which equals 272,000,000 total games "played."
ESPN’s Seth Walder used a single simulation to project how the season will play out. The scenario had the Ravens and Bengals both going 10-7, with Baltimore winning the AFC North on a tiebreaker and earning the second seed in the conference.
The Ravens went on to defeat the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round, 34-17, and the Denver Broncos in the divisional round, 24-22, before falling to the top-seeded Bills in the AFC Championship Game, 24-20.
"Allen put on a top-tier performance, recording a 91 QBR and throwing a go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid," Walder wrote.
Mike Tirico Ranks Ravens-Steelers As Top Flex Option for 'Sunday Night Football' in Week 18
As we count down the days until the "Sunday Night Football" opener between the Ravens and Bills, Sports Illustrated’s Mitch Goldich is already looking ahead to the Week 18 Sunday night game.
The game, which concludes the regular season, could be flexed. Goldich ranked all 16 flex options and checked in with NBC's Mike Tirico, the "Sunday Night Football" play-by-play announcer, for his thoughts.
The Ravens-Steelers game at Pittsburgh was No. 1 on Tirico's list and No. 2 on Goldich's.
"If this is Aaron Rodgers's last year, then why not one game to win the division, or perhaps make the playoffs and keep his career going?" Tirico said.
Manzano wrote: "And he's right. However you feel about him, Rodgers would be ratings gold. I think people will be fascinated in how he does in Pittsburgh, whether he'll get back to the playoffs for the first time since he left Green Bay, if he'll keep Mike Tomlin's streak of .500 seasons alive, if he'll be good enough to warrant coming back in 2026, etc., etc. I don't know that the Steelers are really a Super Bowl contender, but they were good enough to make the playoffs behind a combo of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields last year, and they always seem to be in the mix.
"The Ravens might be the best team in the AFC, and even if the AFC North is settled by Week 18, this could easily be a game dripping with playoff seeding ramifications for them. This is also a classic rivalry that honestly makes me think of 'Sunday Night Football,' and it would feel very much at home here. It would be a great way to end the season."
Goldich put the Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game at No. 1.
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: Late for Work: Terry Bradshaw Among Pundits Picking Ravens to Win Super Bowl
- Former head coach Jon Gruden previews the AFC North.
