Ranking The Top 25 Players Playing On NFL Conference Championship Game Weekend

After a long NFL season, we are down to just four teams. Here are the top 25 players remaining in the NFL Playoffs.

After 20 weeks of football, only four teams remain. If you’ve made it this far, you have at least a few of the league’s best players.

This list DOES NOT factor in the importance of position. Outside of punters and kickers, who are not included, I tried to value each position equally. How players played this year, how they’re playing down the stretch, and how they have played in the playoffs in the past are all factored in.

Of note, Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Joe Thuney would’ve been included had he been playing his natural position of guard. But, he’s been thrust into action at tackle due to injuries and poor performances from teammates, and he hasn’t been quite as good there. Consider him an honorable mention.

Here are the 25 best players left in the NFL Playoffs.

25. Buffalo Bills Running Back James Cook

Cook has established himself as a feature back this season, going over 1,000 yards and scoring an impressive 16 touchdowns in the regular season. The Bills have leaned on him heavily in the postseason, as he has 40 carries and 187 yards with 1 touchdown in two playoff games.

24. Washington Commanders Center Tyler Biadasz

Biadasz, a former Cowboy, was a big offseason acquisition for the Commanders. He’s been fantastic for Washington all year as their best offensive lineman. His smarts have helped out rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels considerably when it comes to getting protections right.

23. Buffalo Bills Defensive End Gregory Rousseau

Don’t let Rousseau’s modest eight sacks fool you. The Miami alum is starting to establish himself as one of the better defensive ends in the NFL and had 24 quarterback hits this year. He will be a problem for the Chiefs on Sunday.

22. Philadelphia Eagles Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell

Mitchell has had an impressive debut season and shows the upside to one day be one of the league’s very best cover corners. Still, even as a rookie, he’s a great number-one cornerback. Expect to see him matched up with Terry McLaurin plenty on Sunday.

21. Buffalo Bills Center Connor McGovern

Connor McGovern has been the highest-graded player on the Buffalo offensive line this year, and his prowess as a run blocker, especially on zone-blocking plays, has helped the Bills become one of the league’s best running teams this year.

20. Philadelphia Eagles Linebacker Zack Baun

Zack Baun has had a huge breakout season this year for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Wisconsin alum spent four years in New Orleans as mostly a backup. But, general manager Howie Roseman brought him in to be a starter in Philadelphia this season. All he’s done is been one of the very best box linebackers in the league.

19. Kansas City Chiefs Guard Trey Smith

The offensive line hasn’t always been great for the Chiefs this year. But, that’s not because of Trey Smith. The 25-year-old made his first Pro Bowl this year, and is a sensational all-around guard for Kansas City.

18. Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver AJ Brown

Normally I’d have AJ Brown ranked much higher than this. But, he and the Philadelphia passing game have been struggling mightily of late. That being said, on the right day, he’s as dominant as any wide receiver in the NFL. Sunday could be that day.

17. Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano

Last year, Milano wasn’t healthy for the playoffs, and it hurt Buffalo in their loss to the Chiefs. This year, he missed most of the year with a torn bicep. But, Milano is back healthy, and his fantastic range, coverage, and playmaking ability as a box linebacker makes an enormous difference for the Buffalo defense.

16. Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Leo Chenal

Leo Chenal has been a home run of a draft pick by Kansas City general manager Brett Veach. Once again on of Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded linebackers, Chenal’s ability to play sideline-to-sideline, be an asset in coverage, and rush the passer make him one of the best linebackers in the league.

15. Philadelphia Eagles Guard Landon Dickerson

The Philadelphia Eagles offensive line has been opening up huge holes for Saquon Barkley all year. Landon Dickerson is a big part of that. Once again, he was one of the league’s best run blockers. He and fellow guard Mekhi Becton form the best run-blocking guard tandem in the NFL.

14. Washington Commanders Wide Receiver Terry McLaurin

Everyone talks about Bucs WR Mike Evans when it comes to consistency. But, Terry McLaurin isn’t far behind. In his six seasons in the NFL, he’s gone over 1,000 yards in five of them. The only season he didn’t, his rookie year, he had 919 yards. He had a career-high 13 touchdowns this year, and his chemistry with Jayden Daniels is tremendous.

13. Washington Commanders Linebacker Bobby Wagner

Bobby Wagner could’ve started the clock on his Hall Of Fame induction a half-decade ago. Yet, at 34, Wagner continues to be as good as any box linebacker in the NFL. Not only has he not lost a step as a player, but his leadership both on the field and off of it has played an enormous role in Washington’s Cinderella season this year. Saquon Barkley was the best free agent signing last offseason, but Bobby Wagner may be right behind him.

12. Buffalo Bills Cornerback Christian Benford

The Bills got rid of former number-one corner Tre White in the offseason. Benford has step into those shoes nicely, and has established himself as one of the league’s best cover corners. I wouldn’t expect Patrick Mahomes to go at Benford much on Sunday.

11. Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle Jalen Carter

How did teams let Jalen Carter, widely considered the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft, fall all the way to the Philadelphia Eagles at ninth-overall? Carter has established himself as one of the league’s best interior defensive linemen before his 24th birthday. He has the ability to absolutely wreck a game, just like he did last week against the Rams.

10. Kansas City Chiefs Center Creed Humphrey

Humphrey is an absolutely fantastic center, and may be the best in the league at his position. He has no weaknesses, and was the top-graded run blocker and pass blocker of all centers this year according to Pro Football Focus.

9. Philadelphia Eagles Right Tackle Lane Johnson

Not only is the duo of Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata the best tackle duo in the league this year, it’s one of the league’s best in NFL history. Johnson, now 34, is still one of the league’s elite bookends, even if he has taken an ever-so-slight step backwards.

8. Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Travis Kelce

Death. Taxes. Travis Kelce having big games in the playoffs. Those are the three certainties of life. You know that Mahomes will be looking for him on big plays, as their trust and chemistry is as good as any quarterback-pass catcher combo this side of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. If the Bills shut Kelce down, they’ve got a great chance to win on Sunday.

7. Kansas City Chiefs Cornerback Trent McDuffie

The Kansas City Chiefs traded L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans in part because they loved what they had in Trent McDuffie. That’s another masterclass from Brett Veach. McDuffie has an excellent argument to being considered the NFL’s best cornerback this year, and is in the top group with Derek Stingley Jr. and Patrick Surtain Jr.

6. Washington Commanders Quarterback Jayden Daniels

Jayden Daniels has likely put together the best postseason from a rookie quarterback in league history. Crazy things happen in the NFL, but it’s hard to see a scenario that doesn’t have Jayden Daniels playing on plenty of Championship Sundays in his career. He’s good enough right now to win a Super Bowl.

5. Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Tackle Jordan Mailata

The Eagles took Mailata, a rugby player from Australia, in the 7th round in 2018. He’s now the best left tackle in football. In fact, Pro Football Focus has him as the highest-graded player in all of football this year. He’s an absolute mountain of a man and a freak athlete at his size. Seven years ago he had never played a down of football. Now, he looks like he could be destined for Canton.

4. Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Tackle Chris Jones

In the regular season, Chris Jones is a dominant player in the middle of the Kansas City defense, and is the second-best interior defensive lineman of his generation alongside Aaron Donald. In the postseason, Jones seemingly elevates his play every year. Don’t look at his sack numbers, because they don’t tell the full story. Chris Jones has won the Chiefs Super Bowls due to dominant play in the middle. He’s an all-time great still in his prime.

3. Patrick Mahomes

The fact that there are two players ahead of Patrick Mahomes, who likely already is the second-greatest quarterback in NFL history and hasn’t turned 30 yet, speaks to how good the two guys ahead of him have been this year. Game on the line, season on the line, one drive to score, there’s no player you’d rather have in the NFL right now than Patrick Mahomes under center.

2. Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley

It’s a shame that the New York Giants couldn’t build a team around Saquon Barkley. Playing in front of a great offensive line for the first time in his football life, Barkley put up one of the greatest seasons in league history this year. And, he’s been even better in the playoffs. In two games, he has 324 yards rushing, and that total would’ve been higher had he not slid down on what would’ve been a long touchdown run in the Wild Card Round against the Packers late in the 4th quarter. He’s always been a home run hitter. This year, he’s taking the yards that are there for him to get, too, and that makes him the best runner in football. If you miss your run fit by a step, you better get ready to start chasing.

1. Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen

Think back to Cam Newton’s national championship and Heisman Trophy season at Auburn in 2010. Buffalo relies on Josh Allen to the same extent that Auburn relied on Cam Newton in 2010. Everything in the Buffalo offense runs through Josh Allen, who will likely take home his first NFL MVP Award in a few weeks. Yes, the Bills have fallen short time after time in the playoffs in his career. But, Allen has been an incredible playoff quarterback even in those losses. This year, he’s playing like someone who is simply refusing to lose before he brings back a Super Bowl to the shores of Lake Erie.