Steelers Place 5 Players In Pro Football Focus 2017 Top 100

[AtlantaDan]

This seems about right - Ben ranking lowered by his early season struggles - PFF says he was the best QB in the NFL for a lengthy spell

Pro Football Focus put out their top 101 NFL players of 2017 and the Pittsburgh Steelers were well represented. Five players made the list in total including one in the top 10.

Here are how the Steelers landed on the list.

7-Antonio Brown, wide receiver

17-David DeCastro, guard

54-Cam Heyward, defensive line

68-Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback

71-Le’Veon Bell, running back

http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/201...focus-top-101/

Link to the complete PFF rankings and summaries here - Aaron Donald #1

https://www.profootballfocus.com/new...017-nfl-season

With regard to running backs Bell outranked in 2017 by Todd Gurley (#22), Alvin Kamara (#33), and Kareem Hunt (#34) but apparently expects a multiyear contract as a transcendent generational talent like Jim Brown, OJ Simpson or Barry Sanders in their primes

[DesertSteel]

4th RB is about right for Bell. Brown should be higher. Pound for pound he's the best player in the NFL.

[st33lersguy]

AB is no. 7? He maybe the best player and no way should be outside the top 3. He stepped up in the clutch in so many games, he's the main reason they are 13-3 instead of 8-8 or 9-7

[Iron Steeler]

I got a feeling Bell wont be a long term Steeler.
How does the franchise tag work we get 2 first rounders if some one wants him?

[AtlantaDan]

AB is no. 7? He maybe the best player and no way should be outside the top 3. He stepped up in the clutch in so many games, he's the main reason they are 13-3 instead of 8-8 or 9-7

PFF explained the ranking system

This list is created with an “all positions are created equal” mantra. So, you won’t see 32 quarterbacks heading the list — even though that is the game’s most valuable position. Instead, we take a look at how guys played relative to what is expected from their position.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/new...017-nfl-season

With regard to playing relative to what is expected from their position, I obviously remember the many splash plays but had forgotten how great Troy was at his peak in pass coverage before his decline. This graphic for Vikings safety Harrison Smith (ranked #3)

[st33lersguy]

PFF explained the ranking system

This list is created with an “all positions are created equal” mantra. So, you won’t see 32 quarterbacks heading the list — even though that is the game’s most valuable position. Instead, we take a look at how guys played relative to what is expected from their position.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/new...017-nfl-season

With regard to playing relative to what is expected from their position, I obviously remember the many splash plays but had forgotten how great Troy was at his peak in pass coverage before his decline. This graphic for Vikings safety Harrison Smith (ranked #3)

Sorry, that explanation still doesn't justify why AB is only no. 7. WRs aren't expected to get 100 catches and lead the league in receiving while only playing in 13 games, nor are thet expected to play so good, they get mvp consideration.

[Mojouw]

The highest non-QB offensive player? Feels about right for a WR - no matter how dominant.

Donald, Jordan, Smith, and Wagner are all single-handedly capable of wrecking a gameplan. Donald might be the most dominant player in the league. Heyward seemed weirdly high on that list.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Sorry, that explanation still doesn't justify why AB is only no. 7. WRs aren't expected to get 100 catches and lead the league in receiving while only playing in 13 games, nor are thet expected to play so good, they get mvp consideration.

I agree. BTW, what is that Harrison Smith graphic about anyways?? Comparing his to Troy's coverage statistics??? Was Polamalu really knows best as a coverage safety....I think not. I would argue that Ed Reed was a better safety in terms of coverage of that era.

The simple fact remains..................sometimes Statistics Can Lie.

[Six Rings]

PFF is intersting. They are not Sean Davis fans, I too think he's just all right at best.

[pczach]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if they ever had a redraft of all the players in the NFL. I guarantee that many of those players would be drafted in vastly different positions.

All these guys are great players, but PFF is a tool to help with evaluation. It isn't the answer to all questions based on their rating system. In fact they're flat out wrong about many things that the eyes could tell you much more easily.

It makes for good conversation, but that's it.