The debate for the NFL’s best player entering the 2026 season is absolutely red hot, with several stars making a legitimate case for the crown. Patrick Mahomes has been considered the top dog for years, but Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who won MVP in 2024 and has been elite for a while, is right there. Not to mention Matthew Stafford, the reigning MVP for the Los Angeles Rams. But get this: Stafford’s new Rams teammate, Myles Garrett, just shattered the NFL’s single-season record for sacks. That’s a game-changer, isn’t it?
Who Really Holds the Title?
That record-breaking performance from Garrett is massive. It instantly puts him in the conversation for the best player overall, not just best pass rusher. While quarterbacks like Allen and Mahomes dominate the headlines, a player who can single-handedly disrupt an offense like Garrett can is invaluable. We’re talking about elite, game-wrecking talent that swings outcomes.
The League’s Other Game-Changers
Beyond those top-tier names, other players are making huge impacts and cracking the overall top 10. Take Parsons, for example. He’s expected to miss the first few games of the season recovering from an ACL tear, which is a brutal blow. But when healthy, this guy is one of the NFL’s best, a complete edge rusher whose speed absolutely terrifies offensive linemen. Even missing three games in 2025, he still put up 12.5 sacks and 81 pressures in his debut season with the Green Bay Packers, earning Pro Bowl honors. He’s hit at least 12 sacks in all five of his NFL seasons. The sooner he’s back, the faster the Packers become a Super Bowl threat; he is that much of a force on defense.
Then there’s Penei Sewell, the oddsmakers’ favorite to win Protector of the Year as the NFL’s top offensive lineman. He’s making a big move from right tackle to left tackle, a switch that solidifies him at the absolute top of his position if it works out like Tristan Wirfs did. Sewell is only 25 years old but already has four straight Pro Bowls and three straight first-team All-Pro nods. And what about Anderson, the best player on the NFL’s best defense? He’s got 30 sacks in just three years and hasn’t even turned 25. The Houston Texans traded a 2024 first-rounder and more to move up to grab him in the 2023 draft, and it paid off. Paired with Danielle Hunter, they’re one of the most dangerous edge-rush duos in the league. Anderson is even better in the playoffs, with eight career sacks in six playoff games and three forced fumbles in two playoff games last year alone. As Houston’s offense gets better, expect him to hit that 15-plus sack level this year. Oh, and the Atlanta Falcons running back? He racked up a combined 2,298 yards from scrimmage last season. That’s just insane.
So, as we head into another week of the season, keep an eye on these guys. The battle for who truly dominates the league is just getting started, and every snap matters in watching these superstars make their case.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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