Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus ranked the NFL’s 50 best players entering the 2020 season, and two Cleveland Browns made the list.
According to PFF, the Browns’ two best players are Nick Chubb (No. 27) and Myles Garrett (No. 29).
There are many aspects that intrigue Browns fans about the upcoming season, and Chubb and Garrett top the list.
For Chubb, many are wondering if he and Kareem Hunt can succeed together.
On the other side of the ball, will Garrett be able to produce for all 16 regular season games after being on pace for his best NFL season in 2019?
Prior to his suspension, Garrett amassed 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 18 quarterback hits in 10 games.
Both Chubb and Garrett have played very well throughout their early careers with the Browns.
During the upcoming season, the Browns expect to see Chubb and Garrett making a consistent impact for the team week to week.
According to PFF, Why is Nick Chubb the Best on the Team?
PFF enjoys touting Chubb as the league’s next best running back.
If he performs very well with Hunt in the mix in 2020, then the Georgia native can cement himself in the upper echelon.
Here is what PFF has to say about Chubb:
27. RB Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
“You can make a good argument that Nick Chubb is the best running back in football right now — the only thing holding the case back is a lack of sample size compared to players like Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott and others. Chubb is averaging more than four yards per carry after contact over his NFL career. He has PFF rushing grades above 90.0 in both seasons and has broken 110 tackles on just 490 carries with another 18 broken tackles on the 56 receptions he has to date. Chubb is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, though perhaps not the receiver people want to see at the position in today’s league.”
Chubb impressed throughout the 2019 season, and although his touches decreased in the second half of the season, his PFF grade did not suffer:
Nick Chubb is 💵💵💵when it matters most.
The highest-graded RBs in the second half of games in 2019:
1. Nick Chubb – 85.9
2. Aaron Jones – 84.8
3. Derrick Henry – 81.8 pic.twitter.com/9MKOKQJCPp— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) July 17, 2020
He heads into his third season with the Browns, and with Hunt in the backfield, both have the ability to excel in Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
Chubb has the potential to become the league’s best running back, and he can make another jump up the rankings in 2020.
How will Myles Garrett Fare in 2020?
Monson is also excited about what Garrett has to offer this season:
29. EDGE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
“Myles Garrett was enjoying a career year before the red mist descended and he swung a helmet at Mason Rudolph, ending his season through suspension. Even after missing so much time, the 49 total pressures he registered was a top-30 mark among edge rushers. His pass-rushing grade of 91.6 was the second-best in the league, a fraction behind T.J. Watt. If Garrett can return to the same level of play he reached last season, we are looking at one of the best pass rushers in the game — somebody whose PFF grade has improved each season of his career.”
Garrett’s career is on the rise, and as he enters his fourth NFL season, he is ready to continue to make a tremendous impact.
The Browns have shown that they are ready to commit to Garrett with the impressive $125 million contract extension.
He has been the best pass rusher in the league since he entered the league:
Highest pass rush win rate when lined up as an edge rusher since 2017
1. Myles Garrett – 25.2%
2. Joey Bosa – 24.4%
3. Cameron Wake – 23.1%
4. Za’Darius Smith – 21.1% pic.twitter.com/R3WPA0TpVW— PFF (@PFF) July 14, 2020
If Garrett’s 2020 season is another strong one, he will be on his way to a possible first-ballot Hall of Fame induction.
Why are Chubb and Garrett Not Higher in These Rankings?
It is understandable to ask if Chubb is arguably the best running back in the NFL, why is he not higher in these rankings?
Well, if you examine the rankings closely, only two running backs are on this list.
Christian McCaffrey showed last year why he is in the MVP conversation.
With his ability to amass 2,000 yards, it makes sense to have him at the No. 10 overall position.
As far as Garrett’s No. 29 ranking, the other edge rushers to be ranked higher are the following players:
- No. 13: J.J. Watt
- No. 21: Cameron Jordan
- No. 25: Von Miller
- No. 28: T.J. Watt
While Garrett is ranked fifth among edge rushers, he could easily vault to the top 10 on this list in 2021.
If so, he could be ranked as the league’s best edge rusher by the end of this season.
If Chubb and Garrett both rise to the occasion in 2020, then they may be able to help the Browns to their first double-digit win season since 2007.
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