The 150 Best Players in NFL History, Part I

Let's do This again.

 

We’ll search for the top 100 NFL players ever by combining approximate value with approximate value per game.  We’ll take the top 240 in AV all time to create the list. It won’t give us the top 240 players ever, but I’d be comfortable with it as a list of the top 100.  Hell, let’s say 150, just for fun. 

240. Lenny Moore RB 118 AV 143 G .825

So that’s position (WR), total value (118) games played (143), and value/game .825

We’ll count from 240-1 to get total value, computing value/game as we go, and then deciding how to combine those two metrics to come up with our ongoing list of the best 100 players ever.

239. Dick Schafrath T 118 176 .670

See – their total value is the same but Moore’s per game value is significantly higher, therefore Moore ranks higher on the all time list.  238 players left.  Like that.

238. Phil Simms QB 118 164 .720

Right in between the two is Simms.

237. Antonio Gates TE 118 147 .803

Gates goes into the season right behind Moore.  His value/game will fall, but his total value will rise, we’ll see where he eventually lands. 

236. Lance Briggs OLB 118 156 .756

Griggs probably has more career left than Gates; right now he’s just below on the list. 

235. Fred Biletnikoff WR 118 190 .621

Lot of games played, that puts Biletnikoff at the bottom of the overall list.   

234. Lance Alworth WR 118 136 .867

Bambi’s first on the list. 

233. Steve Wisniewski G 119 206 .578

We’re up a point, but down far enough in per game that it doesn’t help Wisniewski.

232. Pat Swilling OLB 119 185 .643

I’ll still take Schafrath’s game value over Swilling’s total value.

231. Jimmy Smith WR 119 178 .669

Did he just go to jail?  Right ahead of Schafrath.

230. Dave Robinson OLB 119 155 .768

Right ahead of Briggs. 

229. Jim Parker G 119 135 .881

Parker goes to number one overall. 

228. Howie Long DE 119 179 .665

Look at that – Howie’s below Smith.

227. Kevin Greene OLB 119 228 .522

Greene goes to the bottom of the list. 

226. Lyle Alzado DE 119 196 .607

Just an inch behind Biletnikoff

225. Tiki Barber RB 119 154 .773

Ahead of Robinson

224. Kevin Carter DE 119 224 .531

Just above Greene

223. Alan Faneca G 119 206 .578

Faneca=Wisniewski

222. Bryant Young DT 120 208 .577

BY is right behind Alzado.

221. Ken Stabler QB 120 184 .652

Just a tick below Howie.  Raiders back to back.

20 down 220 left.  We’re building the 150 greatest football players ever.

 

1.       Jim Parker

2.       Lance Alworth

3.       Lenny Moore

4.       Antonio Gates

5.       Tiki Barber

6.       Dave Robinson

7.       Lance Briggs

8.       Phil Simms

9.       Jimmy Smith

10.   Howie Long

11.   Ken Stabler

12.   Dick Schafrath

13.   Pat Swilling

14.   Fred Biletnikoff

15.   Lyle Alzado

16.   Bryant Young

17.   Steve Wisniewski

18.   Alan Faneca

19.   Kevin Carter

20.   Kevin Greene