The NFL's Top 10 Game Changing Players

There are many players in the NFL who you must account for on every single play.

I think of guys like Brian Urlacher, Albert Haynesworth, and DeMarcus Ware.

However, there are players who get gasps every time they touch the ball. These are the players in the NFL today who can change the entire game in one single play.

1. Adrian Peterson—Minnesota Vikings

There were many questions surrounding Peterson when he came out of the University of Oklahoma.

Injury worries, poor running style, and if he could carry the load as an every down back. He quickly silenced his critics in his first game as a pro, rushing for 103 yards on only 19 carries.

He has already set many records in only two professional seasons, including most rushing yards in a game with 296 against the San Diego Chargers.

Peterson has the ability to break a long run at any point in the game that could result in the touchdown.

His size and speed are a deadly combination.

At 6’1” and 217 pounds, he is a load to bring down, but he has an ability to dance around defenders in the open field.

His ability to rush for a touchdown at any position on the field makes him a game changer.

2. Leon Washington—New York Jets

Leon Washington came to the New York Jets in 2006 via the 117th pick in the NFL Draft.

Washington garnished some attention during his second preseason game against the Washington Redskins when he returned a kickoff for an 87 yard touchdown.

Although he is listed as a running back, Washington has become the return specialist for the New York Jets. Washington holds the team record for return touchdowns with four in only three seasons with the Jets, including a 94 yard touchdown this past season.

He had 1,231 return yards in 2008, good for 10th best in the league.

Washington has breakaway speed and agility.

He is fairly small for a running back, measuring only 5’8”. With his speed and agility, he is a dangerous return specialist, having the ability to take it all the way any time he touches the ball.

3. Devin Hester—Chicago Bears

Devin Hester is also considered a return specialist.

He was drafted in the second round in the 2006 draft by Chicago out of the University of Miami. He was originally drafted as a cornerback.

Hester became an impact player in only 13 weeks in the NFL having already returned six kicks for touchdowns, including a then record 108 yard missed field return against the New York Giants.

He took the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI back for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, the first one in Super Bowl History.

He holds the NFL record for kick return touchdowns in a season with six.

Hester constantly demands attention after each kickoff. Teams struggled with the question of whether or not they should kick it to Hester.

Hester poses all of the intangibles that make him a game changer: speed (4.35 40 yard dash), agility, and the ability to make tacklers miss.

4. Larry Fitzgerald—Arizona Cardinals

This guy is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL today.

The former Pitt Panther has really showed why the Cardinals made him the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.

In his first season in the league, he hauled in 58 passes for 780 yards and eight touchdowns.

Fitzgerald had arguably his best season statistically in 2005 with 103 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns.

During the Cardinals' Super Bowl run in 2008, Fitzgerald put together the best statistical postseason by a wide receiver in NFL History with 30 receptions for 546 yards, breaking the mark previously held by Jerry Rice.

Fitzgerald is an absolute monster on the field.

He is the type of player to only have one catch in the first half and have the ability to change the game with one reception, which is almost the way Super Bowl XLIII turned out.

He has exceptional route running ability and the best hands I have seen on a WR.

5. Ed Reed—Baltimore Ravens

Ed Reed is probably the best safety in the NFL.

The 24th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, Reed has his stamp on both the league and the record book.

Reed has been to five Pro Bowls in his seven year NFL career along with winning the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004.

In his rookie season, Reed managed to snare five interceptions.

In 2004, Reed attended his first of five Pro Bowls by having a career high nine interceptions, including a 106 yard interception return for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns.

This past season Reed had a 107 yard touchdown return against the Philadelphia Eagles, an NFL record.

He also has five interceptions in five career playoff games including two against the Miami Dolphins in their Wild Card game in 2009, one returned for a touchdown.

Reed has a “ball-hawk” mentality. Reed can make a completion for the opponent turn into touchdown in a split second.

6. Randy Moss—New England Patriots

Many experts believed Randy Moss’ career was on the downturn while he was in Oakland.

But all Moss needed was a little change of scenery and time zone. The Patriots received Moss in a trade with the Raiders for a fourth-round pick and he has not disappointed.

In Moss’ two seasons with the Patriots, he has 167 receptions for 2,501 yards and 34 touchdowns, including an NFL record 23 touchdowns in 2007.

Moss has elite hands and the ability to out-leap smaller corners.

He measures at 6’4” and weighs 210 pounds, making it almost impossible to defend him.

Moss has been known in the past to “only play when he wants to play.”

7. Brian Westbrook—Philadelphia Eagles

Brian Westbrook came to the Philadelphia Eagles as a third round pick out of Villanova.

He holds the NCAA record for all-purpose yards.

Despite the accolades at Villanova, Westbrook had trouble getting on the field his rookie season. In 2003, he became the Eagles’ punt return specialist and had two punts returned for touchdowns

Since his rookie season Westbrook has been one of the best all around players in the NFL, amassing 9,330 yards from scrimmage and scoring 64 offensive touchdowns.

Westbrook has the ability to take a screen pass and scamper all the way to the end zone.

8. Reggie Bush—New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints fans were elated to have Reggie Bush fall to them with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Bush was an electric player coming out of USC both as a rushing and receiving threat.

In his rookie campaign, Bush amassed 575 rushing yards and 736 receiving yards along with six touchdowns. Bush finished fifth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Bush has been more productive as a punt return specialist for the Saints, gaining 270 punt return yards and three touchdowns, including two punt return touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings.

Bush has not really lived up to the hype that followed him his rookie season; however, he is still one of the most dangerous return specialists in the NFL.

9. Josh Cribbs—Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns signed Joshua Cribbs as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State.

The former quarterback in college came to the Cleveland Browns as a wide receiver; however, the Browns began using him as their return specialist.

In Cribbs’ first season, he had 1,094 return yards including a 90 yard touchdown. Cribbs had his best season in 2007 when he amassed 1,809 return yards and two touchdowns.

In his career as a return specialist he has 5,507 return yards.

Like all other return specialist, Cribbs’ possesses the ability to make defenders miss in the open field.

10. Asante Samuel—Philadelphia Eagles

Samuel came to the Philadelphia Eagles via free agency in 2008.

Samuel played his first five seasons with the New England Patriots, earning two Super Bowl rings.

In his five seasons with the Patriots, Samuel had 22 interceptions including three interceptions returned for touchdowns.

In his only season with the Eagles, Samuel had four interceptions with one returned for a touchdown.

Samuel’s impact has been more prevalent in the postseason. In 14 career playoff games he has six career interceptions, four of which have been returned for touchdowns.

Samuel possesses good hands and a knack for getting to the ball quick.