Madden 15: Players Who Will Improve Their Ratings Throughout Season

With the Madden NFL 15 release date exactly two weeks away, the player ratings have all been revealed via EA Sports. As the Aug. 26 release looms for all four main consoles, there is plenty to debate about which players will emerge throughout the season.

Names such as Peyton Manning and Calvin Johnson were unsurprisingly atop the list at their respective positions, but several others had much to be desired in the ratings. During the regular season, some will rise and some will fall due to their play.

Myriad players hope to explode and earn a much higher ranking in the famous game. Of those, multiple rookies will need to prove they can live up to the hype before growing into a true weapon.

Before the game is released, here's a look at the Madden NFL 15 players who will rise in the ratings this year.

Johnny Manziel, QB, Cleveland Browns: 77 Overall Rating

He hasn't even earned the starting role yet, but Johnny Manziel is set to skyrocket in the Madden ratings this year. While much of this will likely be dependent on him taking over the starting duties, his talent will be evident throughout the year.

Steve Noah of Operation Sports offers a look at the best numbers for Johnny Football:

Equipped with a 77 overall rating, the Cleveland Browns quarterback has ridiculous ability already. But despite his good speed (82) and acceleration (91) ratings, his strength (54) and awareness (58) leave a lot to be desired.

With a load of talent around him, including Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron as receiving threats and Joe Thomas blocking up front, Manziel has the physical tools to shine.

Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints: 74 Overall Rating

For those who haven't heard about Brandin Cooks at this point, you must be living under a rock.

The rookie receiver out of Oregon State has been a breakout player for the New Orleans Saints thus far in training camp. Then in his first preseason game, he scored a touchdown, and Saints fans are now expecting big things out of the first-year player.

Simply put, Cooks has been sensational. Drew Brees even praised the young wideout for his phenomenal speed, per Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune:

"

Yeah, you can say they're (some players) straight-line fast but not real quick or they have long strides, or short-area quickness but not long speed. This guy has it all. He's got short-area quickness, great transition ability and phenomenal straight-line speed. ...

This early in camp, for that to just look like it's automatic like we've been doing that for five years, that's great to see.

"

If he can prove to be a reliable pass-catching option and strong player through the middle, Cooks will see his ratings move up throughout the year.

His outstanding play has already been enough to shock NFL veterans like Brees. Doing that on the field on Sundays with the Saints will give New Orleans' offense another explosive weapon and enable Cooks' rating to increase in Madden.

Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers: 71 Overall Rating

Going through the draft, Kelvin Benjamin slid down to the end of the first round. The Carolina Panthers receiver was seen as a "boom or bust" player but has shown flashes of greatness thus far.

According to the Panthers' current depth chart, Benjamin has already established himself as a starter for the team. With limited talent behind him at the position, he's likely going to remain entrenched in that role throughout the year.

What that means for Madden players is that Benjamin's stability with the Panthers could make him a player to watch in the game.

The rookie isn't seen as one of the top wideouts for now, but the chemistry between him and Cam Newton is evident on the field. If the two click on game days this season, expect to see nearly every rating climb during the 2014 season.

Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.