Pro Bowl 2015: Stat Predictions for Top Players

With the thrilling NFL playoff race in full swing, the focus shifted elsewhere—at least for a brief moment—as the 2015 Pro Bowl attendees were announced for the second year of an unconferenced format.

The fans have spoken, crowning 88 of the world's best with the honor. It's important to remember that this is only an initial list sure to be altered by long playoff runs, injury and personal preference—but those recognized will be remembered as having made the Pro Bowl this season either way, and more are certain to be added. 

Taking a look at the list guarantees that even if a handful of players drop out, team drafters Cris Carter and Michael Irvin will have plenty to pick from.

It's impossible to predict who will be playing and who won't be playing—especially this early on. But let's take our chances and look at how certain players will perform in Glendale, Arizona, this season.

QB	Tom Brady, NE	Andrew Luck, Ind	Peyton Manning, Den
	Tony Romo, Dal	Ben Roethlisberger, Pit	Aaron Rodgers, GB
RB	Le'Veon Bell, Pit	Jamaal Charles, KC	Arian Foster, Hou
	Marshawn Lynch, Sea	LeSean McCoy, Phi	DeMarco Murray, Dal
FB	John Kuhn, GB	Marcel Reece, Oak
WR	Antonio Brown, Pit	Dez Bryant, Dal	A.J. Green, Cin
	T.Y. Hilton, Ind	Calvin Johnson, Det	Julio Jones, Atl
	Jordy Nelson, GB	Demaryius Thomas, Den
TE	Jimmy Graham, NO	Rob Gronkowski, NE	Julius Thomas, Den
	Greg Olsen, Car
OT	Ryan Clady, Den	Tyron Smith, Dal	Trent Williams, Was
	Joe Thomas, Cle	Joe Staley, SF	Jason Peters, Phi
C	Travis Frederick, Dal	Jason Kelce, Phi	Nick Mangold, NYJ
	Maurkice Pouncey, Pit
OG	Jahri Evans, NO	Mike Iupati, SF	Kyle Long, Chi
	Zack Martin, Dal	Marshal Yanda, Bal	Josh Sitton, GB
DE	Calais Campbell, Ari	Mario Williams, Buf	J.J. Watt, Hou
	DeMarcus Ware, Den	Cameron Wake, Mia	Robert Quinn, STL
DT	Marcell Dareus, Buf	Aaron Donald, STL	Gerald McCoy, TB
	Kyle Williams, Buf	Ndamukong Suh, Det	Dontari Poe
OLB	Connor Barwin, Phi	Elvis Dumervil, Bal	Tamba Hali, KC
	Justin Houston, KC	Clay Matthews, GB	Von Miller, Den
ILB	Luke Kuechly, Car	C.J. Mosley, Bal	Bobby Wagner, Sea
	Lawrence Timmons, Pit
CB	Vontae Davis, IND	Brent Grimes, Mia	Richard Sherman, Sea
	Chris Harris, Den	Aqib Talib, Den	Joe Haden, Cle
	Darrelle Revis, NE	Patrick Peterson, Ari
S	Kam Chancellor, Sea	Tashaun Gipson, Cle	Eric Weddle, SD
	T.J. Ward, Den	Earl Thomas, Sea	Glover Quin, Det
K	Stephen Gostkoswki, NE	Adam Vinatieri, Ind
P	Kevin Huber, Cin	Pat McAfee, Ind
PR	Devin Hester, Atl	Darren Sproles, Phi
ST	Justin Bethel, Ari	Justin Bethel, Ari

Stats Predictions for Top Players

Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Unless the Colts somehow walk into either Foxborough or Denver and pull out a win they couldn't earlier this season, Andrew Luck will be one of a few Colts in Arizona late in January—but not to play in the Super Bowl.

And he'll be looking to continue an impressive streak in the Pro Bowl, having thrown for touchdowns in each of his first two appearances—also his first two years in the NFL.

Between the other quarterbacks listed, it's hard to see Peyton Manning or Tom Brady even participating after (or in the midst of) long playoff runs. Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers all have more realistic chances of leading their team to a championship than the Colts do entering January.

With that said, Luck will probably be the top quarterback Carter and Irvin look toward—leaving him with a lot of looks at the ball in the first and second quarters. That's money time for the top skill-position players in these games.

Predicted stat line: 10-of-14, 130 yds, TD

Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Injuries hampered Jimmy Graham's output for some of 2014, and the Saints' playoff hopes fizzled when he came back to full health. But he still showed his worth in limited playing time, with 79 catches and 10 scores so far on the year.

The 6'7", 265-pounder makes a living on mismatches against other top-caliber players, and that will serve him well in the Pro Bowl. His coach will be able to line him up against the best cornerbacks and safeties in the game on the outside without leaving him susceptible to hits by lining him up in a natural tight end position.

Using him in that type of fashion—rarely, and only in goal-line or big-play moments—might be the only way he'll be allowed to play anyway, given his injury troubles this season.

Predicted stat line: 4 catches, 60 yds, TD

LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

LeSean McCoy might be close to as established as Graham, but he has more struggles this season to rectify than the Saints tight end and will use the big stage to do so.

The Eagles running back had another strong season, but it was far from his best. He only averaged 4.1 yards per carry, more than half a yard below every other running back named as a Pro Bowler.

There will surely be some people saying Matt Forte or maybe even Justin Forsett should have gotten the nod, but Shady is more than deserving. And after the Eagles' playoff hopes have gone sour in a tough fashion, he'll be even more intent on standing out.

Predicted stat line: 9 carries, 78 yards, 2 TDs

J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

Without a huge stroke of luck in Week 17, the Texans will be missing the postseason and J.J. Watt will be soaking up the spotlight in typical fashion.

The Houston defensive end will come in with his usual set of skills. He can blow past any lineman in the NFL down after down and disrupt every play in the backfield—or, line up on offense and catch touchdowns—or, jump and paw down an interception to return to the house.

Would you put doing all three of those things past him in the Pro Bowl? I wouldn't, and Houston Chronicle's Reid Laymance seemed to forecast he could be used on offense:

Everybody will beg for the Watt package on 1st-and-goal when his team is on offense, but it's hard to see him being used too much in this one—especially when he's so fun to watch on the other side of the ball. Only playing 20 snaps or so, you still like Watt to end three or four plays by himself.

Predicted stat line: 2 sacks, tackle for loss, pass breakup