Pro Bowl 2015: Predictions for Top Performers in NFL's All-Star Clash

The Pro Bowl is the butt of plenty of jokes, but at least it’s football on a Sunday that otherwise wouldn’t have a game. After all, we are all going to miss watching pigskin on Sundays after the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots square off in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1.

What’s more, the game is more interesting now that the traditional AFC vs. NFC angle has been scrapped for more of a fantasy football-style game where team captains select from a pool of available players. This year’s two honorary captains are former wide receivers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin.

Pro Bowl invitees Antonio Brown, J.J. Watt, Joe Haden and DeMarco Murray will also help select the teams.

Despite the recent changes, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Chris Simms and Jonathan Vilma shared their take on the annual event:

The full rosters can be found here, courtesy of NFL.com. (Keep in mind that there is always a number of roster changes before the game actually kicks off). Some of these superstar players are bound to put up monster numbers in the wide-open Pro Bowl.

Here is a look at a couple of them who will star in Sunday’s game.

2015 Pro Bowl

Date: Sunday, Jan. 25

Location: Glendale, Arizona

Time: 8 p.m. ET 

TV: ESPN

Predictions for Top Performers

RB C.J. Anderson, Denver Broncos

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Quarterbacks rotate too much in the Pro Bowl to put up monster games, so look for the running backs and wide receivers to put up the best individual numbers.

Denver’s C.J. Anderson replaced Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell on the roster (Bell has a knee injury), which is a solid way to finish a season where he tallied 849 rushing yards, 324 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns.

The raw stats were fine, but Anderson was one of the best players in all of football down the stretch. Nobody finished with more yards from scrimmage in November (709) or touchdowns in December (seven), and he helped the Broncos produce when Peyton Manning was dealing with a late injury.

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

Anderson has some individual momentum from his end-of-the-season hot streak and will perhaps have more motivation than a Pro Bowl veteran would on a return trip to the all-star game.

Anderson, who was an undrafted free agent, still feels like a novelty because he emerged onto the scene late in the season, but an impressive performance against superstar-caliber defenders in the Pro Bowl would only serve to further prove he belongs among the game’s elite.

What’s more, if the defense isn’t exactly motivated to make hard-nosed tackles at the Pro Bowl, Anderson will run right through it, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:

Predicted stat line: 81 rushing yards, 31 receiving yards and two total touchdowns

WR Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Speaking of motivation, Brown is one of the four captains designated to help pick the rosters and will likely have some personal pride on the line with the outcome of the game.

Brown has a lot more than motivation on his side, though. He led the NFL in catches this season with 129 and receiving yards with 1,698, and he also added 13 touchdown grabs. Brown even impressed Jerry Rice, who is largely considered to be the greatest wide receiver of all time, along the way this year, via Scott Brown of ESPN.com:

"

He's killing it right now. I had an opportunity to talk to this guy, and he tried to get in my head. He wanted to know my workout regimen and how did I sustain for so many years. I just told him it was all about work ethic and never getting complacent and never getting to a point where you can relax now.

"

If Brown’s work ethic that Rice touched on is any indication, he will put up big numbers in the Pro Bowl. The Steeler likely won’t take the game lightly and will look to put up big numbers with a rotating cast of superstar quarterbacks.

Remember, Brown was a sixth-round draft pick in 2010 and is always ready to prove himself on a bright stage.

Brown was the best wide receiver in football this year and has one more chance to shine before heading to the offseason. He will take advantage. 

Predicted stat line: 101 receiving yards and one touchdown

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