Madden 16: Biggest Shocks and Surprises from Rookie Ratings

Gamers and sports fans alike are feeling the excitement that comes when the calendar flips to August. That means the latest release in EA Sports' Madden video game series is going to hit shelves, allowing players to make their favorite teams' Super Bowl dreams come true. 

While there is still more than one month to go before the August 25 release date, EA Sports is providing little snippets of detail to make the wait seem less painful. 

In what has become an annual tradition, gamers are teased with player ratings prior to the game's release. This allows them—and actual NFL players, in some cases—to vent their frustration at not getting a deserved ranking in a certain category. 

It's a testament to the power of Madden that people would get upset about video game ratings. The first players to get the rankings treatment were rookies. 

Even in a very good rookie class, the list of 10 players is made up of familiar names. 

Pos	Player	OVR	Best Attribute
1	Amari Cooper, WR (Oakland Raiders)	82	Agility (94)
2	Jameis Winston, QB (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)	81	Throw Power (95)
T3	Todd Gurley, RB (St. Louis Rams)	80	Speed, Trucking, Carry (91)
T3	Leonard Williams, DE (New York Jets)	80	Block Shedding (90)
T3	Brandon Scherff, OT (Washington)	80	Run Block (89)
6	Dante Fowler, DE (Jacksonville Jaguars)	79	Acceleration (89)
T7	Melvin Gordon, RB (San Diego Chargers)	78	Speed, Spin Move (91)
T7	Kevin White, WR (Chicago Bears)	78	Speed (94)
T7	Marcus Mariota, QB (Tennessee Titans)	78	Throw on the Run, Acceleration (90)
10	Vic Beasley, DE (Atlanta Falcons)	77	Jumping (92)

Surprise: Melvin Gordon's Rating Exceeding Draft Selection

In the latest round of running back devaluation, Melvin Gordon is the highest-ranked rookie who exceeded his draft positioning. The San Diego Chargers took him 15th overall, but EA Sports views him as the seventh-best rookie in the class alongside Kevin White and Marcus Mariota. 

Yet the thing that really elevates Gordon into the surprise category is how EA Sports reached its ranking of 78 for Gordon. 

The description on the website (linked above) calls the former Wisconsin star "a better speed back" than Todd Gurley because of his 91 speed, 88 acceleration and 80 elusiveness. Gurley is 91, 87 and 80 in those categories. 

Gordon's straight-line speed wasn't great when he tested at the combine. He posted a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, which was good enough for fifth among the running backs in Indianapolis. 

Yet even with Gordon's speed potential, EA doesn't have him as a physical runner with a 69 trucking attribute. That could be a problem as he comes into San Diego, where the offensive line had problems blocking for everyone last season. 

As long as the Chargers are able to put a competent offensive line in front of Gordon, which was something he had at Wisconsin, the young running back should have no problems living up to the lofty rookie expectations. 

Shocker: Love for Non-Skill Players

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

There's no denying the appeal of skill players. They are the ones who get all the accolades, make all the big plays and sell the most merchandise. Yet every NFL team is only as good as the players it has in the trenches. 

The Dallas Cowboys turned into a surprise 12-win team last season because their offensive line mauled people, allowing them to control the clock by running the ball and giving Tony Romo more time in the pocket. 

J.J. Watt is arguably the best overall player in the NFL, though he (unjustly) can't win an MVP because he's not a quarterback or running back. 

So even in a rookie class that has two high-profile quarterbacks and running backs, three wide receivers taken in the first 15 picks and three cornerbacks go in the top 20, EA was able to make room for three defensive linemen and one offensive lineman in the top 10 rookies. 

Granted, none of the players in the top 10 were picked outside that area in the NFL draft. Vic Beasley was the lowest when Atlanta grabbed him with the eighth overall selection, but it does speak to the talent of the players in the mud that they could rise to the top. 

Sadly, Jacksonville's Dante Fowler won't get to show off his potential this season after tearing his ACL during the team's rookie minicamp days after he was selected third overall. 

Of the three non-skill players who will make an impact in their rookie season on EA's list, Beasley has the best individual tool with a 92 jumping rating. 

Leonard Williams, who was taken sixth overall by the New York Jets, is expected to be a physical monster with block shedding, strength and power move all rated at least 85. That's good news for the Jets, who "only" finished last season tied for sixth in the NFL with 45 sacks. 

Surprise: Kevin White's Catch Rating

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Kevin White was a breakout star during predraft workouts thanks in large part to his surprising 4.35-second 40-yard dash to go along with a strong 6'3", 215-pound frame. It's not a surprise that he ranks among the top rookies in this year's Madden game. 

There is a surprise that EA gave White a slightly higher catch rating (88) than Oakland wide receiver and top overall rookie Amari Cooper (87). It's not a big enough gap to cry foul, though it is stunning to see Cooper second on the list. 

ESPN.com's scouting report for White acknowledged he got better catching passes last season, though it would be nicer to have more than a one-year sample size to judge him off. 

Cooper certainly isn't perfect with his hands, at times trying to make defenders miss before he catches the ball, but given the level of competition he was facing at Alabama and how unstoppable he was in 2014 (124 receptions, 16 touchdowns), his catch rating should be ranked above White's. 

Yet EA did make up for this minor error by having Cooper ranked four full points ahead of White in the overall standings. Both players figure to be outstanding NFL players for a long time, so it won't be long before the debate about their place in the pantheon of today's wideouts heats up. 

Stats and measurables via NFL.com.