Madden 16: Top NFL Player Ratings at Each Position and Analysis

Are Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Watt and Rob Gronkowski the best players in the NFL?

According to the ratings for Madden 16, the trio are the only players who will receive 99 overall ratings when the game officially releases on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on Aug. 25—Aug. 20 for XB1 gamers who subscribe to EA Access, per EA Access (h/t Samit Sarkar of Polygon.com).

Here's a look at the top-rated player at each position, per EASports.com:

Position	Player	Team	Rating
QB	Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	99
HB	Marshawn Lynch	Seattle Seahawks	96
WR	Antonio Brown	Pittsburgh Steelers	97
TE	Rob Gronkowski	New England Patriots	99
T	Jason Peters	Philadelphia Eagles	96
G	Marshal Yanda	Baltimore Ravens	98
C	Nick Mangold	New York Jets	95
DE	J.J. Watt	Houston Texans	99
DT	Ndamukong Suh	Miami Dolphins	96
OLB	Von Miller	Denver Broncos	97
OLB	Justin Houston	Kansas City Chiefs	97
MLB	Luke Kuechly	Carolina Panthers	96
CB	Richard Sherman	Seattle Seahawks	97
CB	Darrelle Revis	New York Jets	97
FS	Eric Weddle	San Diego Chargers	96
SS	Kam Chancellor	Seattle Seahawks	94
K	Justin Turner	Baltimore Ravens	95
K	Stephen Gostkowski	New England Patriots	95
P	Pat McAfee	Indianapolis Colts	95

Why Rodgers Is the Man

There will be quarterbacks who are faster than Rodgers, though his mobility shouldn't be a concern in the game. There will be a few with stronger arms and slight advantages in short and intermediate throwing accuracy, but no one puts it all together like the Green Bay Packers' franchise QB.

With a 95 Throw Power and 98 Play Action rating, Rodgers is elite when passing the ball in the pocket. His 88 Throw on the Run rating makes him deadly when rolling out. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Rodgers' ratings is his accuracy marks.

Not only does he have a 94 and 92 in Short Throw Accuracy and Medium Throw Accuracy, respectively, but he also has a league-best 80 in Deep Throw Accuracy. To put it plainly, Rodgers can do it all.

Why Gronk Is Toughest Cover in the Game

He's too strong (95 Release) for most cornerbacks and safeties and too fast (92 Speed, 87 Acceleration) for most linebackers. Even if you do a good job staying with Gronk, his hands are phenomenal (94 Spectacular Catch, 98 Catch in Traffic, 94 Catching, 84 Jump), and he has the ability to make the tough catch.

Once he gets it, he's a load to bring down. In addition to the speed component the virtual and real-life Gronk possesses, he's also got a nasty stiff arm at his disposal (84 Stiff Arm).

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown and Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson are outstanding, but no player on Madden will be a tougher cover than Gronk.

Why J.J. Watt Is Unstoppable

If you play Madden Ultimate Team or Connected Franchise, J.J. Watt's versatility is gold on the defensive side of the ball.

His 99 Power Move, 98 Pursuit, 97 Strength, 97 Tackle and 97 Block Shedding ratings make him a dynamic game-changer at any position on the defensive line. Even if you wanted to play 3-4 and move Watt to the outside linebacker position, he could hold his own.   

If you drop him back into coverage, he has a Catch rating of 78 thanks to his performance on the goal line as a tight end in 2014. In any fantasy draft on Madden 16, Watt has to be the first defensive player taken.

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