Justin Jefferson, James Cook Named to NFL Top 100, Check Out the Updated 2026 Rankings

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson was named to the NFL Top 100 for the sixth straight season but had to settle for his lowest position since 2021.

Jefferson came in at 19th, 10 places lower compared to last season:

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook took a massive jump thanks to his career year. The three-time Pro Bowler vaulted up 69 spots to No. 20, joining teammate Dion Dawkins on the list:

Here's where things stand with the Top 100 a few weeks out from the reveal's conclusion on Sept. 4.

NFL Top 100 for 2026

100. New Orleans Saints DE Cameron Jordan

99. Indianapolis Colts OG Quenton Nelson

98. Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young

97. Seattle Seahawks LB Ernest Jones IV

96. New Orleans Saints RB Travis Etienne Jr.

95. New York Jets LB Demario Davis

94. Kansas City Chiefs C Creed Humphrey

93. Cleveland Browns LB Carson Schwesinger

92. Houston Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair

91. Chicago Bears DE Montez Sweat

90. Carolina Panthers DE Derrick Brown

89. Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams

88. Detroit Lions LB Jack Campbell

87. Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan

86. Los Angeles Chargers LB Tuli Tuipulotu

85. San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy

84. Los Angeles Rams LB Byron Young

83. Tennessee Titans DT Jeffery Simmons

82. Pittsburgh Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey

81. LB Bobby Wagner

80. New England Patriots WR A.J. Brown

79. Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce

78. Arizona Cardinals LB Josh Sweat

77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield

76. Carolina Panthers CB Jaycee Horn

75. Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker

74. Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs

73. Denver Broncos DE Zach Allen

72. Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love

71. Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers

70. Green Bay Packers S Xavier McKinney

69. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

68. Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton

67. Miami Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks

66. Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London

65. Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith

64. New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave

63. Baltimore Ravens S Kyle Hamilton

62. Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence

61. New England Patriots S Kevin Byard

60. Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers

59. Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix

58. Houston Texans WR Nico Collins

57. Buffalo Bills OT Dion Dawkins

56. Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts

55. Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb

54. San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner

53. Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams

52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers OT Tristan Wirfs

51. Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams

50. Los Angeles Chargers S Derwin James Jr.

49. Chicago Bears G Joe Thuney

48. Jacksonville Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen

47. Philadelphia Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell

46. San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle

45. Philadelphia Eagles LB Zack Baun

44. Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow

43. Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones

42. Denver Broncos OT Garett Bolles

41. Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt

40. San Francisco 49ers OT Trent Williams

39. Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert

38. Philadelphia Eagles CB Cooper DeJean

37. Detroit Lions OT Penei Sewell

36. Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens

35. Cleveland Browns DE Jared Verse

34. Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley

33. Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff

32. Denver Broncos LB Nik Bonitto

31. Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

30. Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson

29. Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter

28. New England Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez

27. Carolina Panthers LB Devin Lloyd

26. Miami Dolphins RB De'Von Achane

25. Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.

24. Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby

23. Houston Texans DE Danielle Hunter

22. Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

21. Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold

20. Buffalo Bills RB James Cook

19. Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

Almost a year ago to the day, the Bills gave Cook a four-year extension worth $48 million to resolve what had become a somewhat tense contract dispute.

The investment looks pretty shrewd after he put together his third straight 1,000-yard season. Cook led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards, third-most in franchise history, and found the end zone 12 times on the ground.

The 5'11" ball-carrier ended the year by shredding what had been one of the league's best rushing defenses. He ran for 117 yards in a 33-30 AFC divisional round loss to the Denver Broncos.

Cook could struggle to keep pace with that production in 2026, but that won't necessarily reflect on his individual performance.

Josh Allen's 460 pass attempts were his fewest over a full season. The aerial game should be a bigger focus for the Bills after the acquired DJ Moore and selected Skyler Bell in the fourth round. Maybe Keon Coleman finally puts it together in Year 3 as well.

Lessening Cook's workload after he logged 309 carries would be good for his long-term longevity as well.

Losing a few places in the Top 100 would be a worthy sacrifice for both he and the Bills.