The NFL's 10 Most Impressive Performances So Far This Season

In this day and age, we've become somewhat accustomed to the preposterous numbers that fill up stat sheets on a weekly basis in the NFL.

Because of that, narrowing them down to a top 10 is, well, quite tricky.

Fortunately for you, we've done that for you here.

Coming up with this top 10, here are a few factors to keep in mind.

The scarcity of a particular performance. Whether it be based on a stat itself or on the player, a particular outing can be something of a rarity for a player. In layman's terms, the best game of a player's career.

Next, the circumstances surrounding a player. Was it a game-winning drive? Did they tie or break a record? Was it in a big game? In a win? A defeat?

These are just a few things to keep in mind.

Let's start this off at No. 10 with a defensive lineman who lit up the stat sheet in Week 1.

10. Calais Campbell, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars: Week 1

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Lists such as these are usually filled with offensive players.

And hey, let's be honest, it's rightfully so: A single defensive player can only do so much, whereas a receiver or a running back (as we've seen already) can put up video game-like numbers.

However, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell is an exception to that rule.

In his first game with his new team after coming over from the Arizona Cardinals, Campbell made his presence felt on the Jaguars defensive line and in their pass rush.

Going up against the Houston Texans and, at the time, some of Tom Savage and Deshaun Watson, Campbell finished with four sacks and a total of six quarterback hits—he was almost single-handedly responsible for getting Savage pulled, albeit he had numerous turnovers.

Four sacks in a single game doesn't happen all that often—this is the first time a player has had at least four sacks in a game since Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack had five late in the 2015 season.

The combination of the rarity and it being his first game with the new team make this performance special enough to earn a spot on the list.

9. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 1

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You know this list is set up to be a good one when Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is ninth on the list.

Kicking the season off, the Steelers visited their division rival Cleveland Browns.

Yeah, I'm sure this is what you're thinking: "Well, of course, Brown is going to have a good game. It's the Browns."

While true, Brown didn't only have a good game, he had one of the best games a wide receiver has put up this season.

He finished Week 1 with 11 receptions on 11 targets for 182 yards.

Though he didn't score a touchdown, Brown took over the game and caught each and every one of his targets.

That by itself is impressive enough.

What a way to kick off the year for the black and yellow.

8. Michael Crabtree, WR, Oakland Raiders: Week 2

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While Oakland Raiders wideout Michael Crabtree may not have put up an insane yardage total, he's one of just two wide receivers all season to have three touchdowns in a single game.

The other player is Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Why is Crabtree on the list over Hopkins? Simple: Crabtree had more catches and more yards against tougher competition.

Crabtree started off the season as a player that seemed to be in the end zone multiple times every week.

In Week 2, we still weren't sure what kind of team the New York Jets are—hell we still don't know, really—but by now we can conclude that their secondary, led by safety Jamal Adams and cornerback Morris Claiborne is capable of locking up opposing receivers and quarterbacks.

Crabtree finished the Raiders 45-point outburst with six receptions for 80 yards and the three touchdowns.

One of the best, if not the best performance a wide receiver has put on all season.

7. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings: Week 3

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Since coming into the league just two seasons ago, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs has already established himself as one of the best when it comes to catching the football.

For fantasy football players, he has what we call "elite PPR value."

Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was an absolute explosion for Diggs.

On 11 targets, Diggs hauled in eight for 173 yards and two touchdowns.

That's over 21.6 yards per reception.

Fast-forward to where we are now in the season and the Buccaneers are giving up over 223 yards per game to opposing wide receivers.

Diggs played a huge part in that.

The Vikings went on to win the game handily, doubling the 17 points the Bucs were able to score.

This performance warrants a higher spot on the list, but because Diggs has been great for so long, we're not shocked by this as much as we are by No. 7 on the list.

6. Case Keenum, QB, Minnesota Vikings: Week 3

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Throughout his career, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum has been really nothing more than a journeyman.

After fellow quarterback Sam Bradford got hurt in Week 1, Keenum was given the reigns of the offense and was put in the spot to make the Vikings succeed.

In his second start of the season, Keenum did more than that, though.

Like his receiver Stefon Diggs in the previous slide, Keenum, too, exploded against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Remember: 173 yards and two touchdowns came from Diggs alone and you know he threw to more guys than him.

Yeah, he finished the game with 369 passing yards, three touchdowns and for the heck of it, added 18 rushing yards.

Keenum warrants a spot on this list because this is an anomaly.

Sure, Keenum has been serviceable in the past, but he's not even close to the level of Diggs or Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Thus, when a performance such as this happens, it deserves to be recognized.

5. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots: Week 3

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It was only matter of time before New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady weaseled his way into this list.

Keep in mind, although we know how fantastic Brady is, remember: He's 40 years old!

The things Brady can do at 40 are things that essentially every other quarterback in the league wishes he could do.

Maybe it's that avocado peanut butter or whatever he's mixing up these days.

In Week 3, the Patriots defense could not fend off the Houston Texans air raid, allowing 33 points.

But with just over two minutes remaining in the game, Brady hit wide receiver Brandin Cooks on a 25-yard pass for a touchdown.

This marked Brady's sixth-ever five-touchdown game, which tied former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino for third all-time.

Going up against a defense that consisted of Jadeveon Clowney, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, Brady still managed to put up 378 yards through the air and five scores.

Yet another incredible performance from arguably the greatest to ever do it.

4. Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs: Week 1

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In the last slide with Tom Brady, we mentioned the Patriots defense and how they couldn't fend off the Texans passing game.

Well, they couldn't stop Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith in the season-opener on national television.

Coming into this game, we thought we all knew what kind of quarterback Smith is.

And rightfully so: Traditionally, Smith has been a guy who throws many short passes.

However, two of Smith's touchdown passes went for more than 20 yards, with one being a deep bomb to wide receiver Tyreek Hill who torched the Patriots secondary.

Smith's first incompletion didn't come until the second quarter, and he finished the game 28-of-35 for 368 yards and four touchdowns.

What was impressive in this performance other than the stats was how Smith was perceived coming into the game and the last impression he left on not only Chiefs fans, but the NFL as a whole.

The Chief went on to win five straight games before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.

3. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans: Week 5

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Like Alex Smith, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson also had a great game against the Patriots.

However, that's not the game we're talking about here.

Ironically, we're talking about a game against Smith's Chiefs on primetime, Sunday Night Football.

In Week 5, Watson tied the all-time rookie record set by Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston with five touchdown passes in a game.

No, the Texans did not pull off the victory, but it came at the hands of the at-the-time undefeated Chiefs.

Watson finished 16-of-31 with 261 passing yards and his five scores.

Although he lost, the fact that Watson tied a rookie record, threw five touchdowns and assisted in putting up 34 points against the lone undefeated team in the league on Sunday Night Football is worthy of No. 3 on this list.

2. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers: Week 5

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Though it's unfortunate Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is likely to miss the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone, maybe reading this slide will bring a smile to his face in his time of healing.

Come on, we all know he's reading this.

There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe Rodgers, but his performance in Week 5 against the Cowboys is one people will remember for quite some time.

No, the numbers weren't overly spectacular like the other four quarterbacks on this list, but what's important here and what makes this performance memorable is the things you can't find on a stat sheet.

Down 21-6 at one point, the Packers ultimately stormed back to beat the Cowboys, 35-31.

Of course, the game came down to a single drive that Rodgers needed to orchestrate to seal the victory.

With just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, Rodgers marched 75 yards up the field and hit wide receiver Davante Adams with 11 seconds remaining, all but securing the win.

Rodgers' final numbers were still great—221 yards on 19-of-29 passing and three touchdowns—but again, they weren't these numbers you'd find after playing a game of Madden.

Nonetheless, his numbers combined with the way in which he pulled off the victory launches Rodgers to No. 2 on this list.

So, who is numero uno?

1. Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs: Week 1

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There's honestly not many ways someone can argue this spot on the list.

This was the absolute perfect storm, and this Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back owns our No. 1 most impressive performance thus far in the 2017 season.

If I were a betting man, I'd say no one will top this performance this season, either.

In his first NFL game, Hunt single-handedly carried players who own him in fantasy football leagues to victory.

If you'll remember, Hunt's first NFL carry was a lost fumble.

That's what makes this outing all the more incredible.

Combined with head coach Andy Reid's trust in the rookie, Hunt finished with 148 rushing yards on 17 carries (8.7 yards per carry) and a touchdown.

But wait, there's more.

Hunt also caught five passes for 98 yards and two more touchdowns.

That's a total of 246 total yards on 22 carries and three scores—over 11 yards per touch.

As Graham Barfield of Fantasy Guru points out, that's the most yards from scrimmage a rookie has ever had in a game.

All arguments against Hunt being No. 1 on this list are invalid.

This wasn't only one of the most impressive performances of 2017, but of all time.

Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.