Top 100 Players of 2026, Nos. 20-19: Patrick Mahomes drops 13 spots to No. 18 on list
The "NFL Top 100" -- voted on by the players themselves -- reveal is underway on X and NFL+! Two players will be revealed at 10 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. daily Monday through Friday from June 22-Aug. 21, before one Top 10 player is unveiled each weekday beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Sept. 4.
2025 stats: 17 games | 309 att | 1,621 rush yds | 5.2 ypc | 12 rush TD | 33 rec | 291 rec yards | 2 rec TD
In the aftermath of a contract kerfuffle, Cook showed he was worth every penny of his 2025 extension. A season after leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns, Cook won the league rushing crown, becoming just the second Buffalo back to do so. Robin to Josh Allen's Batman, Cook averaged an NFL-best 95.4 yards per game as he roared to his third straight Pro Bowl selection. During the regular season, the Bills were 8-1 when Cook topped 100 yards, one of many indicators of just how important he is to Buffalo's success.
NFL Pro Insight for Cook: Cook led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards and +358 rushing yards over expected this season. The Bills back also led the NFL with 519 yards before contact.
2025 stats: 17 games | 84 rec | 1,048 rec yards | 12.5 ypr | 2 rec TDs
Just how good Jefferson is might be best illustrated by how “bad” his 2025 season was. In his sixth NFL season, Jefferson struggled with 1,048 receiving yards -- the lowest season total of his incredible career. He’s been a 1,000-yard receiver every year of his career. In Week 18, Jefferson recorded 101 yards in a win over the rival Packers to hit 8,480 yards, surpassing Randy Moss for the most in NFL history through a player’s first six seasons. He also recorded 84 catches despite playing with three starting quarterbacks and struggling to form chemistry with J.J. McCarthy. Nevertheless, Jefferson’s overall talent is undeniable and his status as one of the elite wide receivers in the game is clearly still in place in the eyes of his NFL comrades.
NFL Pro Insight for Jefferson: Jefferson and McCarthy hooked up on just 14 of 34 downfield passes (41.2% catch rate) for 259 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Jefferson had tallied a 61.2% catch rate on downfield targets before the season, nearly 20 percent higher than his 2025 campaign with McCarthy.
2025 stats: 14 games | 62.7 pct | 3,587 pass yds | 7.1 ypa | 22 pass TD | 11 INT | 422 rush yds | 5 TD
Statistically speaking, Mahomes had his worst season since becoming the Chiefs starter in 2018, which has translated to his lowest ranking amid his eighth season on the list. However, the equity he's amassed within the NFL is evident as he lands in the top 20. Before he was sidelined with a torn ACL, Mahomes had already rushed for career bests in yards, touchdowns and yards per game (30.1). He also eclipsed 3,500 passing yards for an incredible eighth consecutive year and though his six QB wins were his lowest, it's notable the Chiefs were 0-3 when he didn't start, including losses to a pair of three-win squads.
NFL Pro Insight for Mahomes: Despite missing three games, Mahomes led the Chiefs with 18 runs of 10-plus yards and a 56.3% rush success rate (minimum 10 carries).