The Cincinnati Bengals only have one player so far in the NFL Top 100 list voted on by the players. Are the Bengals getting snubbed?
While last season was a disappointment for the Cincinnati Bengals, there were plenty of players that still performed at a high level. Every year the players vote on their Top 100 list, and as the list has revealed 31-100 so far, only one Bengals player has made the list. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins came onto the list at 63 which seems a bit low for such a dominant player.
Some players that might still make the list are wide receiver A.J. Green and linebacker Carl Lawson after his breakout rookie season. Another player who had a breakout season last year was cornerback William Jackson III who could still have a shot at making the list. All three of these players put up significant numbers last season, even if Green had a down season.
Lawson came one sack shy with 8.5 sacks of breaking the Bengals rookie sack record held by Carlos Dunlap at 9.5. He finished with the 20th best pass rushing grade by Pro Football Focus at 83.9. Only playing a limited role on the defense, Lawson put up great numbers for the time he was on the field. He will look to expand his role in 2018, but entirely someone worth noting when talking about the Top 100.
William Jackson had a late start to the season when it came to starting at his position. Splitting time with veteran cornerback Adam Jones last season until an injury took Jones out for the season, Jackson made the best of every opportunity he was given. He shut down top receivers in the league including Antonio Brown in both showings against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While Green had a down season, he still hauled in 75 catches for just over 1,000 yards with no other weapons on the offense last season. With tight end Tyler Eifert and wide receiver John Ross both spending most of the season injured, defenses leaned towards Green’s side of the field forcing Andy Dalton to beat them another way. Even with all of the extra attention, Green still found ways to have success in an offense that struggled last season.
Next: Can William Jackson III repeat his dominant performance of 2017?
Green is still known as a top five receiver in the league. He also made the Top 50 list made by Pro Football Focus along with William Jackson. It’s possible we see some of these players in the last 30 spots in the NFL Top 100. I guess we will find out Monday if any more Bengals players make the list.