There will be no Pro Bowl game played in February, but the best players in the NFL will still be recognized. The 2021 Pro Bowl, consisting of the NFL's top performers from the 2020 NFL season, will take place virtually via Madden NFL 21. Here are my selections, (with notes attached for most players) for the NFL's version of the All-Star contest to be played in a video game.
*All stats accurate through Week 15
Offense
Quarterback (6)
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: 36 TD/5 INT and the league leader in passing yards
Aaron Rodgers, Packers: No. 1 in passer rating, passing TDs (40)
Russell Wilson, Seahawks: Ranks second in passing TDs and completion percentage
Josh Allen, Bills: 38 total TDs (30 passing, 8 rushing)
Deshaun Watson, Texans: Ranks No. 1 in yards per pass attempt, second in passing yards, tied for second in passer rating
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: 37 total TDs (26 passing, 11 rushing)
Running Back (6)
Derrick Henry, Titans: Leads NFL in rushing and 20+ yard runs (13)
Dalvin Cook, Vikings: No. 1 in first downs among RBs, tied with Henry for most rushing scores (15)
Nick Chubb, Browns: No. 1 in yards per carry among RBs
James Robinson, Jaguars: 3rd in rushing yards
Alvin Kamara, Saints: 15 total TDs (10 rush, 5 receiving) and leads NFL in yards after catch (YAC)
Aaron Jones, Packers: 4th in rushing, 3rd in yards per carry among RBs
Wide Receiver (8)
Davante Adams, Packers: Leads NFL in receiving yards per game, second in TD catches
Tyreek Hill, Chiefs: Leads NFL in TD receptions (15)
Stefon Diggs, Bills: Leads NFL in catches, 3rd in receiving
DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals: Leads NFL in receiving yards
D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks: Third in NFL in receiving yards, 4th in yards per reception
Keenan Allen, Chargers: Ranks No. 3 in both receptions and first-down receptions
Justin Jefferson, Vikings: Tied for league lead in big (20+ yards) plays
A.J. Brown, Titans
Fullback (2)
Kyle Juszczyk, 49ers: PFF's top-ranked fullback
Patrick Ricard, Ravens
Tight End (4)
Travis Kelce, Chiefs: Ranks No. 2 in receiving yards across entire NFL and leads league in first-down receptions. Tied for NFL-lead for most big plays
Darren Waller, Raiders
T.J. Hockenson, Lions
Robert Tonyan, Packers: Tied with Kelce for most TDs (10) among tight ends
Tackle (6)
David Bakhtiari, Packers: PFF's top-ranked tackle
Trent Williams, 49ers
Jack Conklin, Browns: Best run-blocking tackle in AFC
Taylor Moton, Panthers
Garrett Bolles, Broncos: No. 1 ranked tackle in AFC by PFF
Eric Fisher, Chiefs
Guard (6)
Wyatt Teller, Browns: Best run-blocking guard in NFL, PFF's No. 1 ranked guard
Zack Martin, Cowboys: Top-ranked guard by PFF among NFC players
Joel Bitonio, Browns
Brandon Scherff, Washington: Ranks top-3 by PFF metrics for pass-blocking and run-blocking
Ali Marpet, Bucs: Best pass-blocking guard in NFL
Shaq Mason, Patriots: Among league's best run-blocking guards
Center (4)
Corey Linsley, Packers: PFF's top-ranked center
Frank Ragnow, Lions: PFF's No. 2 center
Brandon Linder, Jaguars: Ranks No. 1 by PFF among AFC centers
J.C. Tretter, Browns: No. 2 ranking among AFC centers
Defense
Defensive End (6)
Myles Garrett, Browns: 11 sacks with four forced fumbles
Cameron Jordan, Saints
Emmanuel Ogbah, Dolphins: 9 sacks with 3 forced fumbles
Brandon Graham, Eagles
Trey Hendrickson, Saints: 12.5 sacks
Joey Bosa, Chargers
Defensive Tackle (6)
Aaron Donald, Rams: The odds-on favorite for Defensive Player of the Year
Deforest Buckner, Colts
Chris Jones, Chiefs
Cameron Heyward, Steelers
Leonard Williams, Giants
Fletcher Cox, Eagles
Inside Linebacker (4)
Tremaine Edwards, Bills
Bobby Wagner, Seahawks: 20 total pressures on the blitz, six total pass breakups
Fred Warner, 49ers
Darius Leonard, Colts
Outside Linebacker (6)
T.J. Watt, Steelers: PFF's top-ranked linebacker
Za'Darius Smith, Packers
Jason Pierre-Paul, Bucs: 9.5 sacks with 4 forced fumbles
Khalil Mack, Bears: Top ranked EDGE rusher by PFF among NFC players
Bradley Chubb, Broncos
Matt Judon, Ravens
Cornerback (6)
Xavien Howard, Dolphins: PFF's top-ranked cornerback, leads NFL in interceptions
Jaire Alexander, Packers: No. 1 ranked corner among NFC players, NFL's top shutdown corner
J.C. Jackson, Patriots
Jalen Ramsey, Rams
James Bradbury, Giants: Leads NFL in passes defended
Marlon Humphrey, Ravens
Strong Safety (2)
Budda Baker, Cardinals: PFF's top-ranked strong safety
Tyrann Mathieu, Chiefs: 7 interceptions (most among safeties)
Free Safety (4)
Justin Simmons, Broncos: No. 2 ranked safety by PFF
Jessie Bates, Bengals: PFF's top-rated safety
John Johnson, Rams: Ranked No. 1 by PFF among NFC players
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers: 4 interceptions with 1 forced fumble
Special Teams
Kicker (2)
Younghoe Koo, Falcons: Leads NFL in scoring
Jason Sanders, Dolphins
Long Snapper (2)
Morgan Cox, Ravens
Tyler Ott, Seahawks
Punter (2)
Jack Fox, Lions: Only player to rank top-2 in gross average punt yards and net average punt yards
Jake Bailey, Patriots
Return Specialist (2)
Cordarrelle Patterson, Bears: Leads NFL in yards per kickoff return
Ray-Ray McCloud, Steelers
Specialist (2)
George Odum, Colts: PFF's top-ranked specialist
Charles Washington, Cardinals
Selections by Team
AFC
East
Bills: 3
Dolphins: 3
Patriots: 3
Jets: 0
North
Steelers: 4
Browns: 6
Ravens: 4
Bengals: 1
South
Titans: 2
Colts: 3
Texans: 1
Jaguars: 2
West
Chiefs: 6
Raiders: 1
Broncos: 3
Chargers: 2
NFC
East
Washington: 1
Giants: 2
Eagles: 2
Cowboys: 1
North
Packers: 8 (most in NFL)
Vikings: 2
Bears: 2
Lions: 3
South
Saints: 3
Bucs: 2
Panthers: 1
Falcons: 1
West
Rams: 3
Seahawks: 4
Cardinals: 4
49ers: 3
