With Week 11 of the NFL season in the books, it is time to look at the best performers at each position from last week. It should be a mix of usual suspects and random one-game wonders. If a player is not on the list, it does not mean that the individual did not have a great game. Not all positions are created equal. Prior performance has no bearing on this list. With that said, let’s look at the best 11 offensive players and best 11 defensive players from Week 11.
You can find my NFL Week 10 Team of the Week here.
An asterisk (*) indicates a player that would earn a spot on the All-Pro team through 11 weeks.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Rodgers had a monster Week 11, leading all quarterbacks in both passing yards (385) and passing touchdowns (four). Trevor Siemian was the only quarterback to match Rodgers’ quartet of big-time throws. While Rodgers and the Packers came up short against the Minnesota Vikings, it should be blamed on anyone not named Rodgers. He was magnificent, and he opened the door on a fourth MVP award with his dominance.
If the season ended today, Kyler Murray would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Running Back: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts*
After weeks of being close, Taylor punched his ticket with the game of the year by any player at any position. Taylor romped for over 200 scrimmage yards, locking him into a spot even before his touchdowns. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Taylor found the endzone a ridiculous five times in one of the best performances in NFL history let alone 2021. Welcome to the MVP race.
If the season ended today, Taylor would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Wide Receiver: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Previously Appeared: Week 3, Week 10
Over the last two weeks, Jefferson has hauled in 17 passes for 312 yards and a pair of touchdowns. If there was any doubt about Jefferson, it has evaporated. He has been sensational in 2021, and he is closing in on an All-Pro slot. Jefferson contributed to seven first downs on Sunday. His 169 yards is the second most he has recorded in a game, and Sunday was his third multi-touchdown game.
If the season ended today, Cooper Kupp would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Wide Receiver: Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers*
Previously Appeared: Week 3, Week 5
Across the field from Jefferson, Adams had his best game of the season. He slipped into the endzone twice, and he posted his first 100-yard game since Week 5. Adams averaged 3.38 yards per route run, 0.50 yards over his season average. He was elite after the catch, tacking on 7.9 yards per reception after the catch. It was another showcase game for the 2020 All-Pro.
If the season ended today, Adams would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Wide Receiver: Elijah Moore, New York Jets
Previously Appeared: Week 9
Moore led the week in both offensive grade among receivers and receiving grade. He finished second in yards with a spectacular 141 on nine targets (eight catches). He cashed in on a 62-yard touchdown, showcasing his after-the-catch prowess. Moore led all receivers with 47 yards after the catch on intermediate passes. All told, Moore was second to Darnell Mooney in overall yards after the catch, and he forced a pair of missed tackles.
If the season ended today, Deebo Samuel would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Tight End: Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals
Ertz had a breakout game in the Cardinals’ win in Seattle. The 2017 Super Bowl champion found the endzone twice and had 88 yards (second-most among tight ends). Ertz led all tight ends with six first downs, and Colt McCoy had a 147.0 passer rating when targeting Ertz. Sunday was the first time Ertz had scored twice since Week 14 of 2019.
If the season ended today, Mark Andrews would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Left Tackle: Brady Christensen, Carolina Panthers
One of two rookie tackles to make the Team of the Week, Christensen had the best game of his young career against the Washington Football Team. He posted an 81.1 overall PFF grade, finishing fourth at the position, but he excelled in pass protection. Across 26 pass-blocking snaps, Christensen did not surrender any pressure. He was the highest-graded pass-blocker among all tackles, and his run-blocking was rock solid.
If the season ended today, Trent Williams would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
The Joel Bitonio Award for Best Right Guard: Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns*
Previously Appeared: Week 1, Week 7, Week 10
Bitonio has been a force nearly every week this season. He routinely has elite grades as a run-blocker and as a pass-blocker, and Week 11 was no different. He allowed zero pressures on 39 pass-blocking snaps en route to an 89.2 pass-blocking grade, his best of the season. From a run-blocking perspective, Bitonio was his usual dominant self, earning a 78.1 grade.
If the season ended today, Bitonio would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Center: J.C. Tretter, Cleveland Browns
It was a tight race between Tretter and Creed Humphrey, but Tretter gets the slightest of nods this week. Tretter was the top pass-blocking center of Week 11 (86.0 grade), and he was third in run-blocking (74.5 grade). On 39 pass-blocking snaps, Tretter did not allow a pressure. Overall, Tretter dominated across 74 snaps to a 78.1 grade. It tied his best grade of the season, and his pass-blocking was his best of the season.
If the season ended today, Humphrey would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
The Zack Martin Award for Best Right Guard: Mark Glowinski
Martin had a good day, but Glowinski was a cut above while paving the way for a dominant rushing day for the Colts. Glowinski was PFF’s No.2 guard (Bitonio), and he was the No.1 run-blocking right guard. While he did allow a pressure, it was just one, and he graded well regardless. All told, Glowinski earned a 90.8 overall grade across 54 snaps.
If the season ended today, Martin would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Right Tackle: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions
Sewell has had an up-and-down rookie season. However, he is beginning to settle in as a pass-blocker. His 82.5 pass-blocking grade was his best of the season (and his third straight above 79.0). Sewell has been a good run-blocker for much of the season, and he posted a strong 78.4 run-blocking grade in Week 11. It seems that the Lions have their tackle duo of the future.
If the season ended today, Ryan Ramczyk would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Interior Defensive Line: Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
Previously Appeared: Week 4
Williams tied for the lead in pressures among interior players (Kenny Clark), and he was his usual sturdy self as a run defender. He recorded one stop in addition to his five pressures. He also batted a pass in one of the more well-rounded games by an interior player. The Jets may have lost on Sunday, but it was far from Williams’ fault.
If the season ended today, Jeffery Simmons would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Interior Defensive Line: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Previously Appeared: Week 10 (as an EDGE)
Jones is listed on PFF as an edge, but he played the majority of snaps on the interior on Sunday. Across 42 pass-rush reps, Jones posted eight pressures to lead all defensive players. Per PFF, Jones racked up four sacks (officially 3.5 by the NFL’s count), and he had five defensive stops. Sunday was Jones’ third straight game with an 80.0 or better grade, and he batted his third pass in two games.
If the season ended today, Cameron Heyward would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Edge Defender: Tyus Bowser, Baltimore Ravens
Bowser was the highest-graded pass-rusher among any position, and he turned his 14 pass-rush snaps into a trio of pressures. Not only did Bowser poke a fumble away from Justin Fields to steal a possession at midfield, but he also ended the game with a sack of Andy Dalton. Bowser has had a mediocre career for the Ravens, but he saved them with a huge game on Sunday.
If the season ended today, Myles Garrett would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Edge Defender: Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears
We do not have to go far to find Bowser’s partner as Quinn lit up the Ravens’ offensive line while Bowser was lighting up the Bears’ offensive line. Quinn racked up 3.5 sacks, putting him at 10 for the season. He also forced a fumble. Quinn’s seven pressures tied for the most among edge players (other than the aforementioned Jones who played more on the interior). Quinn posted five defensive stops.
If the season ended today, Maxx Crosby would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Linebacker: Kyle Van Noy, New England Patriots
Previously Appeared: Week 10
Van Noy makes it back-to-back weeks with an appearance after victimizing Josh Rosen for a pick-six. Van Noy earned a stellar 89.2 overall grade, and he was PFF’s highest-graded coverage linebacker (92.4). He showed his versatile skill set, recording three pressures, two PFF sacks, four defensive stops, and the aforementioned interception. Van Noy is likely too far behind to make a play for an All-Pro spot, but he has been spectacular in the last three weeks.
If the season ended today, De’Vondre Campbell would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Linebacker: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Previously Appeared: Week 2 (as an EDGE)
Is Parsons an edge? Is Parsons a linebacker? Do these questions matter? At the end of the day, Parsons is having a phenomenal season no matter where he lines up. He leads the rookie class in pressures, and Sunday was his second game with at least seven. He had a 90.4 pass-rush grade, his third-best of the season, but his overall grade of 90.7 edged out his Week 2 performance (89.9).
If the season ended today, Shaq Thompson would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Cornerback: Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles
Previously Appeared: Week 5
“Big Play” Slay was PFF’s top-graded cornerback, beating out Elijah Molden by 2.2 points. Slay earned a ridiculous 94.0 grade in coverage, allowing a 2.8 passer rating on three targets. One target was a nine-yard catch. One target was a pass-breakup. The other target turned into an Eagles touchdown. Slay has three interceptions on the season now to add to his three defensive touchdowns.
If the season ended today, Jalen Ramsey would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Cornerback: Desmond King, Houston Texans
King was the only player at any position to notch a pair of interceptions. Across 81 snaps, King earned an 84.1 grade including a 90.1 coverage grade on 55 coverage snaps. This was quite the revenge game for King who played 491 snaps for the Tennessee Titans in 2020. With the Titans, King did not have a coverage grade above 74.0, but he victimized the Titans for his second 80.0+ coverage grade in 2021.
If the season ended today, AJ Terrell would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Safety: Adrian Phillips, New England Patriots
Previously Appeared: Week 8
Phillips led all safeties in both overall grade and coverage grade. Matt Ryan did not target Phillips, but Feleipe Franks took a chance and got intercepted. Phillips had a pair of stops, and he did not miss a tackle in a well-rounded performance in Atlanta. Week 11 was Phillips’ second foray into elite territory (90.0+ PFF grade) as he also earned the mark in Week 8.
If the season ended today, Kevin Byard would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Safety: Devin McCourty, New England Patriots
Rather than swapping sidelines like Adams and Jefferson or Bowser and Quinn, both Team of the Week safeties come from the same team. McCourty has been inconsistent in his age-34 season, but he put it all together in Week 11. He had his highest overall and coverage grades of the season while being a capable run defender. McCourty notched an interception and a pass breakup as the Patriots blew out the Atlanta Falcons.
If the season ended today, Marcus Williams would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Defensive Back: Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints*
Previously Appeared: Week 1, Week 4
For the first two months, Williams was the model of consistency at a position without much consistency. In the last two weeks, he has posted back-to-back elite performances to put even more of a stranglehold on his All-Pro spot. Williams had a pair of pass deflections in Week 11, his first game with multiple on the season. Williams earned an 85.1 overall grade, bolstered by an 83.1 coverage grade.
If the season ended today, Casey Hayward would earn the author’s All-Pro vote.
Be sure to check out our NFL Team of the Week every week for the remainder of the season.
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