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Madden 18: Every NFL team’s best Madden player ever

By David Austin Bumpus

HOUSTON - DECEMBER 1: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from Houston Texans J.J. Watt during the first quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
HOUSTON - DECEMBER 1: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from Houston Texans J.J. Watt during the first quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Barry Sanders #20 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the Philadelphia Eangles during an NFL football game September 15, 1996 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sanders played for the Lions from 1989-98.(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Barry Sanders #20 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the Philadelphia Eangles during an NFL football game September 15, 1996 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sanders played for the Lions from 1989-98.(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Detroit Lions: Barry Sanders

Much like the next team on this list, the Detroit Lions have a couple of options when you’re trying to determine the franchise’s best player to ever appear in a Madden game. Many will want to say Calvin Johnson for his game-breaking size as a wide receiver, but not many could argue against one of the greatest running backs to ever step foot in a backfield: Barry Sanders.

Sanders is a rare case on this list as a player to actually break the 99 overall rating barrier that many current players get caught under at the moment. One other player on this list exceeded the 100 overall rating, but Sanders is one that’s actually hit the 100 overall rating a few times. In Madden 1999 and Madden 2000, Sanders was given the actual perfect rating in the game, and it surely fits for a legend like him.

Many will make arguments for Michael Vick or Jerry Rice as Madden’s greatest player of all-time, but Sanders could easily have his name in the conversation. His incredible juking ability translated very well to his video game self, and he was almost impossible to tackle in both the 1999 and 2000 versions of the game.

He’s even made appearances in recent games, and is a popular option to utilize in Madden’s Ultimate Team game mode to wreak havoc on defenses with his same jukes and agility.

He made an appearance on the cover of the 25th anniversary edition of the game, so that should tell you something about how crazy Sanders was in his time in the game during his prime.