The Pro Bowl doesn’t have the impact it once did, but it still looms large over the NFL landscape. We still use selections as a mark of who had a great season. We still want to know who was the best at each position, and this is as good a metric as we have right now.
And hey, bringing the best of the best together for a week of fun in the sun showcases a different side of the players. For most of the time, we’re looking at these players as arbitrary numbers for our fantasy teams or our parlays, but this allows us to look at them as humans with great personalities.
And it also introduces us to the players themselves when we might not know a lot about them. This year, there are a few players who are on pace to make their first Pro Bowl. Some are rookies, but others have been around for a long time.
1. QB Daniel Jones, Colts
At one point, Jones was in the conversation for MVP, but those days appear to be gone after a couple stinkers in recent weeks. Still, Jones has played like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this year. He came into camp with the Colts just trying to win a job, but he clearly was the better choice over former top-five pick Anthony Richardson.
Jones was immediately impactful for Indy. In Week 2, he threw for more than 300 yards against the Denver Broncos and orchestrated a comeback to win 29-28 (albeit with some help from a controversial penalty on a last-second field goal). He kept playing well, going 7-1 through Halloween with 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Jones has been worse in November, which takes him out of the MVP chase, but it doesn’t take him away from Pro Bowl consideration. At the time of this writing, he’s fourth in the league in passing yards. He goes into Week 13 with 2,840 yards and 17 touchdowns.
2. RB Quinshon Judkins, Browns
There was a lot going against Judkins going into his first season with the Cleveland Browns. He was in the midst of a contract dispute all the way until September, and he missed a few games because of it. He also had an alleged domestic incident, where the prosecutors declined to pursue charges.
Since taking the field, though, Judkins has been the best rookie running back in the league by a wide margin. Ashton Jeanty and TreVeon Henderson have had their moments, but nobody has been as consistent in the backfield. The fact that Judkins is doing it for the Browns, who have had Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders under center, only helps his case.
Judkins’ seven touchdowns is tied for ninth in the league, and he has 667 yards rushing. With only 10 games played, he’s averaging 66.7 yards per game. That might not sound like a lot, but we’re in a different world now, and that’s good for 13th in the league.
3. RB Javonte Williams, Cowboys
For years, the Dallas Cowboys have been trying to make the ground game work without spending any money at running back. Jerry Jones and Co. actually might have let a good one go in Rico Dowdle, but more on that in a bit. But they replaced Dowdle with former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams, and nobody's regretting that decision at this point.
Williams has been stellar for a revamped Cowboys offense this season. He’s fifth in the entire league in rushing yards with 896 through 11 games. He’s already hit his career high with eight touchdowns this season, and he’s on pace to have the first 1,000-yard season of his career.
The 25-year-old is helping Dak Prescott showcase his passing game. Teams can’t put eight guys in the secondary anymore, and with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens catching passes, the Dallas offense is clicking.
4. WR George Pickens, Cowboys
Speaking of Pickens: When he came to the Cowboys, it looked like a match made in hell. Things got off to a rocky start, but to be fair, it looked as if the media were just waiting for this situation to blow up. Pickens is in a contract year, and many thought that pressure would get to him.
Instead, the pressure (and having Lamb on the opposite side) is leading to the best season he’s had as a pro. After years of toiling with terrible quarterback play in Pittsburgh, he finally has a real QB under center; Dak Prescott can get the ball to where only Pickens can catch it. As he showed all of us in Pittsburgh, Pickens is capable of making the most insane plays on the ball when given a chance.
Pickens is second in the NFL in receiving yards after another huge performance on Thanksgiving, only behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He’s one of only two players who have passed the 1,000-yard mark already. As of right now, barring injury, he’s a lock to make the Pro Bowl.
5. RB De'Von Achane, Dolphins
There are a lot of running backs on this list, but it’s a strange year at the position. After historic seasons, both Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley are struggling. Bijan Robinson didn’t break out like many of us hoped he would. That's opened the door for some guys in the middle class to finally break through.
That group includes De’Von Achane, who's been the one consistent star for the Miami Dolphins this season. After the unfortunate injury to Tyreek Hill really derailed what was left of the Dolphins' season, it’s been up to Achane to make something out of nothing, and he's done a remarkable job.
Most teams are preparing for Achane to beat them, and he does it anyway. He is fourth in the league in rushing yards, behind only Jahmyr Gibbs, James Cook and Jonathan Taylor. He is in elite company at the position, and he’s doing it on a team where he is the offense.
6. RB Rico Dowdle, Panthers
Last running back, we promise, but we could not ignore what Dowdle has done for the Carolina Panthers this season. You'd be forgiven for sleeping through it, but the Panthers are 6-6 and right on the cusp of playoff contention. Things in the NFC playoff picture are deadly competitive, so they likely fall short, but this turnaround is incredible.
Dowdle wasn’t on anyone’s radar entering this season. He was supposed to be the backup to Chuba Hubbard, but when Hubbard got hurt, it opened a door for Dowdle to burst through. He broke onto the scene with more than 200 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins in Week 5. He followed that up with 183 yards against his former team, the Cowboys.
Now, Dowdle has 871 yards rushing and 233 yards receiving. He should waltz to 1,500 total yards and his first 1,000-yard rushing season. This is a player that was completely overlooked, and now he’s considered one of the most consistent players at his position this season. That narrative is going to secure him a Pro Bowl berth.
7. DT Byron Murphy, Seahawks
We have to show some love to the defensive side of the ball. This is actually where the stars are playing like stars, which makes the path trickier for first-timers; when Myles Garrett continues to be the superstar, it holds back the other great pass rushers. However, when looking at defensive tackle, there are a few breakout stories to highlight.
Yes, of course, JSN is driving Seattle to new heights, but the Seahawks D is also helping keep them in the NFC West hunt. After playing nose tackle last season, Murphy moved over to a three-tech position, and it’s made all the difference: He has six sacks this season, putting him up there with other leaders at the position.
He’s been straight-up disruptive, getting into the backfield consistently on passing downs. He’s proven to be a three-down player in just his second year in the league.
8. LB Robert Spillane, Patriots
Many Patriots fans were upset when New England didn’t spend more money at linebacker over the offseason, since they had such a ridiculous amount of cap space and a clear need at the position. But it turns out they spent their money wisely, especially on Robert Spillane.
They needed a three-down player who could do just about anything in Mike Vrabel’s defense. Spillane is that guy: He has a sack, a forced fumble, two interceptions, five deflected passes, 46 solo tackles, 95 total tackles and seven stuffs so far this year. He’s everywhere on every play, and he provides the Patriots defense with the plug-and-play approach they want in the middle.
Spillane is such an unlikely candidate for this list. He’s been in the league for years, already crossing 30 years old in his first year in New England. However, he’s doing everything right, and he deserves to be rewarded for that.
9. LB Devin Lloyd, Jaguars
It’s been a strange season in Jacksonville, but while everyone is focused on the offensive struggles, they should be focused on how well this revamped defense is playing. They’ve been especially good against the run, allowing a league low 83.8 yards per game, and while that's a team effort, we’ll give special credit to linebacker Devin Lloyd.
Now in his fourth year in the NFL, Lloyd is having his best statistical season by far. He leads the NFL in interception yards — yes, that’s a linebacker leading the league in such a statistic. He’s helped by a 99-yard touchdown return he had against the Kansas City Chiefs, a play that was crucial in their landmark win.
Lloyd has been a monster in coverage, cutting off the middle of the field for opposing quarterbacks. They know he’s a ball-hawking linebacker who can flip a game on its head, so they just avoid him entirely. And if he wants to, he can make big plays in the backfield, like the 1.5 sacks he had in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.
10. WR Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers
The two big names (outside of Travis Hunter) in the NFL Draft at receiver were Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. Both players have been incredible in their rookie campaigns. and both will likely make the Pro Bowl. But Egbuka has been on the scene a little longer, so he gets the nod.
Think about this Tampa Bay Buccaneers season. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans have missed most of the year, leaving Egbuka in the unlikely role as the No. 1 option on an NFC contender. Even Bucky Irving has been down and out for a big chunk, really funneling this Bucs attack through its rookie wideout.
Egbuka himself missed a few games with an injury, which could hurt his argument to make the team, but we think the voters will reward him regardless. He has a pretty good shot to hit more than 1,000 yards receiving. With Mike Evans' 1,000-yard streak likely ending, getting another player to take his place is a great story, and at the end of the day, that's what we're here for.