In preparation for NFL Week 17, here are my updated PFF power rankings. This week, the rankings are presented with a player who has performed well in the month of December. All of the statistics and rankings are based only on games played in December.
1. Carolina Panthers
Defensive tackle Kawann Short has five sacks in December, the most for any interior defensive linemen this month.
2. New England Patriots
Defensive end Jabaal Sheard has a run stop percentage of 13.8 percent, which is the best for 4-3 defensive ends. He has eight stops on 58 run snaps.
3. Arizona Cardinals
The wide receiver with the most yards per route run is Michael Floyd, at 3.69. He has 387 yards on 105 routes run.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
4-3 outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict has the highest run stop percentage for the position, at 17.2 percent.
5. Minnesota Vikings
Cornerback Xavier Rhodes is tied for the league lead in passes defended, at five.
6. Green Bay Packers
Safety Morgan Burnett has three passes defended, which is tied for the most among safeties.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
The wide receiver with the most catches without a drop is Antonio Brown. He has 38 catches in December, and hasn’t dropped a single pass.
8. Denver Broncos
The running back with the most yards after contact per carry is C.J. Anderson, at 4.7. He’s averaging more yards after contact per carry than most running backs have yards per carry both before and after contact.
9. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have the top two 3-4 defensive ends in run stop percentage, with Shelby Harris at 14.8 and Stacy McGee at 13.3.
10. Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback Russell Wilson has been the most accurate quarterback, with an accuracy percentage of 82.6.
11. Atlanta Falcons
The wide receiver with the most yards after the catch in December is Julio Jones, at 188.
12. Kansas City Chiefs
Outside linebacker Dee Ford has 23 total pressures, tied for the most among 3-4 OLBs.
13. Houston Texans
The 3-4 outside linebacker with the highest pass rushing productivity is Whitney Mercilus, at 14.9 percent. He has two sacks, three hits, and 12 hurries on 89 pass rushes.
14. New York Jets
The defensive tackle with the highest run stop percentage is Damon Harrison, at 20.0 percent. He has 12 run stops on 60 run snaps.
15. New Orleans Saints
The cornerback with the lowest yards per coverage snap is Delvin Breaux, at 0.32. He’s allowed just 8-of-18 passes thrown his way to be caught for 35 yards, and that was on 110 coverage snaps.
16. Buffalo Bills
The quarterback with the most passing yards on deep passes is Tyrod Taylor, with 376. He’s completed 10-of-27 passes, and four have gone for touchdowns.
17. Chicago Bears
Since taking over the slot cornerback role, Demontre Hurst hasn’t allowed a single yard. On 37 coverage snaps, he’s been targeted twice, and has allowed one catch for no yards.
18. St. Louis Rams
The defensive tackle with the highest pass rushing productivity is Aaron Donald, at 17.4. He has 29 pressures, which also leads the position, and 16 combined sacks and hits, which doubles any other defensive tackle.
19. Washington
The tight end with the most catches without a drop is Jordan Reed. He has 28 catches compared to no drops. He also has the most yards per route run for tight ends, at 2.77.
20. Baltimore Ravens
Kick Justin Tucker is averaging 73.5 yards per kickoff, the most among kickers.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
The most accurate passer under pressure has been Sam Bradford, at 80.0 percent. He’s completed 26-of-41 passes, but six of his incompletions have been throwaways, and two were dropped.
22. Indianapolis Colts
Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson has 16 run stops, tied for the most for inside/middle linebackers.
23. Dallas Cowboys
Guard Zack Martin has been perfect in pass protection in December. He hasn’t allowed a single pressure on 130 pass blocks.
24. Detroit Lions
The cornerback with the highest run stop percentage is Quandre Diggs, at 10.3 percent. He has four run stop on 39 run snaps.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The running back with the most yards per route run is Charles Sims, at 2.87. He has 175 yards on 61 routes run.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
The wide receiver with the highest yards per route run in the slot for receivers who spend at least half of their snaps in the slot is Allen Hurns, at 3.96. He has 206 yards on 52 routes run from the slot.
27. Miami Dolphins
The offensive tackle with the best pass blocking efficiency is Branden Albert, at 99.3. He has not allowed a sack or hit this month, and has only allowed one hurry.
28. New York Giants
When lined up on the left side, Jason Pierre-Paul has 24 total pressures, which is seven more than any other 4-3 defensive end when on the left side.
29. Cleveland Browns
Linebacker Craig Robertson has a perfect yards per coverage snap. In 53 coverage snaps, he has just been thrown at once, and didn’t allow a catch.
30. Tennessee Titans
The safety with the most run stops is Michael Griffin, at 14. He also has the highest run stop percentage for safeties, at 11.8.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Defensive tackle Ian Williams has 14 run stops, which is the most for all defensive/nose tackles.
32. San Diego Chargers
The 3-4 outside linebacker with both the most run stops and best run stop percentage is Jerry Attaochu, at 10 stops and a 16.7 run stop percentage.