The NFL Top 100 Players of 2020 has been revealed in its entirety, and NFL.com Around the NFL writer Jeremy Bergman is losing some sleep over five things that he feels the ranking got wrong. The San Francisco 49ers are represented at No. 1 on his list.
The NFL Top 100 Players list is voted on by players and is based on performance during the previous year and predicted performance during the upcoming season. The list is in its 10th season on NFL Network.
Five 49ers players made the ranking — tight end George Kittle, defensive end Nick Bosa, cornerback Richard Sherman, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and linebacker Fred Warner.
Bergman questions the ranking of Garoppolo, who came in at No. 43 after a strong 2019 campaign that resulted in a Super Bowl appearance. Garoppolo completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his first full NFL season as a starter.
The issue Bergman has isn't with Garoppolo's inclusion in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020, but his ranking ahead of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who came in at No. 46.
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"Though Jimmy G, in his first full season as San Francisco's starter, 'led' the 49ers on a franchise-best turnaround and to within a half-quarter of a Lombardi Trophy, I tend to give more credit for last season's success to Kyle Shanahan, George Kittle and The Scheme," notes Bergman.
Shanahan's offensive scheme, apparently, is so recognizable that it has become "The Scheme," like "The Catch," and "The Drive."
Bergman goes on to point to Shanahan's underutilization of Garoppolo in the playoffs, and the quarterback appearing "outmatched" when used — most likely referring to his close calls against the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Round.
Bergman has a rebuttal for those who may point out that Garoppolo made the playoffs and was part of a deep run while Prescott's Cowboys watched from home.
"Correct -- Dallas didn't make the postseason with Prescott at the helm," wrote Bergman. "But Dak, a former Offensive Rookie of the Year, two-time division winner and $31.4 million man, enjoyed his most prolific statistical season in 2019, throwing for more yards, more TDs, fewer interceptions and taking 13 fewer sacks than Jimmy G in the process. Somehow Prescott, with his resume, is the one playing on the franchise tag while Garoppolo is halfway into a megadeal and the Guy to Build Around."
Only three spots separate Garoppolo and Prescott, but Bergman seems to feel the latter should be ranked much higher than the former.
Bergman adds: "Valuing Garoppolo higher than Prescott for tossing shovel passes to Deebo Samuel and overthrowing Emmanuel Sanders is something I cannot get behind."