The Top Five Most Marketable Skill Position Players in the NFL
In the NFL, quarterbacks run the league. The skills and abilities of quarterbacks drive television ratings and ultimately make them the most marketable players in the league. However, we also can’t forget all the other positions on the gridiron that make the game of football such an entertaining product to watch. Therefore, let’s focus on the other skill position players who are a quarterback's best friend, creating a wildly effective dynamic duo on offense.
1. Justin Jefferson - Minnesota Vikings
It is hard to find a wide receiver who has done more at Jefferson’s age in NFL history. Justin Jefferson, at 25 years old, through 60 career games played, has accumulated nearly 5,900 receiving yards and 30 receiving touchdowns for his young career. His dynamic ability at the receiver position and his dance moves after scoring touchdowns make him the most marketable skill-position player in the NFL. Ever since Jefferson entered the league, he has made big plays and become a top receiver in the NFL regardless of the quarterback's play. This will be tested this season as Jefferson will have to deal with the first quarterback change of his career as he will have to get fed the ball by either J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold and not Kirk Cousins who is now in Atlanta.
2. Ceedee Lamb - Dallas Cowboys
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the expectations for explosive offensive players. CeeDee Lamb is the latest Dallas Cowboys player to not only make big plays on the field for the team but also make a big name for himself as a wide receiver in the NFL. Lamb’s biggest marketable aspect is that he plays with a star on the side of his helmet. Similar to what makes Dak Prescott a very marketable quarterback, the Dallas Cowboys are always involved in big games and are at the center of the football world because they are the most polarizing team in the NFL. CeeDee Lamb still has a lot of his career ahead of him and with his explosive nature at the wide receiver position look for the NFL to advertise CeeDee Lamb a lot especially if he signs for the long-term with the Cowboys.
3. Tyreek Hill - Miami Dolphins
You don’t get a nickname in sports like the “Cheetah” if you aren’t an absolute weapon on the field. Tyreek Hill continues to be the most explosive offensive player in the entire league. He’s a walking touchdown that makes any defensive back who attempts to challenge him look silly. Last year he accumulated around 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns as he carried Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense to be the best-ranked offense in the league. His highlight plays certainly make Hill a top guy for the NFL to market, but because he isn’t one of the younger guys on this list he won’t get as much attention from the NFL media as Justin Jefferson or CeeDee Lamb.
4. Christian McCaffrey - San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey is the only running back to make a list filled with explosive wide receivers. At the start of last season, Tyreek Hill set out an ambitious goal to reach 2,000 all-purpose yards, but he would end up being about 200 yards short of that goal. McCaffrey on the other would not only eclipse the mighty Tyreek Hill reaching 2,023 total scrimmage yards, but also get 21 touchdowns on the season. McCaffrey is simply the best running back in the league as he has both speed and strength coupled with a great catching ability to make big plays in the passing game for the 49ers. Although running backs may not get the respect they deserve in their contracts, McCaffrey is proving his worth to the 49ers and the league as they continue to advertise him, including being featured on the latest cover of Madden Football.
5. Ja’Marr Chase - Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase could’ve easily been in the top three positions on this list, but Joe Burrow and himself keep getting injured, preventing the Bengals from really excelling in the eyes of the NFL and its fans. When Chase is on the field, he can be as dynamic as Justin Jefferson or CeeDee Lamb, but availability for Chase and Burrow has limited their ability to be seen by the casual NFL fan. In their rookie season, the dynamic duo put up 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns together, but since then, Chase was limited to 12 games in 2022 and Burrow was limited to only playing 10 games in 2023 which has prevented both from putting up great seasons. If both Burrow and Chase can remain on the field, then this duo can be highly effective and will get lots of attention in the AFC as they look to compete with top contenders like the Chiefs and Ravens come playoff time.
