Top 100 Players of 2024, Nos. 20-11: Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb on rise; C.J. Stroud debuts at 20

A rookie season played wise beyond his years leads Stroud, 22, to becoming the youngest player in this year’s Top 100. His 273.9 passing yards per game and efficient 23-5 touchdown-interception ratio led the NFL, encapsulating Stroud’s great pocket poise, savvy decision-making and pinpoint accuracy. According to NFL Research, Stroud joined Tom Brady (2007) and Joe Montana (1989) as the only QBs to lead the NFL in passing yards per game and passing TD-INT ratio, which were MVP seasons for the Hall of Famers. Stroud has Houston stargazing after powering the young Texans to a division title, then becoming the youngest quarterback to start and win a playoff game (surpassing Michael Vick), and wrapping it all up as the first player in franchise history to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

As the ringleader of Baltimore’s stingy defense, Smith’s contributions can’t be fully realized on a stat sheet. The do-it-all inside linebacker is the main solvent of a blitz-heavy unit that led the league in sacks (60.0) in 2023. The sturdy cleanup (158 tackles) and pesky pass coverage (one interception, nine pass breakups) he provides allows such defensive freedom. His Ravens teammates feasted as a result, leading the NFL in takeaways (31), but make no mistake who’s administering the flock. The Ravens defense did its part in the AFC title game loss to the eventual champion Chiefs, souring Smith’s first full season in Baltimore, but the leadership he’ll provide in the years to come isn’t a question.

Jefferson's adverse 2023 campaign limited him to 10 games, explaining the fall from last year's No. 2 overall ranking in the Top 100, but the 25-year-old still managed to maintain his historic pace, adding 1,074 yards to a career receiving total (5,899) that is the highest in league history through a player's first four seasons, per NFL Research. Jefferson's acrobatics on the gridiron are a wonder, and his superb route-running allows him to create space which often leaves him wide open with plenty of room to gain more. His success in traffic might be his finest trait, however, generating incredible grabs that often come in crunch-time situations. The Vikings made Jefferson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history this offseason as a result of the epic start to his NFL career, and rightfully so.

Parsons enjoyed his best statistical season rushing the quarterback in 2023, producing career highs in sacks (14.0), QB pressures (99) and QB hits (33). Driven by a relentless pursuit, the Cowboys’ enterprising pass rusher gets after QBs faster than anyone in the NFL, generating a league-high 62 quick pressures (less than 2.5 seconds) and his 2.31-second time to pressure average was the quickest among all defenders with at least 300 pass rushes this season, according to Next Gen Stats. Remarkably, these figures were reached despite opposing teams focusing their attention on him more than ever, double-teaming Parsons on a career-high 21.4% of his pass rushes this season, and he garnered 17 QB pressures under that kind of attention, per NGS.

Earning his highest ranking in four career appearances on the Top 100, Prescott’s impact in Dallas saw new levels of appreciation in 2023 after finishing second in MVP voting behind Lamar Jackson. The Cowboys quarterback led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns and 410 completions, finished second in passer rating (105.9) and third in passing yards (4,516) while guiding the league’s top scoring offense (29.9 points per game). Prescott has led all NFL starting QBs in PPG in each of the last four seasons, according to NFL Research, and the 31-year-old is nearing the Cowboys’ all-time passing records after eights seasons at the helm. Prescott might be underappreciated when it’s all said and done, but what he brings wasn't lost among his peers following what was arguably his best season to date.

Hurts falls 12 spots in the Top 100 following a season plagued by turnovers, but the Eagles quarterback maintained his reputation as an end zone maven. The 15 rushing touchdowns Hurts scored was a single-season record for QBs, a mark he shares with Josh Allen (2023), and he became the first QB in NFL history with 10-plus rushing TDs in three consecutive seasons, according to NFL Research. Lost within all the “tush push” hoopla, however, is an underrated part of Hurts’ dynamic game: deep passing. Since 2022, Hurts has a 112.8 passer rating on downfield passes (10-plus air yards) and his 18 deep passing TDs (20-plus air yards) are third-most in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. Finishing 2023 throwing for 3,858 yards, Hurts became the second QB in NFL history with 3,000-plus passing yards and 600-plus rushing yards in three consecutive seasons.

Kittle earned his second All-Pro honor in 2023 after producing 65 receptions for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns, continuing his historic pass-catching pace within the position. Kittle's 6,274 career receiving yards is second to only Travis Kelce among TEs since 2017, and his current total is third-most all time through a player's first seven seasons (behind Kelce, Jimmy Graham), according to NFL Research. San Francisco's affable yet tenacious tight end is more than just a pass catcher, though, providing sufficient run and pass blocking that fits perfectly for the 49ers’ efficient offense. Kittle’s energy can be felt on the field and from the sidelines, too, making him an irreplaceable figure on one of the league’s perennial contenders.

There was no busier wide receiver in 2023 than Lamb, who led the NFL with 135 receptions and topped all wideouts in scrimmage yards (1,862) and total touchdowns (14). In addition to his agile route-running and sure hands, Lamb’s elusiveness and vision in the open field sets him apart. The 680 yards he gained after the catch also led the league and the Cowboys utilized his play-making capabilities with designed sweeps to get the ball in his hands (114 rushing yards, two TDs). Lamb forged the greatest receiving season in Cowboys history, setting new single-season records for a franchise with a proud lineage of wideouts who’ve donned No. 88. Lamb has been up to the task since his inception in 2020, but the bravado that seems to follow that jersey number reared its head during an impressive 2023 season.

Allen’s propensity for finding the end zone continued in 2023, as he led the NFL with 44 total touchdowns (29 passing, 15 rushing). It marked his fourth straight season with 40-plus scores, which is the longest streak in league history, according to NFL Research. The Bills’ superstar is a peculiar dual-threat quarterback, bearing size and strength that wears down defenders while keeping defensive backs on their heels with a gunslinging mentality. Throwing for 4,306 yards, Allen added 524 more yards on the ground and his 15 rushing TDs matched the single-season record for QBs (tied with Jalen Hurts). Allen is simply a touchdown machine, accounting for 174 TDs since 2020 -- 23 more than any other player, per NFL Research – and likely responsible for the healthy folding table market in the greater Buffalo area.

Warner enjoyed his most impactful season in 2023, setting career highs in interceptions (four), passes defensed (11) and forced fumbles (four), while producing 132 tackles. He’s the highest-ranked off-ball linebacker in this year's Top 100 and earns his highest ranking among five straight appearances. It’s no coincidence San Francisco’s defense has been a perennial powerhouse during that span, having won two NFC championships since 2019. Warner’s play-busting presence looms for ball carriers and would-be pass catchers across the middle third of the field. His dominant prime-time performance against the Cowboys in Week 5 (eight tackles, 1.0 sack, INT, FF) perfectly displayed the consequences offenses face against the three-time All-Pro.