Ranking the Top 10 Players in the Super Bowl

Ranking the Top 10 Players in the Super Bowl

When two teams advance to the Super Bowl, you can rest assured there are at least 20-30 elite players that can be found on the sidelines. Philadelphia and Kansas City both won their divisions and conferences, so there's a lot of quality personnel that played a role in getting them to the biggest game of the NFL season. NFL handicapper Matt MacKay weighs in and ranks his top ten players ahead of Super Bowl LVII.

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Super Bowl Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: Sunday, February 12, 2022
• Start Time: 6:30 pm ET
• Where to Watch: FOX

Click here for the latest Super Bowl odds

Ranking the Top 10 Players in Super Bowl LVII

1. Patrick Mahomes (QB - Chiefs) (Bet Patrick Mahomes to be Super Bowl MVP at +135. BetMGM has the best odds)

There's no player in Super Bowl LVII with the talent, winning pedigree, and experience that Patrick Mahomes offers. He's set to win his second MVP since 2018 after throwing for over 5,200 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in the regular season. This feat was accomplished without former star wideout Tyreek Hill, as Mahomes was effectively tasked with being a point guard, distributing passes to an underwhelming receiving corps that continues to be led by veteran tight end Travis Kelce. He makes or breaks this high-octane offense.

2. Jason Kelce (C - Eagles) (Get +3500 odds on an offensive lineman to score a touchdown at DraftKings)

As shocking as it looks, Jason Kelce is a more valuable player to his team than his brother Travis. The Eagles' perennial Pro Bowl center is the signal-caller for arguably the best offensive line unit in the entire league. Without his strength, IQ, and experience calling out protections and blocking assignments, the Eagles' rushing attack falls apart. The 35-year-old has already won one Super Bowl with a different coach and quarterback, so expect him to play another great game against Kansas City's tough defensive line.

3. Travis Kelce (TE - Chiefs) (Bet Travis Kelce to be Super Bowl MVP at +1600. FanDuel has the best odds)

I couldn't drop Travis Kelce any further. He's simply too talented. The 33-year-old star tight end is Mahomes' favorite weapon and they have a strong rapport established with each other. He won a Super Bowl with Andy Reid and Mahomes against the 49ers back in 2019, so he's also aware of what it takes to win games by making big-impact plays in massive moments. He's scored three touchdowns in the playoffs and saw 17 targets in the Divisional Round while scoring a touchdown and going over 100 receiving yards across his previous two Super Bowl appearances.

4. Lane Johnson (RT - Eagles) (Get +3500 odds on an offensive lineman to score a touchdown at DraftKings)

Kudos to Lane Johnson for playing through a groin injury. Even at less than 100 percent, Johnson has been blanking edge rushers and giving the run game and pass protection quite a significant boost along the perimeter of the offensive line. Johnson was on the Super Bowl team under Doug Pederson and Nick Foles and knows what it takes to win a championship, plus he has a lot of continuity with other Eagles' offensive linemen, making them a tough unit to dominate.

5. Chris Jones (DT - Chiefs) (Bet Chris Jones to be Super Bowl MVP at +4000. DraftKings has the best odds)

Chris Jones is one of the rare players in the league who dominates the interior of the line of scrimmage. He'll have his work cut out for him against Kelce and Landon Dickerson, but he is fresh off of a masterful performance against the Bengals, where he finally ended his playoff sack drought with a pair of sacks and numerous TFLs and quarterback hits. He's a big-bodied defender who knows how to use his hands and speed to his advantage, single-handedly wrecking opposing offensive game plans.

6. Jalen Hurts (QB - Eagles) (Bet Jalen Hurts to be Super Bowl MVP at +135. BetMGM has the best odds)

The former MVP frontrunner doesn't look like he's lost any steam under center in the playoffs. While Jalen Hurts has been relegated as more of a game manager in recent playoff matchups, he is still handling a big bulk of the carries and has vastly improved his throwing mechanics. It helps to have elite receivers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, while tight end Dallas Goedert forms a big-bodied security valve across the middle of the field. Hurts' legs have led him to 15 rushing touchdowns this season, including one in each of the playoff games, so expect him to be active in the rushing attack once again on Sunday.

7. Haason Reddick (DE/OLB - Eagles) (Bet Haason Reddick to be Super Bowl MVP at +3500. DraftKings has the best odds)

One of the least talked about players in the NFL who deserves more recognition is Haason Reddick. The hybrid edge rusher and linebacker has been a dominant force for Philadelphia for several years now but he's stepped it up even further this season, logging 16 sacks, 49 tackles, 26 quarterback hits, 11 TFLs, and five forced fumbles. Kansas City has a top-five offensive line but they will have their hands full attempting to stop Reddick's high-energy motor.

8. Darius Slay (CB - Eagles) (Bet Darius Slay to be Super Bowl MVP at +1500. PointsBet has the best odds)

Eagles Pro-Bowl cornerback Darius Slay has his sights set on hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. After spending seven years in Detroit, Slay has neared the mountaintop of football, so he'll have plenty of motivation to seal the win for his team. He had another monster year shutting down opposing wideouts, recording 55 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and three interceptions in the regular season. He's facing a mediocre receiving corps but an elite quarterback, so it evens out a bit in terms of the challenge that lies ahead. Slay will lead the Eagles' secondary which is loaded with talent.

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9. Orlando Brown (LT - Chiefs) (Get +3500 odds on an offensive lineman to score a touchdown at DraftKings)

Orlando Brown arrived in Kansas City via a trade with the Baltimore Ravens last season and he's only developed into a better player since exchanging his Ravens jersey for a Chiefs uniform. The big-bodied left tackle is a key piece to Reid's offense, as he protects Mahomes' blind side, while also mauling defenders in an increasingly run-centric offense during the playoffs. Expect Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon to follow Brown as their lead blocker, while he will be a difficult barrier to get around for any Eagles defender rushing or blitzing off of the edge.

10. DeVonta Smith (WR - Eagles) (Bet DeVonta Smith to be Super Bowl MVP at +3000. DraftKings has the best odds)

We haven't even talked about the wide receivers in this matchup yet but this could be a slightly controversial ranking. A.J. Brown is an elite wideout that has boosted the Eagles' passing attack quite a bit in his first season with Philadelphia since being traded from Tennessee on draft night. However, DeVonta Smith has been the preferred target downfield in the Eagles' passing attack in the postseason. The former Heisman winner is only in his second year but he's already high-pointing contested catches and burning defensive backs down the sideline and across the middle. He can take a hit, has reliable hands, and will look for his ninth touchdown of the season against an improved Chiefs secondary that is still developing and dealing with injuries to key players like L'Jarius Sneed. Smith dominated in the National Championship at Alabama and he could certainly replicate that performance yet again during Super Bowl LVII.