Ratings Reveals

I decided to break up the ratings reveals from the hype train.

Best Rookies
Top 5 QBs
Top 5 RBs
Top 5 WRs
Top 5 TEs
Top 10 OL
Top 5 DEs
Top 5 DTs
Top 5 OLBs
Top 5 MLBs
Top 5 CBs
Top 5 FSs
Top 5 SSs
Top 5 Ks

EAs Complete Ratings file + Team by Team Tabs
Modified Ratings file + Position by Position Tabs

96 Ovr - Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
What can't Aaron Rodgers do? With 78 speed, 98 throw power and 95 throw on the run, Rodgers can make any throw on the field. This two-time NFL MVP is the ideal quarterback because of his mobility, allowing you to run any style of offense. Make sure to use all of your different throw types to really take advantage of Rodgers pinpoint accuracy in Madden NFL 17.

94 Ovr - Panthers QB Cam Newton
Newton has the size and speed to take over games with his legs. 86 speed at quarterback is a rare rating to have, so be sure to utilize his 90 agility, and 89 acceleration in the open field. Newton will be best throwing downfield with his 97 throw power and 87 throw accuracy-deep. Look to target vertical routes to your TE and WR to best utilize Newton’s skill set.

94 Ovr - Patri-cheats QB Tom Brady
Brady has been shredding NFL defenses for almost two decades and in Madden NFL 17 you can anticipate much more of the same. With 94 throw power and the best throw accuracy-short (98) in the game, you will be able to put the ball in places where only your receivers can catch it. Will the 2016 NFL season be another MVP caliber performance for this four-time Super Bowl Champion?

93 Ovr - Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben brings toughness to the quarterback position with an 82 strength rating. He still has mobility left in his legs with 73 speed, which will be enough for him to evade defenders outside the pocket and with 95 throw power he still ranks among the best in the league.

91 Ovr - Seahawks QB Russell Wilson
Wilson is a smaller version of our #2 quarterback on this list, Cam Newton. With 85 speed he will force defenses to gameplan around his unique skill set, taking advantage of them with his passing abilities. 93 throw power, 93 throw accuracy-short, 91 throw accuracy-mid and 88 throw accuracy-deep, allows him to make every throw on the field.

94 Ovr - Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell
Bell is an every down back with enough explosiveness to make defenses respect his big play potential. His 99 carry rating will allow him to be the Steelers security blanket all season long. Take advantage of his 71 catch rating and get the ball to him on screens where he can make defenders miss in the open field with his 97 juke move rating.

91 Ovr - Vikings RB Adrian Beat-your-son
Peterson can run around you or through you and can play all three downs for the Vikings offense. Utilize his 93 stiff arm rating in the open field to break tackles from opposing defenders. With 88 strength Peterson will run over defenders, but can also dance around them with his 93 agility rating.

90 Ovr - Buccaneers RB Doug Martin
At the start of the Madden NFL 16 season Martin was a 78 overall. In Madden NFL 17 he has jumped to the 3rd best overall running back in the game. Martin won't win a foot race against anyone, but he will run through them. Utilize him on north south runs rather than tosses and pitches.

89 Ovr - Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles
Charles' 72 catch rating is among the league’s best at his position and rivals some receivers in the game. Get him the ball in space to take advantage of his 91 speed. He is best when he can utilize his 92 spin move and 95 juke move to make defenders miss.

88 Ovr - Texans RB Lamar Miller
Miller is a new addition to the upper echelon of Madden NFL running backs this season. He is also one of the fastest running backs in Madden NFL 17 with 93 speed. Get Miller in the open field and utilize his 92 juke move to fake out defenders.

97 Ovr - Steelers WR Antonio Brown
The premiere receiver in the NFL can do it all. With 98 route running you can anticipate him to be open on many plays and with 98 catch in traffic he will hold on to the ball in the game’s biggest moments. He even has 69 throw power for this looking to use him in Wildcat packages.

96 Ovr - Falcons WR Julio Jones
The size to dominate you in the red zone and the athleticism to beat you vertically, Julio Jones is one of the most complete receivers in the game. Get the ball to him downfield where his 97 spectacular catch will take over games.

93 Ovr - Bengals WR A.J. Green
Green plays similarly to the #2 man on our list, but lacks the top end speed Julio Jones has. What Green lacks in speed he makes up with ability to make big plays with 97 spectacular catch, 95 catch in traffic, and 94 route running.

93 Ovr - Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Cover athlete for Madden NFL 16, Beckham Jr. brings a swagger to the field most receivers don't. He backs up his swagger with highlight reel plays due to his 99 spectacular catch rating, 92 catch in traffic and 96 route running.

93 Ovr - Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins had the opportunity to be the go to man in Houston last season and he took advantage of it. He caught 111 passes for 1,521 yards and 11 TD's which paid off with his ratings this season. 92 speed and 93 acceleration ranks Hopkins as one of the quickest receivers in the game.

97 Ovr - Browns LT Joe Thomas
Thomas is a bright spot for the Browns headed into the 2016 NFL season. With 98 pass block and 93 run block he is the premier left tackle in the game.

97 Ovr - Cowboys LT Tyron Smith
With 72 speed, Smith is one of the fastest offensive linemen in Madden NFL 17.  He is the leader of the talented Dallas Cowboy's offensive unit and with 98 run blocking and 97 pass blocking he will dominate games from start to finish.

97 Ovr - Ravens RG Marshal Yanda
Yanda is the  highest OVR rated guard in Madden NFL 17.  His 93 strength, 98 run blocking and 96 pass blocking will make him a key to the Ravens' offensive success this season.

93 Ovr - Bengals LT Andrew Whitworth
Whitworth is the Bengals anchor on the offensive line and will set the tone for their offense. He brings balance to the Bengals' front five with 93 strength, 94 run blocking and 95 pass blocking.

92 Ovr - Cowboys RG Zack Martin
The Cowboys look to grind out games by dominating the line of scrimmage with young talented offensive linemen. Martin plays alongside Tyron Smith and helps protect one of the leagues best quarterbacks in Tony Romo.

92 Ovr - Redskins LT Trent Williams
With 75 speed and 81 acceleration Williams will play great in space. Utilize his speed and quickness by calling stretch running plays as well as roll out play action passing plays.

92 Ovr - Saints LT Terron Armstead
Armstead is the leagues fastest offensive linemen with 80 speed. He will play best while protecting star quarterback Drew Brees with his 95 pass blocking.

91 Ovr - Cowboys C Travis Frederick
Frederick is the only center to make this list and the 3rd Dallas Cowboy offensive linemen in the top 10. Focus your run game towards Frederick as his 96 run blocking will help you dominate opposing defenses.

91 Ovr - Packers RG T.J. Lang
Lang brings a physicality presence to the Packers offensive line and is a well rounded big man. With 91 run blocking and 94 pass blocking he will be a leader for this unit. His 86 strength will allow him to establish himself as a power first player for the Packers.

91 Ovr - Packers LG Josh Sitton
The second Packer in the top 10, Sitton plays alongside Lang as the opposing guard and brings 91 strength, 88 run block, and 96 pass blocking which ranks 3rd best in the game.

98 Ovr - Rams DT Aaron Donald
Donald is the only defensive tackle in Madden NFL 17 with 90+ acceleration. His ability to rush the passer from the interior of the defensive line can change the course of games. He is the ultimate disrupter and is tops in the league at his position with 83 speed.

94 Ovr - Bengals DT Geno Atkins
Atkins has been the cornerstone of the Bengals defensive line for multiple seasons and looks to anchor it again in Madden NFL 17. Much like the #1 defender on this list, Atkins has the ability to take over games with his ability to get after the quarterback from the interior of the defense.

93 Ovr - Eagles DT Fletcher Cox
Cox has a career year last season and looks to continue having success for the Eagles in Madden NFL 17. He has the size and speed to play at all positions on the defensive line. Look to move him to defensive end in pass rushing situations.

93 Ovr - Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh
In almost every matchup Suh will have the strength advantage over his opponent. Utilize him as the anchor of your run defense as most offensive linemen won't get the push upfield needed to dominate in the run game. His 98 strength is tops in the league for defensive tackles.

92 Ovr - Panthers DT Kawann Short
Short played a big roll in the success the Panthers had last season. He is a pure defensive tackle in that his game excels in clogging up the interior of the field with his strength and ability to chase down ball carriers.

99 Ovr - Patri-cheats TE Rob Gronkowski
The Madden NFL 17 cover athlete doesn't disappoint with what he brings to the table this year. He excels in all areas of the game. With 88 strength rating and 91 run blocking he is an extension of the offensive line in the run game. Look to Gronk in big game situations with his 98 catch in traffic and 94 spectacular catch rating.

93 Ovr - Panthers TE Greg Olsen
Olsen had a break out year for the Panthers last season and was Cam Newton's go to target. Get him the ball in 1v1 situations where he can dominate with his size and 90 spectacular catch rating. With 92 route running Olsen is one of the better route runners at his position so look to get him the ball on quick slants over the middle of the field.

93 Ovr - Titans TE Delani Walker
Walker had a career year last season for the Titans and showed he can be more than just a blocking tight end. With 85 speed he can out run most linebackers on the field. His 91 run block makes him one of the most versatile tight ends in the game.

90 Ovr - Bengals TE Tyler Eifert
Take advantage of Eiferts' size by targeting him in the red zone. At 6'6 he should win most 1v1 situations with 89 spectacular catch and 88 catch in traffic.

89 Ov - Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham
Graham excels in the pass game, so get him the ball early and frequently. He is often the tallest player on the field so take advantage of his height and 91 jump rating by delivering high point passes downfield.

99 Ovr - Texans RE J.J. Watt
Watt is the not only the best defensive linemen in Madden NFL 17 but one of the most versatile. He will be great in run support with 97 strength and 98 block shedding and can rush the passer with 99 power move. Not to mention that Watt has 78 catch to mix in with all the new special team plays in this year’s game.

93 Ovr - Texans Jurrell Casey
Casey is a bright spot on the Titans defense. He has the skills to do just about everything in the Titans defensive scheme. With 91 strength and 98 power move he can dominate in stopping the run and rushing the passer.

92 Ovr - Eagles RE Brandon Graham
Graham is a new addition to the upper echelon of defensive linemen in Madden NFL 17. In fact, his OVR has risen from 86 to 92 in just one season. He is a pass rusher first so look to utilize him on 3rd and long situations to get after opposing quarterbacks.

92 Ovr - Packers RE Mike Daniels
Daniels doesn't wow you with any one rating, but he is one of the most balanced defensive linemen in the game. With 75 speed, 88 strength, 96 finesse move, and 90 block shedding he is capable of playing every single down for the Packers this season.

91 Ovr - Giants RE Olivier Vernon
Vernon will play the role of premiere pass rusher for the Giants in Madden NFL 17. He has the athleticism to take over games by getting after the quarterback with his 81 speed and 87 acceleration.

99 Ovr - Broncos LOLB Von Miller
What can't Von Miller do? The Super Bowl MVP is the league’s best pure pass rusher and will once again strike fear in opposing quarterbacks in Madden NFL 17. Look to move Miller to defensive end in 3rd and long situations to utilize his pass rush abilities.

97 Ovr - Chiefs LOLB Justin Houston
You won't have to worry about Houston and his game to game matchup, as he is one of the best pass rushing linebackers in Madden NFL 17. Not only can he get after opposing quarterbacks, but he can play in run support as well with 93 block shedding.

94 Ovr - Raiders LOLB Khalil Mack
Mack is a rising star for the Oakland Raiders and showed last season that he is one of the leagues best. Mack has the ability to rush the passer, but also has the skill set to drop into coverage if needed.

92 Ovr - Bears LOLB Pernell McPhee
McPhee is an emerging star for the Bears heading into this season. He is one of the strongest linebackers in the game with 92 strength and one of the best run support edge defenders with 94 block shedding.

90 Ovr - Patri-cheats ROLB Dont'a Hightower
Hightower does it all for the Patriots defense. He can play inside if needed, outside in coverage situations, and even has the ability to rush the passer on 3rd downs. His rare blend of speed, size, and coverage ability allows him to play every single down for the reigning AFC East Champions.

99 Ovr - Panthers Luke Kuechly
Kuechly is the stereotypical linebacker and the leagues premiere defender in the box. He excels in every aspect of the game. His 86 speed ranks him near the tops in the league, while his coverage skills aren't even close to being matched by another linebacker in the game.

90 Ovr - Broncos MLB Brandon Marshall
Marshall came onto the scene last season for the Super Bowl winning Broncos as a defender that can play sideline to sideline in coverage. His 85 speed allows him to matchup against most tight ends and half backs in the game.

90 Ovr - Chiefs MLB Derrick Johnson
Johnson rounds out the Chiefs trio of all-pro linebackers. He plays more of a coverage roll and will be called upon to defend tight ends in the seam.

88 Ovr - Seahawks MLB Bobby Wagner
Wagner ranks among the fastest linebackers in the game. His 88 speed is faster than most tight ends on the field and occasionally opposing half backs. Utilize his speed by matching him up in man to man situations and let his athleticism do the rest.

88 Ovr - Patri-cheats MLB Jamie Collins
Collins is one of the league’s best in terms of pure coverage ability. His 6'3” frame and 85 speed allow him to match up in man to man situations against opposing tight ends and half backs out of the backfield. He also has the rare ability to rush the passer with 93 power move.

94 Ovr - Redskins CB Josh Norman
Norman is expected to be a lock down corner for the Redskins this season. He is best in zone with his 97 zone coverage rating, but has the ability to match up in man to man situations with 90 speed and 92 man coverage.

93 Ovr - Broncos CB Chris Harris Jr.
Harris Jr. is the closest thing to a lock down man to man coverage defender in Madden NFL 17. His 89 speed, 96 acceleration, and 94 man coverage ranks him tops in the league for man to man defenders.

92 Ovr - Seahawks CB Richard Sherman
No one would say Sherman lacks confidence and his ratings back that up in Madden NFL 17. Sherman will be best used in Zone with his 94 zone coverage rating.

91 Ovr - Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson
Peterson is one of the games fastest defenders with 93 speed. Take advantage of his 92 man coverage rating and leave him in 1v1 situations. You can roll safety coverage towards other areas of the field and feel confident he will get the job done on the outside.

91 Ovr - Jets CB Darrelle Revis
You don't get the nickname Revis Island without having the ability to lock up opposing receivers on the outside. With 89 speed, 92 acceleration and 90 man coverage Revis still has the ability to play lockdown coverage on the outside.

93 Ovr - Dolphins SS Reshad Jones
Jones is a new comer to the list and in a short period of time he has become the highest overall rated strong safety in Madden NFL 17. He has the speed to play coverage deep and the physicality to play in run support.

91 Ovr - Seahawks SS Kam Chancellor
Chancellor will be best utilized in zone coverage where you can take advantage of all the new zone coverage options in Madden NFL 17. His hit power is among the highest in the league, most opponents will look to run their offense away from Chancellor as he can change the course of a game with one big hit.

86 Ovr - Patri-cheats SS Patrick Chung
Don't call it a comeback! Chung re-joined the Patriots last season and had a great one. Alongside FS Devon McCourty, Chung was able to roam free in the Patriots secondary and play all over the field to show off his ability to play man or zone coverage from the strong safety spot. Chung is one of the most versatile strong safeties in Madden NFL 17.

85 Ovr - Broncos SS T.J. Ward
Ward is a stereotypical strong safety where he plays with physicality and high energy. Utilize him in the box towards the line of scrimmage to help in the run game.

85 Ovr - Packers SS Morgan Burnett
Burnett has been playing at a high level for the Packers secondary and is one of the taller safeties in the game. He will be best used in zone coverage and matched up near opposing tight ends in the slot.

96 Ovr - Cardinals FS Tyrann Mathieu
Mathieu is one of the games fastest safeties. His 96 man coverage makes him far and away the best cover safety in the game. Look to match him up 1on1 against your opponents tight end.

94 Ovr - Vikings FS Harrison Smith
With 92 hit power Smith will be a force in the secondary. Utilize him in the box to support in the run game. He is one hit away from a game changing play.

93 Ovr - Chiefs FS Eric Berry
Comeback player of the year, Eric Berry is one of the league’s best. His unique skill set allows him to do just about everything for the Chiefs. His 91 speed is tops amongst our Top 5 free safeties.

93 Ovr - Seahawks FS Earl Thomas III
Thomas is the heart and soul of the Seahawks secondary and will continue to be the driving force behind the Seahawks success. His ability to roam the deep half of the field allows the rest of the defense to clamp down on shorter routes freeing him up to make big plays in the secondary.

93 Ovr - Eagles FS Malcolm Jenkins
Jenkins is a new comer to this list of elite free safeties, but he is well deserved. In 2015 Jenkins had a career year and his size in the secondary allows him to play in the box for much needed run support for the Eagles.

85 Ovr - Panthers K Graham Gano


85 Ovr - Cowboys K Dan Bailey


85 Ovr - Patri-cheats K Stephen Gostkowski


84 Ovr - Seahawks K Steven Hauschka


84 Ovr - Colts K Adam Vinatieri

For some reason, EA presented the ratings without any write-up about the players because per usual, they don't really care about Special Teams.

FYI, Jay Cutler got absolutely screwed in the ratings department.  Pro Football Focus listed Cutty as a tier 2 QB, top 15 in the league after last season. And that was with a completely decimated receiving corps where he was throwing to Marc Mariani since Jeffery, White, Royal, Bennett, and Forte all missed significant time.  EA puts him at 23rd?! Are you kidding me?! Behind Tyrod effing Taylor of all people.

I took the official EA rosters and rearranged the columns to stick the ratings of like fields together. Physical traits, followed by QB, ball carrier, receiver skills, blocking, etc.

Modified Google Docs File

Damn, the summer hype is deflating quickly with all this EA news. Bears as the worst NFC team?! You kidding me? Behind the horror shows that is the San Francisco Chip Kelly's?! Oy.

NFC Team-Offense-Defense Overalls
AFC Team-Offense-Defense Overalls

the_EDJ wrote:Damn, the summer hype is deflating quickly with all this EA news. Bears as the worst NFC team?! You kidding me? Behind the horror shows that is the San Francisco Chip Kelly's?! Oy.

NFC Team-Offense-Defense Overalls
AFC Team-Offense-Defense Overalls

Look at this way, there are two main ways to enjoy franchise mode:

1) Take a low rated team and build them into a contender.
2) Use your favorite team and build them into a contender.

With the Bears low ratings you get to do both. haha