Top 10 Players in the AFC West

Year in and year out, the AFC West is the most competitive division in football. A big reason for that is the extreme amount of talent that persists throughout the four teams within the division. The Broncos, Chargers, Raiders and Chiefs are, for the most part, full of talent and potential. I list the biggest playmakers here – in other words, skill-position players – linemen are exempt from this list, and will likely be listed later.

10) Lorenzo Neal

The best fullback in the business resides in San Diego, and their running game is all the more improved for it. Lorenzo Neal has blocked for some of the best runningbacks in recent history for several teams, and the veteran journeyman last year was the lead blocker for the running game that broke all records.

9) Nnamdi Asomugha

The only Raider on the list had his breakout year last year, intercepting 8 passes and turning heads where he had no picks in his career before that. If he can repeat that performance, someone might actually pronounce his name correctly in 2008.

8) Javon Walker

The best wide receiver in the AFC West came back from brutal injury last year in his first season as a Bronco to much success. Javon Walker is still a difference maker every time he steps out into the football field, and his drive and determination to do well can be never questioned again. Week to week, Walker didn’t have the biggest games in consecutive games, but look for that to change now that his quarterback will be strong-armed and not-a-rookie week to week.

7) John Lynch

Old and even downright decrepid, 12-million time pro bowler John Lynch still strikes fear in opposing offenses. Don’t let his age fool you – week after week, Lynch’s hits are seemingly the main event on Jacked Up!. He’s a leader on the team, too, on and off the field, and this role of his might even be expanded with the recent departure of Al Wilson. Hopefully John still gives us two more years before retiring from football.

6) Larry Johnson

Draw a line above this player – the superstars in the AFC West start here. Larry Johnson is entering his most important year in his career so far – a year after he ran for over 1,500 yards in 9 games in 2005, the retirement of Willie Roaf saw LJ’s rush per carry drop significantly on his way to the league’s record number of carries, but not even taking the rushing title with it. Now, his O-Line is Will Shields-less, so LJ will have even more to prove. This is a make or break year for Johnson as he hopes to prove he’s not simply a product of his then-outstanding offensive line.

5) Antonio Gates

For the past few years, Antonio Gates has sat atop the tight end world with the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Last year he even scored his first points in Denver, something the Broncos were proud to have been able to say he hadn’t done in all those years. Philip Rivers‘ main target, look for Gates to continue his record streak for years to come.

4) Tony Gonzalez

Having broken Shannon Sharpe‘s records last year, Tony Gonzalez is arguably (and I would be an arguer against) the greatest tight end of all time. Since he’s never had the receivers to challenge him for catches or attention on the field, I can’t say he’s the greatest – that still belongs to Sharpe, who had set that record despite working with big play receivers like Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. However, he’s still KC’s best player and their biggest chance of success whenever he touches the pigskin.

3) Shawne Merriman

The roids almost removed him from this list completely – I mean, this all represents my own opinion, and someone who’s “the victim of tainted substances” (in other words, “wow, I guess I was taking bad pills”) doesn’t belong on a Best Of list anytime soon. Putting that aside, Merriman is one of the most exciting defenders to watch in the game today. Leading the league in sacks while only playing 12 games, he is a sack machine who could be atop this list a year from now.

2) Champ Bailey

Champ Bailey just feels like the most special of specialists in the NFL – no one excels at HIS JOB more than Bailey. So why is he #2? In my fickle attempts at objectivity, I realize that Bailey doesn’t make as many big plays as the next player on this list. While an interception is definitely a big play, he isn’t a great returner like he used to be, mostly due to the protection he’s given on the field to only focus on coverage. Bailey is definitely the only shut down corner in the league, and he excels at his job like no other.

1) Ladainian Tomlinson

A record breaking 32 touchdowns catapaults this player to the top of the list, especially considering that 7 of these were against our beloved Broncos themselves. Ladainian Tomlinson had a special year in 2006, and if he can repeat that performance this year, he will have the biggest impact in the West again this year.

You may have noticed that there were no quarterbacks in this list – probably the only division that can “boast” such a phenomenon. Unproven is the reason, and when I redo this list a year from now, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Rivers or Jay Cutler sitting pretty high on this list. Others who barely missed the cut include Rod Smith, Luis Castillo, Daniel Graham and Warren Sapp – any one of these “on the cusp” players could bounce back and make the list next year.