Written by Sam Momson at Pro Football Focus.com
Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season is nearly complete, and PFF’s grades for every player to take a snap are in the books. Here are the top performances over the opening week at every position:
Offense
Quarterback: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, 96.1 overall grade
If anybody was worried by the play of Andrew Luck in 2015, he offered arguably the best performance of his career Sunday to show that is all in the past. On deep passes alone, Luck hit on five-of-11 attempts for 167 yards and a touchdown.
Running back: Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers, 81.1
Another player out to prove he is better than his 2015 performance suggest, Gordon carried 14 times for 57 yards (4.1 per attempt), but gained 2.7 per attempt after contact, breaking four tackles and scoring twice.
Wide receiver: A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals, 93.1
Green might have dismantled Revis Island once and for all. He caught 12 of the 13 passes sent his way for 180 yards and a score, and while not all of those receptions came against Revis, he did catch the ball every time he was targeted with the Jets’ star corner in coverage (eight times).
Wide receiver: Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings, 85.1
The Vikings offense wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders, but Diggs caught seven of the eight passes thrown his way for 103 yards, and quarterback Shaun Hill had a passer rating of 118.8 when targeting him.
Slot receiver: Willie Snead, New Orleans Saints, 86.8
Even what could have been a critical fumble doesn’t keep Snead out of this team, thanks to catching all nine passes thrown his way for 172 yards and a touchdown. Snead was open all day against Oakland, and gained 51 of his yards after the catch.
Tight end: Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers, 83.2
Going back to opening night, Olsen remains one of Carolina’s biggest weapons, catching seven of the nine passes thrown his way and holding his own when it came to blocking, something that couldn’t often be said in 2015.
Left tackle: Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs, 82.0
Don’t look now, but Fisher is quietly becoming a pretty good left tackle. He allowed just three total pressures in his 71 snaps versus the Chargers, and graded well against the run and on screens into the bargain.
Left guard: Kelechi Osemele, Oakland Raiders, 84.5
Osemele looked like a very sound investment in his first action for the Raiders, surrendering just one pressure over 73 snaps, run-blocking well, and even kicking out to left tackle when injuries forced re-shuffles along the line.
Center: Matt Paradis, Denver Broncos, 89.6
One of the most monstrous performances we have seen from a center, Paradis had a perfect game in pass protection for Denver against a tough Carolina front, and was also dominant in the run game.
Right guard: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens, 82.7
Against the Bills, Yanda picks up right where he left off as the best guard in the NFL. He didn’t allow a single pressure, run-blocked well, and the only black mark against him was a pair of penalties.
Right tackle: Marshall Newhouse, New York Giants, 83.6
Maybe the most unlikely name to make the team of the week, it seems that all the Giants needed for Newhouse to dominate at RT was to face the Dallas pass-rush. Newhouse gave up just one hurry and run blocked well.
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