6 Rams ranked among PFF’s top 101 players of 2020

6 Rams ranked among PFF’s top 101 players of 2020

Cameron DaSilva

* https://theramswire.usatoday.com/lists/rams-pff-top-101-players-2020-rankings/

With the 2020 season wrapping up on Sunday after the Buccaneers beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, Pro Football Focus put a bow on things by releasing its top 101 players of the year. It’s strictly based on players’ performances in 2020, not accounting for any past seasons they may have had.

The Rams were well-represented on the list, with six players making the cut. Aaron Donald was predictably the highest-ranked player, but who were the other five to make it?

Check out the list below.

1. Aaron Donald

Donald was named AP Defensive Player of the Year and he barely edged out Aaron Rodgers for the top spot in PFF’s rankings. He had 98 pressures, 21 more than any other player, and ranked second with 13.5 sacks. It’s no surprise that he once again earned high praise from PFF after also ranking second in 2019.

In terms of interior defenders, he’s in a class of his own.

47. Andrew Whitworth

Whitworth missed about half the season after injuring his knee in Week 10, but he was playing at an incredibly high level before getting hurt – especially for a 39-year-old left tackle. According to PFF, Whitworth only allowed 16 total pressures all year (including the postseason) and 10 of those came in the playoffs.

Whitworth is expected to return for 2021 and there have been no signs of him slowing down this late in his career. He remains one of the best offensive tackles in football, with just five ranking ahead of him on PFF’s list.

51. John Johnson

Johnson is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He put together one of his best seasons as a pro in 2020, recording 105 tackles, eight passes defensed and one interception. With free agency looming in March, the Rams are unlikely to retain Johnson, which is strictly due to his high price tag.

Only Jessie Bates and Adrian Amos ranked ahead of Johnson in PFF’s top 101 among safeties, which shows the type of class Johnson is in as one of the top DBs in football.

64. Jalen Ramsey

You probably didn’t expect to see Ramsey this low, did you? There were only three cornerbacks ranked ahead of Ramsey (Jaire Alexander, Xavien Howard, Bryce Callahan), but the Rams’ All-Pro cornerback has a case for being better than all of them.

He allowed just 36 receptions and 345 yards in coverage, a ridiculous average of only 4.9 yards per target. Considering he matched up with No. 1 receivers on a weekly basis, he was challenged by some of the league’s top playmakers, too – players such as DeAndre Hopkins, DK Metcalf and Davante Adams.

There’s no question he should be ranked higher on this list after the way he played in 2020.

81. Darious Williams

Williams was the Rams’ breakout star this season, shining as their No. 2 cornerback outside opposite Ramsey. According to PFF, he allowed a passer rating of only 59.9 and a completion rate of just 50%, both ranking among the league’s best.

The Rams inexplicably took him off the field in favor of Troy Hill more often than many fans would’ve liked, but when Williams was out there, he was making plays on a weekly basis. He picked off four passes in the regular season and had a pick-six in the playoffs, consistently jumping routes and defending passes in coverage.

86. Rob Havenstein

Surprisingly, Havenstein made the cut. He improved in a big way this season after battling injuries in 2019, with his blocking grade spiking almost 20 points and his run blocking grade checking in at 83.9, per PFF.

Havenstein wasn’t necessarily as great as he was in 2018 when he had a case for the Pro Bowl, but he still played at a high level on the right side and should be back with the team in 2020.