{"id":34300,"date":"2026-07-01T11:14:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T11:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/?p=34300"},"modified":"2026-07-01T11:14:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T11:14:07","slug":"nfl-top-100-rankings-show-saquon-barkley-derrick-henry-falling-behind-new-quarterback-hierarchy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/nfl-top-100-rankings-show-saquon-barkley-derrick-henry-falling-behind-new-quarterback-hierarchy\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Top 100 Rankings Show Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry Falling Behind New Quarterback Hierarchy"},"content":{"rendered":"

CBS Sports\u2019 latest look at the NFL\u2019s top players has delivered a notable reset at the top of the league hierarchy, with pass rushers and quarterbacks now ahead of some of the most accomplished names in football. In Prisco\u2019s Top 100 for 2026, Myles Garrett moved past Patrick Mahomes for the No. 1 overall spot, while running backs such as Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry were placed lower than many expected. The rankings matter because they reflect how the league\u2019s value system continues to shift toward impact players who can influence games without needing as many touches, especially in a league driven by passing efficiency and defensive disruption.<\/p>\n

Myles Garrett rises to No. 1 in a changing NFL hierarchy<\/h2>\n

The most eye-catching development in the new rankings is Garrett\u2019s ascent to the top spot. According to CBS Sports\u2019 breakdown of Prisco\u2019s Top 100, the Cleveland Browns edge rusher displaced Mahomes as the No. 1 player in the league. That is significant not simply because Mahomes has long been treated as the standard for NFL excellence, but because it underscores how much premium the modern evaluation places on players who can alter a game from one snap to the next.<\/p>\n

Garrett\u2019s profile fits that model. Elite pass rushers can affect quarterbacks without requiring offensive game-planning around their own usage, and their impact is often measurable in pressures, sacks and the way they force protection adjustments. In a rankings exercise built on all-around value rather than reputation alone, that kind of disruption can carry enormous weight. The move also reflects a broader truth about how teams and analysts increasingly view defensive players: those who can wreck an opponent\u2019s structure are now being measured on a similar tier to the league\u2019s most celebrated offensive stars.<\/p>\n

Patrick Mahomes slips, but remains in the quarterback elite<\/h2>\n

Mahomes\u2019 fall from the top overall position does not mean the Chiefs star is suddenly viewed as anything less than one of the defining players of his generation. Instead, it reflects how tightly clustered the NFL\u2019s elite has become at the quarterback position, and how even the best players can be reshuffled when rankings attempt to weigh current value against past production. CBS Sports\u2019 summary of the quarterback list noted that Mahomes landed behind three other quarterbacks in Prisco\u2019s latest rankings, a notable development for a player who has often served as the benchmark for the position.<\/p>\n

The larger takeaway is that quarterback evaluation has become more nuanced than simply rewarding championships or overall body of work. Recent seasons have featured a wider group of passers capable of producing top-tier play, and the gap between the very best quarterbacks has narrowed enough that small differences in efficiency, consistency or health can influence how they are slotted in a list like this. Mahomes remains central to Kansas City\u2019s identity and one of the league\u2019s most influential players, but the rankings show the conversation around him is no longer isolated.<\/p>\n

Running backs Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry fall in the rankings<\/h2>\n

The other major storyline from CBS Sports\u2019 rankings is the placement of Barkley and Henry. Both remain among the most recognizable running backs in the league, but Prisco\u2019s list pushed them behind a number of players at other positions, continuing a trend in which even productive tailbacks can struggle to match the value of quarterbacks, pass rushers and elite receivers.<\/p>\n

That is not a commentary on whether Barkley or Henry can still deliver game-changing performances. Barkley has long been valued for his explosiveness and versatility, while Henry has built his reputation on physical dominance and the ability to wear down defenses over four quarters. But the running back position has been squeezed in modern roster construction, and rankings that emphasize overall league value often reflect that reality. Teams still need high-end backs, yet the position rarely drives decision-making the way it once did. In a league where passing volume and defensive pressure shape outcomes more directly, running backs often need extraordinary production to climb into the very top tier.<\/p>\n

That context helps explain why the CBS Sports rankings drew attention beyond the individual names involved. When respected evaluators move stars like Barkley and Henry lower, it reinforces how much the position has changed in both perception and influence. The players themselves remain important, but the way they are valued against the rest of the league has shifted decisively.<\/p>\n

What the rankings say about how the NFL is being judged<\/h2>\n

These lists are not official league measurements, but they are a useful window into the current NFL conversation. The emphasis on Garrett at No. 1 and the movement of quarterbacks and running backs speaks to an era in which a player\u2019s ability to create pressure, protect the football and sustain efficiency can matter more than traditional box-score production alone.<\/p>\n

For quarterbacks, the rankings continue to show how high the bar has become. The position remains the most important in football, but that also means the top names are routinely compared against one another with little margin. For defensive stars, the criteria often rewards dominance that can be seen across every phase of a game: altering protections, forcing hurried throws and changing game plans. For running backs, the challenge is even steeper. Even elite performances can be weighed against the position\u2019s limited usage compared with the wide-open passing game that defines much of the modern NFL.<\/p>\n

That makes rankings like Prisco\u2019s less about settling debates than revealing where league-wide value is trending. The latest edition suggests that the NFL\u2019s top tier is still heavy on quarterbacks, but the best pass rushers now have enough influence to challenge the traditional order. Meanwhile, running backs continue to face an uphill climb in any assessment that prioritizes overall impact above reputation or raw production.<\/p>\n

Why this matters as the 2026 season approaches<\/h2>\n

With the 2026 season approaching, these rankings also help frame early perceptions around some of the league\u2019s biggest names. Garrett enters the year with the recognition that comes from being placed at the top of a widely read national list. Mahomes, meanwhile, will again face the familiar burden of proving that his standard remains the highest in the game, even after one ranking shifted him down. And for Barkley and Henry, the discussion serves as a reminder that star power alone does not insulate a running back from the broader trends shaping the league.<\/p>\n

As always, the season itself will provide the real answer. Rankings can help define the conversation, but they cannot replicate what happens when the games begin. Still, lists like CBS Sports\u2019 Top 100 are worth watching because they often reveal how the NFL sees its own future: passers at the center, defenders with game-wrecking ability rising fast, and running backs fighting against a value system that has grown less favorable to their position.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/h2>\n