Each team in the Premier Madden League has some sort of impact player on their team. We all know that teams aren’t even and certain teams have a huge advantage over others, however, each team has at least one player that the coach can work with and help the team win games. In the previous article, I went over each team in the AFC. In this article I will finish by going over The NFC impact players.
NFC East:
Eagles: Jalen Hurts SSXF – The Eagles entire team is full of impact players, however, the quarterback position is the most important position on the team. Hurts has been given x factor abilities which are good for his style of play. He doesn’t have a throw power ability, but given everything that he already has will mask this deficiency. HD has always been good at throwing touchdowns, however, interceptions as well. If he can keep the interceptions low, Hurts can end up as the MVP of season 1.
Cowboys: Micah Parsons SSXF – Like the Eagles, the Cowboys team is full of impact players, however, no one on the team makes more of an impact than Parsons. Parsons is one of the best if not the best defensive player in the game. He can rush the passer but also be usered to guard just about any route on the field. Even if he is just rushing the passer the entire season, he is almost guaranteed to have double digit sacks. If you start thinking about the other stars on the Cowboys team and you have a recipe for an easy defensive player of the year candidate.
Giants: Saquon Barkley SSXF – Barkley is the lifeblood of this team. The Giants will go as far as Barkley takes them on offense. The Giants boast one of the fastest quarterback and running back combinations. Coach Burn must keep defenses honest with read options in order to really succeed with this running game. The NFL Giants created the blueprint last season. All Burn has to do is repeat their success.
Commanders: Jonathan Allen SSXF – The Commanders boast one of the best defenses in the game. They have two superstars on the defensive line, with Allen being one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the game. He is a fast, strong, defensive tackle with one of the best run stopping ability in the game. With the Commanders offense in not the greatest shape, Vet will rely on Allen and the defense in order to win this season.
NFC North:
Packers: Jaire Alexander SSXF – The Packers defense is loaded with talented players, however, only one player can take over half of the field just by himself. Alexander’s side of the field is a no fly zone and just by him being there will make defenses scheme away from him. Defense can alway take their chances and test him, but his abilities combined with the Packer defensive line make them a tough team to play against.
Vikings: Justin Jefferson SSXF – Jefferson was criminally underused in the previous cycle of madden. Jefferson is arguably the best ability receiver in the game. He was gifted with some of the best abilities a receiver could have. He is a tough matchup in man or zone, but specifically man. Most teams like to run man blitzes or man plays in general and when he’s 1-1 in man coverage it is almost automatically a catch. Facing off against Jefferson changes the entire game plan and mindset of the defense.
Lions: Jameson Williams – It is rare to select a player as a team’s impact player that isn’t a superstar, especially when the team already has a superstar wide receiver, however, most teams don’t have 98 speed receivers. Williams is 6’1, 98 speed, and 95 acceleration. You give this type of player to a user who is known for creating superstars and force feeding guys and that is gonna equal disaster for opposing defenses. Williams will need to be accounted for on every play which will open up the defense for the Lions. Even if he is just running a streak, as a decoy, that threat of the possible throw will make an impact on the game.
Bears: Justin Fields: The quarterback position is so valuable in Madden that even if a player isn’t a superstar, they can still be an impact player. The Bears are lacking impact players, however, having a quarterback who is 93 speed, 95 acceleration, 93 agility, and 80 break tackle changes the game plan for the defense. You have to account for Fields ability to run on every play either with a contain or a spy. Even with one of these Fields is fast enough to run by them. I can see Fields quickly becoming a superstar or superstar x factor.
NFC West:
Seahawks: D.K Metcalf SSXF – Metcalf is old reliable for the Seahawk offense. He is a top 5 ability receiver and the defense always needs to account for what he is doing. You can guard him 1-1 or he will embarrass you. This gives the Seahawks flexibility in their scheme, which given the state of their offensive line, they certainly need it.
49ers: Christian McCaffery SSXF – It’s got to be a crime with the amount of SSXF that one team has. The 49ers are loaded with ability players, however, for CEO, McCaffery will be the most impactful on the team. CEO’s bread and butter is a team with a great running back and defense. He has been gifted with exactly that in the 49ers. I believe that McCaffery could be the first PML player with 3000 yards given the amount of usage that he will get this season.
Rams: Aaron Donald SSXF – The Rams have two impact players and the rest of the team is close to a free agent roster. Donald will make an impact in one of two ways. When he is on the field he will disrupt the offense into mistakes. The other impact will be if he is traded for a king’s ransom. It has been rumored that he is on the block for three first round picks. I can see someone being desperate enough to take this deal, which will accelerate the Rams rebuild significantly.
Cardinals: Kyler Murray – The Cardinals just traded away one of the fastest linebackers in the league for a seventh round pick. Simmons would have been the impact player had that not happen. The consolation for the Cardinals is that they have a 92 speed, 94 acceleration, 90 throw power player in one of the most important positions on the team. Murray has a huge contract, however, the contract is warranted given his physical attributes. Murray will open up the defense with his ability to throw and run. This could be a sneak pick the for best quarterback in the NFC.
NFC South:
Buccaneers: Mike Evans SSXF – The Buccaneers have a plethora of guys to choose as impact players given all the ability players they have. I choose Evans because he will be doubled on every play which will open up the defense for the other superstar players. You can’t double everyone and this is what Cammy will be banking on assuming Baker can actually hit a player in stride.
Panthers: Bryce Young SS – The Panthers Bryce Young comes in much better than his counterpart of last cycle. Young starts out as a SS with 87 speed, 89 acceleration, 87 throw power, and good accuracy. You would like for his 87 throw power to be better but beggars can’t be choosers. Given the quarterback running scheme that JT employs, and the fact that he doesn’t throw many interceptions, Young could be a candidate for offensive rookie of the year.
Saints: Cam Jordan SS – Edge threat elite almost guarantees the need to double team that player every down. Jordan only comes in as a superstar, however, he remains with one of the best abilities in the game. Add this to his run defensive ability and you have an impact player who will dominate until he retires or loses his ability.
Falcons: Kyle Pitts SS – Kyle Pitts is the best tight end in the game. 91 speed, 93 acceleration, 92 jumping on a player who goes against linebackers and safeties is always a mismatch. His redzone ability mixed with his physical attributes can almost guarantee him touchdowns in the red zone. It will be very hard for Pitts to not be spammed this season.
Each player chosen gives each team a unique player who the team can be built around. Some are better than others, however, make no mistake any team would be lucky to have any of these players. I feel the NFC had more of a variety than the AFC in regards to different players. The AFC has the better ability quarterbacks, but the NFC has better defensive players. We will see if any of the players chosen wins an award this season when we come back at season’s end to check how each player did.
