NFL Players Most Likely To Reach 1st Pro Bowl In 2016
By Erik Lambert
The Pro Bowl itself is a game that many people don’t care much for, but for players it’s a validation that they’re considered one of the best in the NFL.
Often the more trips a player has made to that event, the likelier their chances of reaching the Hall of Fame. Not everybody has such lofty standards. Some are content to prove to both fans and themselves that they can make the trip at least once. The 2016 season will feature plenty of familiar faces down in Orlando, but this list is about determining which players on every team are the poised to make their first career trip.
Be prepared for a few surprises.
David Johnson (Arizona Cardinals)
It took him some time to get going as a rookie last season but David Johnson soon began to show the NFL that the Arizona Cardinals made the right choice drafting him. He finished the year out with 1,038 total yards from scrimmage and scoring 12 touchdowns. He added an additional 206 yards and a touchdown on special teams as a return man too. Averaging 4.6 yards per carry, there is no doubt he’s ready to assume the feature role at running back no matter what comments of a committee approach the coaches will throw out.
The reason he’s in line for a Pro Bowl is the competition in the NFC West just dipped with the retirement of Marshawn Lynch. Also he’ll have the advantage of being the starter from the very beginning this time, something he didn’t enjoy last year. Based on his current upward trend it’s reasonable to expect over 1,000 yards rushing and double digit touchdowns. This could be a rare year where two running backs from the same division reach Hawaii (Todd Gurley is the other one).
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