Players rarely maintain their 99 overall ratings when the final rosters are released. Players like TE Rob Gronkowski, LB Von MIller, and JJ Watt are a few of the big name players to have been awarded a spot in the 99 overall ratings club. This season will likely be no different. Who will claim one of those precious spots this year? Well, the pros at Madden School are studying hard before the release of Madden 18. Today, we’re looking at a few of the players worthy of a 99 overall rating in Madden 18.
Antonio Brown WR Pittsburgh Steelers
WR Antonio Brown is one of the biggest offensive threats in Madden. He finished the season with a 97 overall rating, which was only one point lower than Julio Jones. When you play Pittsburgh, you are forced to play a safety over the top on Brown due to his 92 speed and 93 acceleration. If you don’t keep someone deep against Brown, and Roethlisberger has time to throw one deep, then you’re eventually going to give up a big play.
All it takes is one lapse in your defensive coverage to get smoked by Antonio Brown. He’s nearly unstoppable at times, and that type of dominance warrants consideration for one of the top 99 overall rated players in Madden 18.
Julio Jones WR Atlanta Falcons
Speaking of Julio Jones, he is by far one of the few players worthy of a 99 overall rating in Madden 18. Jones finished the season with a 98 overall rating making it a slap in the face not to give him one of the top 99 overall spots.
Jones had some flat out dominating performances last season, and like Brown, you can’t let him get any separation on deep throws. Jones can also take short passes to the house by breaking tackles. With a 96 ball carrier vision, an 89 elusiveness, and 84 spin and stiff arm ratings, Jones is extremely dangerous with the ball in his hand. Julio is absolutely one of the players worthy of a 99 overall rating in Madden 18.
Tom Brady QB New England Patriots
If EA doesn’t reward any other players with a 99 overall, they at least have to give Tom Brady a 99 rating. He’s only on the cover of this year’s game labeled the G.O.A.T. Edition. Brady’s epic performance in the Super Bowl alone warrants the 99 overall rating, though. Also, Brady was sort of snubbed in his final overall rating from Madden 17 as he finished with a 96 rating. That rating is one point less than Aaron Rogers 97 overall rating, which seems odd.
Matt Ryan QB Atlanta Falcons
Speaking of the Super Bowl, the case can be made that Matt Ryan also deserves a 99 overall rating, but it would be pushing it. True, Ryan finished as MVP of the league, but he ended the year with a 95 overall rating. Two points less than Aaron Rogers and one point less than Tom Brady.
The only issue Madden players might have with Ryan claiming a 99 overall rating is that he did lose the Super Bowl. Regardless, Ryan certainly put up good numbers last season, and he should be viewed as one of the players worthy of a 99 overall rating in Madden 18.
Khalil Mack DE/LB Oakland Raiders
Mack was quietly named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. He finished the season rated a 98 overall, but he certainly deserved a 99. If you’ve ever played the Raiders in an online H2H match, then you know that Mack can single-handedly win games. Mack finished with a ‘yes’ in every pass rushing trait including the big hitter and strips ball categories. Given that former NFL DPOY JJ Watt landed a 99 overall rating, Mack has to be up for consideration by the ratings team at EA.
That just about does it for our list of players worthy of a 99 overall rating to begin the season in Madden 18. See any that we may have missed? What about past greats like Gronk? Kuechly? Maybe Aaron Rogers? Think either of them are worthy of a 99 overall rating? Feel free to comment below.
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Aaron Rodgers?