While it can be fun to play other positions inMadden NFL 23, it’s hard to argue that a great quarterback doesn’t directly contribute to wins. When building a team, starting with anything other than an elite quarterback is likely going to be a mistake.
RELATED:Madden 23 Should Overhaul In-Season Player Progression
Of course, if the goal is fun, go ahead and pick a favorite team or position. No true gamer can argue against games being a good time. But if the stakes are high and pride is on the line,Madden NFL 23strongly incentivizes using one of these players. They’ll be able to cover for user mistakes and team flaws.
Updated on February 20th, 2023 by Hodey Johns:The regular season, playoffs, and Super Bowl have concluded. With that all in the books, gamers will be bracing for a long offseason. Ratings adjusters have been working overtime, week-to-week, shifting players based on their performance in the previous weeks. Now, with the last performance in the books, players can pick up and drop players knowing what their stats will be. The ratings adjusters do, sometimes, inexplicably make small changes to player statistics during the offseason. However, this list will likely remain intact and the player statistics won’t change substantially enough to merit a significant alteration.
For some football pundits, Kirk Cousins has been a divisive quarterback. He’s often been tagged as having a floor that guarantees goodness but a ceiling that prevents him from achieving greatness. Regardless of how people feel about Cousins, It’s undeniable that he’s way too underestimated.
Cousins, as with many years, did not start off on this list. As with other years, he ended up on this list. Part of his year included staging the greatest comeback in NFL history, setting a record by coming back from 33–0 in the 3rd quarter to win. Cousins is a live wire, despite his lack of deep playoff runs.
Aaron Rodgers - 86 OVR
WhencomparingMadden NFL 22toMadden NFL 23, it should be pretty clear that Aaron Rodgers deserves respect. He won the last two MVP awards and was second on this list at the beginning of the year. But a hurt thumb and the loss of Davante Adams this offseason have sent one of the game’s best-ever quarterbacks spiraling downward.
Rodgers and the Packers had to win one game against the Lions to get into the playoffs. With the Lions eliminated, it should have been a sure thing. Unfortunately, the tough luck that briefly let up at midseason came back again and they dropped the game. Talk has once again resumed if Rodgers will be unloaded in the offseason. It’s hard to imagine this happening after two straight years of MVP play, but the NFL can be brutal like that.
Jalen Hurts - 87 OVR
Had his Eagles won the Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts and his four combined touchdowns would have been the Super Bowl MVP; outside of one bad fumble, he was clearly the best player on the field for either team. Finishing second in MVP voting, Hurts has tremendous upside.
At the start of the year, Hurts wasn’t even on this list. Even at midseason, Hurts was not on this list. It’s a bit of an insult that he remains behind some of the others, but it goes to show that the ratings adjusters don’t like to make big changes to reflect a single game or even a single season. If Hurts can keep his play up next year, Hurts will hopefully be where he deserves on this list.
Dak Prescott - 87 OVR
Experts are always astounded by how smart Dak Prescott is with the ball. For the number of touchdowns he throws, his interceptions are so low. With a little consistency and a quiet season from the usuallylively rumor mill this year, Prescott and the Cowboys were hoping this year would continue that trend.
RELATED:Madden NFL 23 Reveals Another 99-Rated Player
However, things went south for Prescott’s personal stock. Prescott was injured and his backup, Cooper Rush, went on a winning streak without him. Prescott came back and just wasn’t the same guy with the ball. Prescott had a running game and a great offensive line, but the lack of extreme talent at wide receiver, some suspect, might have suppressed his usually amazing statistics.
Justin Herbert - 88 OVR
The defense for the L.A. Chargers is asflashy as the game’s cover art. It’s clear that somebody in upper management believed that improving on defense is all the Chargers needed to do. Despite all of the injuries to so many starters, Justin Herbert got his team to the playoffs.
Unfortunately, the season will be marred by a historic meltdown as the Chargers blew a 27-point lead despite getting five turnovers. Herbert might have had his magic run out in this game, but players and fans did not forget that it took an unbelievable effort from him to even get into the playoffs.
