We asked three of our NFL Insiders to predict the 2018 stat leaders in 23 categories and explain their picks in depth. Then we had an anonymous NFL executive give his picks for every category.
Here are their projections for the top passer, rusher, receiver and more this season.
Which QB will have the most passing yards?
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers. Rivers topped the 4,500-yard mark in '17 and has thrown for more than 4,200 yards in each of the past five seasons. With his aggressive style in the pocket, and a wide receiver corps led by the clean route running of Keenan Allen, look for Rivers to edge out Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford for the passing crown this season.
Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: Brady, New England Patriots. Rivers was a tempting choice as well. However, the Patriots' defense isn't as good as the Chargers' defense, which could force Brady to throw the ball a little more than Rivers throws it in an effort to outscore opponents.
Field Yates, NFL Insider: Brady. The Patriots' pass-catching group has a different mix to it this year, but is still filled with run-after-catch athletes. Look for Brady to surpass 4,500 yards.
Anonymous NFL exec: Rivers.
Which QB will have the most touchdown passes?
Bowen: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers. In his past three full seasons, Rodgers has racked up 109 touchdown passes. And that meshes with Mike McCarthy's playbook when Green Bay moves the ball into the deep red zone. Quick passing and rub routes. Plus, Rodgers' ability to create off-scheduled plays in scoring position is unmatched.
Sando: Rodgers. He had 40 in his last full season (2017) and should be back in similar form following his injury.
Yates: Rodgers. In his past five full seasons, Rodgers has thrown 40, 31, 38, 39 and 45 scores. Provided he's on the field, no quarterback has a greater propensity for touchdown throws.
Anonymous NFL exec: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles.
Which QB will throw the most interceptions?
Bowen: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens. I'll go with Flacco because of the numbers. In his past five seasons, Flacco has thrown a total of 74 interceptions. And his career low for a season is 10.
Sando: Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans. He put the ball in harm's way quite a bit last season. If he does that again and plays a full season, he could throw 20 picks (and even more TDs).
Yates: Eli Manning, New York Giants. He threw 13 last season, continuing a streak of at least 10 picks for the 13th straight season. Between his interception rate in the past and the fact that he's not a threat to be benched by his team (others considered for this pick might not be 16-game starters), Manning could lead the league in this category in 2018.
Anonymous NFL exec: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills.
Which QB will lead the league in Total QBR?
Bowen: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints. Brees ranked No. 9 in Total QBR last season at 59.0, and he didn't put up monster numbers -- 23 touchdowns, eight interceptions -- in a Saints offense that leaned more on the running game. However, Brees was still surgical from the pocket, completing a league-high 72 percent of his passes. Ridiculous. I expect the passing numbers to climb for Brees in 2018 with an offense that has legit weapons in the route tree.
Sando: Tom Brady, Patriots. He's really good.
Yates: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks. It's important to note that Total QBR is a statistic in which mobile quarterbacks can make a decided mark. While Wilson may not boast a supporting cast on offense that parallels that of his quarterback peers, he is as nifty and nimble on the run and a tremendous thrower. If Seattle stays in the NFC West hunt, he'll be in the MVP mix.
Anonymous NFL exec: Carson Wentz.
How many rookie QBs will be starting by Week 8?
Bowen: Four. With Sam Darnold starting in Week 1, I expect Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen to get the keys to their respective No. 1 offenses by midseason.
Sando: Three. There's a good chance four will have made starts by then, but I'll say only three will still be in the lineup at that time.
Yates: Four. The lone first-round quarterback exception will be Lamar Jackson, whose wait will persist until Baltimore is no longer in the playoff mix this season (if that even occurs).
Anonymous NFL exec: Three or four.
Which rookie QB will be most impressive, figuring in total body of work?
Bowen: Sam Darnold, New York Jets. The pro traits are there for Darnold to transition quickly to the NFL game. He also has a veteran resource in Josh McCown to aid in his development. And the system under coordinator Jeremy Bates will put the rookie in a position to play efficient football. But this is also about game reps, which are the ultimate teaching tool. If Darnold starts Week 1, as expected, he will see some early-season adversity. And that will boost his learning curve as the year progresses.
Sando: Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns. It's tough to know whether he'll get on the field enough, but if he does, I give him an edge over Josh Rosen, whose durability is more of a concern. Darnold is the preseason darling, but I think he might throw too many INTs early.
Yates: Darnold. When we examine a quarterback's surroundings -- which contribute to a player's ability to succeed -- we are typically fixated on the pass-catchers and backs. And that's understandable, but we need to not overlook the importance of overall infrastructure in place: the coordinator, the quarterback room, the mentors on his side, and the tempo at which the team brought him along to a starting role. Darnold is in a spot to become an effective player not just because of his natural talents, but also his situation.
Anonymous NFL exec: Josh Rosen or Baker Mayfield.
Who will be the NFL's leading rusher?
Bowen: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys. It's the consistent volume in a run-heavy system. Look for Elliott to log 300-plus carries for an offense that wants to control tempo with the ground game.
Sando: Todd Gurley II, Los Angeles Rams. The team gave him all that money for a reason.
Yates: Elliott. The Cowboys project to be one of the league's most dominant rushing teams with the league's top offensive line, plus there are question marks surrounding the receivers and tight ends on the roster.
Anonymous NFL exec: Elliott.
Who will be the leading rookie rusher?
Bowen: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants. Barkley is the pick due to the high volume of touches he will see in the Giants' offense paired with his freakish skill set: the home run speed, the lower-body balance, the lateral quickness. But don't sleep on Royce Freeman with the Denver Broncos. He will challenge Barkley this season.
Sando: Barkley. Why overthink it?
Yates: Barkley. Have you seen his quads? More seriously, he is positioned to run the ball close to 275 times (if not more) as a rookie and should turn some routine runs into home runs.
Anonymous NFL exec: Barkley.
Who will lead the league in rushing touchdowns?
Bowen: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys. With the Cowboys moving on from Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten heading into retirement, the game plan should be simple in the deep red zone: Bring extra big boys onto the field and feed Elliott the ball.
Sando: Todd Gurley, Rams. Make it two years in a row.
Yates: Elliott. For many of the reasons stated in the case for Elliott to lead the league in rushing, he has long been a touchdown-maker.
Anonymous NFL exec: Elliott.
Which RB will have the most catches?
Bowen: David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals: Johnson missed almost all of last season with a wrist injury. However, in 2016, the running back racked up 80 receptions while also logging 293 carries. He's a high-volume player with the route-running skills to beat defenders underneath. And, looking at this Cardinals' offense, Johnson should factor into every game situation.
Sando: Johnson. Watch out for the screen. Arizona might need to throw a few to help out its overmatched line.
Yates: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers. There are a handful of compelling candidates to consider -- Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Johnson come to mind -- but Bell takes the cake because of his larger sample size: 75 catches is his floor if he stays healthy.
Anonymous NFL exec: Bell.
Which player will have the most total touchdowns?
Bowen: Todd Gurley, Rams: Gurley is going to get the touches every week in Sean McVay's offense, and the big-play ability jumps with his game. In 2017, Gurley produced 20 total explosive plays (plays of 20 yards or more) and he finished the year with 19 scores. He's a game-breaker -- with dual-threat ability -- in an offense that produces points.
Sando: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints. The Saints know what he can do and figure to feature him accordingly. Letting backs run with the ball after the catch pairs nicely with Drew Brees as the QB ages.
Yates: Kamara. One of the best dual-threat running backs in the game, Kamara has unique contact strength. While he may not be the most imposing back relative to some other players at the position, he has an ability to pinball off defenders, sustain plays and find the end zone.
Anonymous NFL exec: Kamara.
Which WR will have the most catches?
Bowen: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers: Brown has posted five straight seasons of 100-plus receptions. And he's doing that against defensive schemes that are designed to limit his production. Brown is the model of consistency, and I don't see that changing in 2018.
Sando: Jarvis Landry, Browns. Todd Haley is good about helping his receivers get their numbers. Ask Antonio Brown.
Yates: Brown. There have been 39 instances in the history of the NFL in which a player hauled in at least 110 catches in one season. And yet, if given the opportunity to choose whether he will be above or below that massive threshold, I think AB will surpass it again. Business stays boomin'.
Anonymous NFL exec: Landry.
Which rookie WR will have the most catches?
Bowen: Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears. Miller has been one of the rising stars during the Bears' training camp, and his skill set can be utilized in Matt Nagy's offense. Inside vertical throws, underneath concept and screens. Miller can play inside the numbers to give quarterback Mitchell Trubisky a high-percentage target.
Sando: DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers. Norv Turner knows how to utilize weapons.
Yates: Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys. While a player who operates more out of the slot is always a good forecast given the volume of targets, Gallup has a chance to lead the Cowboys in receptions and make his immediate mark as a red zone threat.
Anonymous NFL exec: Moore or Miller.
Which WR will have the most targets?
Bowen: Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers: Allen's 153 targets ranked No. 5 in '17, and his 104 receptions put him at fourth overall. He's one of the best route runners I've seen on film. Smooth stuff. And playing with Rivers puts him in the mix to lead the league in targets this year.
Sando: Allen. Let's say Allen edges out Jarvis Landry here.
Yates: DeAndre Hopkins, Texans. After piling up 176 last season, there's little reason to doubt that Hopkins won't stay busy in 2018. And his quarterback play projects to be tremendous, which should have opposing AFC South defensive coordinators losing sleep.
Anonymous NFL exec: Landry.
Which WR will have the most receiving touchdowns?
Bowen: Odell Beckham Jr., Giants. An injury limited Beckham to just four games in '17, but the Giants wide receiver hauled in 35 touchdown passes in his first three pro seasons. He's an electric talent who can take a three-step slant route to the house for 80 yards, expose a defensive back on a double-move or use his separation skills and catch radius to snag passes in the red zone.
Sando: Antonio Brown. He rarely misses games and consistently puts up numbers, making him a safer pick in a relatively volatile stat category.
Yates: Beckham. The most unique touchdown-maker among all wide receivers, Beckham is already at 38 touchdowns in just 47 games played. Back at full strength, watch out for this explosive wideout.
Anonymous NFL exec: Jarvis Landry.
Which TE will be the most productive, factoring in yards, catches and touchdowns?
Bowen: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots. The Eagles' Zach Ertz should be in this discussion given his route running and overall fit in Doug Pederson's offense. But we all know it's Gronk. The Patriots tight end is still the NFL's ultimate matchup weapon.
Sando: Gronkowski. Injuries are the only concern here. I do think Jimmy Graham can lead the NFL in touchdown receptions, however.
Yates: Gronkowski. There simply isn't a player like him anywhere else in the league. At his best, the gap between Gronk and the next best tight end is larger than any other gap between a best and next-best player at a different position in the NFL.
Anonymous NFL exec: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs.
Which defender will lead the league in sacks?
Bowen: Von Miller, Denver Broncos. The outside linebacker has racked up 48.5 sacks over the past four seasons, and is still the league's premier edge rusher in my opinion. With a combination of instant speed, power and technique, Miller will be back on top as the NFL's sack leader this year.
Sando: J.J. Watt, Texans. Let's say he comes back close to 100 percent.
Yates: Joey Bosa, Chargers. The edge rusher has been limited this preseason by a foot injury, but indications are he'll be ready to roll for Week 1. He's a dominant force who plays opposite another star rusher in Melvin Ingram: 15.0 sacks is well within reach.
Anonymous NFL exec: Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings.
Which team will lead the league in sacks?
Bowen: Chargers. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram give Los Angeles two bookend rushers who can create havoc off the edge. Nasty. And L.A. can generate pressure out of its nickel package, too. Look for Gus Bradley's unit to lead the NFL in sacks this season.
Sando: Vikings. They're stacked on the defensive side of the ball.
Yates: Jaguars. They have such a unique ability to generate pressure from multiple levels and angles, as they boast a defense full of edge rushers, dominant interior forces and speedy linebackers.
Anonymous NFL exec: Vikings.
Which defender will lead the league in interceptions?
Bowen: Marshon Lattimore, Saints. Lattimore picked off five passes as a rookie, and he also broke up nine passes. With the coverage skills and transition speed to break on the ball, Lattimore can cash in this season playing in Dennis Allen's aggressive scheme.
Sando: A.J. Bouye, Jacksonville Jaguars. He came within two of the lead last season and should be in the mix again. It's tough avoiding him with Jalen Ramsey on the other side.
Yates: A.J. Bouye, Jaguars. Predicting interceptions is no easy task, as some of the best cornerbacks are rarely targeted. Bouye has outstanding ball skills and instincts, plus he plays in a secondary that is so stacked that quarterbacks are going to have no choice but to throw in the direction of an elite coverage player.
Anonymous NFL exec: Casey Hayward, Chargers.
Which rookie defender will have the biggest impact?
Bowen: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins. The defensive back has the versatility to be the NFL's next "monsterback." He's that defensive matchup piece with the talent to roll down in the box, blitz off the edge, cover and find the rock. Do it all.
Sando: Bradley Chubb, Broncos. He should provide some of the pass rush the Broncos have missed since losing DeMarcus Ware.
Yates: Roquan Smith, Bears. He checks every box from a physical standpoint to excel in today's NFL. Moreover, he should immediately serve as the team's defensive quarterback. He's going to be a star.
Anonymous NFL exec: Josh Jackson, Packers.
Which team will lead the league in points per game?
Bowen: Rams: The addition of wide receiver Brandin Cooks is a plus for an offense that is detailed in scheme with a diverse group of pass-catchers, the big-play ability of Todd Gurley and the rapid development of QB Jared Goff. The Rams ranked second in the NFL last season at 27 offensive points scored per game, and I expect this unit to be back in the mix for the league lead once again.
Sando: Patriots. They lead the league in points since 2013 without leading the league in any single season over that five-year span.
Yates: Saints. They are always among the league's most dominant offensive teams and New Orleans' ability to dissect a defense in a litany of ways has it primed to dominate again this year.
Anonymous NFL exec: Patriots.
Which team will have the league's worst defense in points allowed?
Bowen: Indianapolis Colts. They are in the process of a full reboot on the defense. And while I see some upside here with young talent, Indianapolis will endure some growing pains this season as it continues to build under a new coaching staff.
Sando: Chiefs. The Steelers and Patriots show up on the Chiefs' schedule this season, which could stress a defense that is in transition, especially if Patrick Mahomes turns over the ball frequently in his first full year as a starter.
Yates: Colts. There aren't many areas of great strength on Indy's defense from a personnel standpoint, as this will be a deliberate and tactical rebuild of the roster by GM Chris Ballard.
Anonymous NFL exec: Chiefs or Colts.
Which team will lead the league in point differential?
Bowen: Vikings. This is really about Mike Zimmer's defense. The Vikings have a suffocating group that led the NFL in 2017 with only 15.75 points allowed per game. Pair that with an offense featuring productive pass-catchers, the upgrade of QB Kirk Cousins and the return of RB Dalvin Cook.
Sando: Patriots. They manage the games so well and are simply the most reliably excellent operation in the league. They have averaged plus 9.6 points per game over the past five seasons. Seattle (7.1) and Kansas City (5.9) are the only other teams above 4.4.
Yates: The Patriots. Let's start with this fact: It's an exceptional team that projects to be very good this year. Moreover, the Patriots play in a division that has two teams, in Buffalo and Miami, that I believe will finish with bottom 10 records in the league as they continue to build up their respective rosters.
Anonymous NFL exec: Patriots.