Using a Pro Football Focus database that has no limits, we were able to dig into granular traits and facets of the games with our years of data.
Let's dive into those traits and explore the best players in a variety of categories, from the league's most efficient pass-protectors to the best defensive backs covering each route on the route tree.
It's our list of the NFL's best performers in every category you can think of -- for the fourth year in a row -- using grades, stats and data pulled from grading every player on every play of every game of the 2019 NFL season.
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OFFENSE
Overall offensive grade
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers: 93.7
Kittle has been the best all-around player at one of the league's most taxing positions. He has been tasked with run-blocking on 247 snaps, staying in to pass protect for 40 snaps and running routes on 197 snaps. His receiving grade (94.0) is the highest in the NFL, and his pass-blocking (74.0) and run-blocking grades (71.3) are among the best at his position, as he has been the best player on the field in every game in which he has played this season. Kittle missed the 49ers' loss to the Seahawks on Monday because of ankle and foot injuries.
Best quarterback in the pocket
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Stafford has limited mistakes and taken his shots admirably from within the pocket, leading the league with 23 big-time throws -- PFF's highest-graded pass attempts based upon ball placement, velocity, targeted depth and other factors -- from inside the pocket. He has completed 169 of 258 attempts for 2,271 yards and 17 touchdowns, with the latter leading the NFL.
Best quarterback outside the pocket
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson's work outside the pocket has been magical in 2019, leading the league in every major passing category including yards (729), touchdowns (seven) and completions (48). He has limited mistakes and hit four more big-time throws from outside the pocket than any other quarterback.
Best red-zone quarterback
Finding success within the constraints of the red zone, Carr has completed 26 of 36 attempts for 203 yards and 11 touchdowns within the opponents' 20-yard line this season. His league-leading 72.2% completion rate in the red zone looks even better when taking into account that he has had two passes dropped in the scoring area.
Best quarterback under pressure
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson has been pressured a lot in 2019, but he has played well under duress. On 141 pressured dropbacks, he has completed 67 of 117 attempts for nine scores and just one interception. He has taken off on scrambles an additional 16 times and, in total, picked up 43 first downs on throws and runs when under pressure.
Best quarterback when kept clean
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
When not under pressure, Stafford has been lights-out in 2019, hitting 140 of 196 attempts for 1,886 yards. He has thrown 17 touchdown passes to lead the league and adds a little extra to his passes when given time to go through his reads. He's averaging the league's top depth of target (11.1) from a clean pocket and subsequently has the highest yards per attempt average (9.6).
Best quarterback downfield (10-plus yards)
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Rodgers has been absolutely dominant through the air this season, hitting multiple shots down the field. On throws targeted at least 10 yards past the line of scrimmage, he has 10 touchdown passes and one interception. Even with nine dropped balls on such targets, he averages 12.7 yards per attempt, the third-highest figure among quarterbacks with at least 100 such attempts.
Best red-zone wide receiver
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Lockett simply gets open and gets open quickly, putting his route-running skills to use in the red zone. He has hauled in 10 red-zone receptions and scored five touchdowns with three more first-down conversions. His quick first move and ability to separate bode well for his continued success inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Best slot wide receiver
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Speaking of his ability to get open, Lockett utilizes his speed and athleticism to dominate from an inside alignment. He has seen more than 70% of his targets come from the slot and has churned out a league-leading 625 yards and five touchdowns while lined up there. He has converted another 25 first downs on those receptions, also leading the league.
Best deep wide receiver
Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Hill uses every bit of his elite speed on deep throws, leading the NFL in yards per route run (14.42) on targeted passes at least 20 yards downfield. He has hauled in seven deep receptions for 274 yards, including three scores, as he's eighth in the league in total deep receiving yards, despite playing in just six games.
Best wide receiver by route: screen
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No receiver has more receptions or yards on screen passes than Godwin, who has hauled in 85 yards on 11 receptions with a touchdown and two more first-down receptions. He's leading the league by a comfortable margin in yards after the catch, too. His screen passes go for an average of 7.7 yards, yet he sees the depth of target 2.2 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Best wide receiver by route: out
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is another route on which Godwin dominates, as he has racked up 17 receptions for 13 first downs and a touchdown on out routes. He's stellar at the catch point against defensive backs. Godwin has seen more contested catch opportunities on out routes than anyone else and has hauled in five of six.
Best wide receiver by route: slant
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Thomas has the league's highest grade, most receptions, most yards, most touchdowns and most first downs on slant routes this season. His rapport with Teddy Bridgewater as a valuable, dependable target over the middle off slants was apparent while Bridgewater filled in for Drew Brees for five games. Thomas has 18 slant route receptions for 206 yards, two touchdowns and 11 first downs.
Best wide receiver by route: in
Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Allen has more receptions on in routes than any other receiver has targets so far in 2019, hauling in 15 of his in routes for 199 yards and a whopping nine first downs. With those, he has made three contested catches and piled up eight explosive plays of 15 or more yards, by far the most in the NFL.
Best wide receiver by route: comeback
Cooper has shown his ability to stop on a dime and hit a comeback route with perfection this season, even though Dak Prescott hasn't always thrown him the ball. He has been targeted just four times on comeback routes, has hauled in all four of them -- tied for the NFL lead -- and has 54 yards, with all four receptions moving the sticks for a first down.
Best wide receiver by route: hitch
Brown most notably recorded two hitch-route first downs against Cleveland in Week 10, as he has been unstoppable on the route this season. He has more yards and first downs than any other receiver on hitches, hauling in 16 catches for 193 yards and 12 first downs.
Best wide receiver by route: post
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
The post route belongs to Sutton this season, as he leads the league with nine receptions and 58 yards after the catch on post-route combinations. He has hauled in nine receptions on post routes -- no two receivers have combined to tally more -- for 178 yards and a score. All nine of those catches have either converted a first down or turned into six points.
Best wide receiver by route: corner
It's Hall's corner, and we're just living in it. He has secured three corner route receptions this season for a whopping 154 yards, the latter figure comfortably leading the league. All three have gone for either a first down or touchdown, as he's one of just 25 players to score on a corner route.
Best wide receiver by route: go
DJ Chark Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Chark has been a revelation for the Jaguars this season, leading the NFL in targets on go-route concepts and subsequently leading the NFL in grade and yards on those targets. He has hauled in seven go-route concepts, including seam throws, slant-and-go, stop-and-go and back-shoulder-go routes, for 217 yards and two scores, with the other five moving the sticks for first downs.
Best wide receiver by route: crossers
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Lockett appears again, as he has hauled in 12 of 13 targeted crossing patterns for a league-best 204 yards. Nine of those have moved the chains for first downs, and he's the only receiver to see more than one contested target and bring in 100% of his contested catches on crossers.
Most elusive running back after the catch
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Cook has been trouble to bring down for any defense in his career -- and particularly after the catch in 2019. Despite seeing his passes come 1.2 yards behind the line of scrimmage on average, he leads the league with 11 explosive receptions of 15 or more yards and is tied with Chargers back Austin Ekeler with 16 missed tackles forced on his catches. If that weren't impressive enough, Cook has 17 fewer receptions than Ekeler.
Best pass-catching running back
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler is hands-down the league's best receiving running back because he could be in consideration as the best receiver this season. He has caught all 57 catchable targets thrown his way for 559 yards, 510 of which have come after the catch. He has six scores while securing 20 more first downs. Ekeler is tied for the league lead among running backs, with 11 explosive plays of 15 or more yards through the air.
Best red-zone running back
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
This one isn't even close, as Jones dominates inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He has scored a touchdown on half of his red-zone attempts, with 11 touchdowns on 22 carries. In total, he has converted a first down or touchdown on 55% of his red-zone carries, a clear 10% higher than the next-best running back in the red zone.
Most elusive running back
The rookie first-round pick has exceeded expectations for the Raiders in 2019, forcing a missed tackle on 27% of his carries, the top mark in the NFL among backs with at least 100 carries. His 46 missed tackles forced on rushes tie him with Seahawks back Chris Carson for most, but Jacobs has seven fewer attempts, giving him the advantage.
Best running back through contact
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Henry has generated a league-high 706 yards after contact this season, meaning 84.9% of his total rushing yards have come after contact. He plows through opponents and single-arm tackles with ease, and he averages 3.77 yards after contact per rush.
Best pass-blocking tight end
Maxx Williams, Arizona Cardinals
When tasked with pass protection, Williams leads the NFL's active tight ends in pass-blocking grade, as he has allowed just two hurries and kept Kyler Murray upright on 36 snaps in pass protection.
Best run-blocking tight end
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
It isn't shocking that the Eagles have received stellar play from Goedert in the run game, as he has become an extension of their run-blocking efforts. Goedert is by far the highest-graded tight end in football when run blocking. He has developed into a sixth lineman on run plays.
Best pass-blocking offensive tackle
Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens
The league leader in pass-blocking efficiency, Stanley has surrendered just five total pressures on 304 pass-blocking snaps. Just two of those have been quarterback hits, as his protection from the left tackle spot has been integral in the Ravens' offensive attack.
Best run-blocking offensive tackle
Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles continue to get strong play from their offensive line, and Johnson is just one of those pieces. He moves defenders quickly and opens up gaps with relative ease in the run game, as the Philadelphia running backs have gained 17 first downs and three touchdowns on carries in Johnson's direction.
Best pass-blocking guard
Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles
Brooks has allowed just four total pressures and zero sacks on his 335 pass-blocking snaps this season. His pass-blocking efficiency of 99.4 is almost a full point higher than that of the next-closest guard, as he has been as dominant as ever for a stellar Eagles offensive line.
Best run-blocking guard
Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles
The best all-around guard in football also lands here. He uses his strength in both the pass and run games, as he leads the NFL by some distance in run-blocking grade.
Best pass-blocking center
Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders
Hudson has long been the stalwart at the position in terms of pass protection, and 2019 has brought more of the same. He has allowed just two pressures and is the only center to allow fewer than five pressures on 100 or more pass-blocking snaps.
Best run-blocking center
The 2018 first-round pick moves bodies in the run game and has been dominant with his speed and first step, as he routinely clears lanes for the Detroit running backs. Lions backs are averaging nearly 2.0 yards before contact on carries to either of his gaps, and credit falls heavily on Ragnow's shoulders.
Least penalized offensive line
As an offensive line unit among all tackles, guards and the center, the Patriots have been called for just 12 penalties this season -- two fewer than the next-best unit, the Panthers.
DEFENSE
Best overall defensive grade
Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams: 92.9
Donald leads all defensive players in overall grade by a wide margin. He's elite in all facets and nearly unblockable on every down. He must be planned for and is well on his way to another crowning as PFF's highest-graded defensive player.
Best tackler overall
Kevin Byard, S, Tennessee Titans
No defensive back this season has put forth more total tackle attempts without a miss than Byard, as he has flown to the football to the tune of 38 solo tackles and nine assisted tackles. His elite tackling grade leads all defenders who have played at least 150 snaps.
Best pass-rushing edge defender
T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
There's a different Watt taking up the best pass-rusher mantle in the NFL, and it's J.J.'s younger brother T.J., who leads all the league's edge defenders in pass-rush grade (91.6). He has already eclipsed the pass-rush triple-double and was the first to do it this season, with 11 sacks, 11 QB hits and 25 hurries. He's winning his pass rushes with ease and dominating all tackles in front of him.
Best pass-rushing interior defender
Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
No shock here, but Donald is once again in a class of his own overall and when rushing the passer. He's leading the league in pass-rush grade (91.8) and has brought in 44 total pressures that include six sacks, eight hits and 30 hurries. His pass-rush win rate of 22.3% is by far the tops in the league, as the second-best comes in 3 percentage points behind him.
Best run-stopping edge defender
Arik Armstead, San Francisco 49ers
Armstead leads the league's edge defenders in run-defense grade, as eight of his 14 solo tackles have gone for defensive stops, five of which have held the opponent to a loss or no gain. He also has a forced fumble.
Best run-stopping interior defender
Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars
Campbell has been a stalwart against the run his entire career, and Year 12 is no different. He has recorded 22 solo tackles against the run, 15 of which have been credited as defensive stops. He also has a forced fumble.
Best pass-rusher off stunts
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
No pass-rusher has been as good on stunts as the rookie first-round Bosa, as he has 22 total pressures on 67 attempts. That pressure figure includes five sacks, three QB hits and 14 more hurries, as he's seemingly unblockable in such situations.
Best off-the-ball run defender
Eric Kendricks, Minnesota Vikings
Leading the league in run-defense grade from the linebacker spot, Kendricks has been a one-man wrecking crew against the run for the Vikings. He has recorded 60 total tackles, 38 of which have been solo attempts, while limiting himself to just three misses. Of those tackles, 24 have gone as a defensive stop, as Kendricks averages a depth of tackle of 3.42 yards past the line of scrimmage, a top figure among all off-ball linebackers.
Best off-the-ball pass-rusher
Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
Wagner was sure to find his spot here in one way or another, as he leads the league's linebackers in pass-rush grade through 10 weeks. He has recorded two sacks and two hits with eight more hurries while winning 21.2% of his pass-rush attempts, a figure that would be outstanding for an edge rusher, let alone a linebacker.
Best ball-hawking cornerback
Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
Alexander might not have the interception totals of one of the best cover corners in the league, but he forces more incompletions than any other defensive back. He does more things that don't show up in box scores and does them at elite levels as he presses his receiver in sticky coverage more often than not, all which have led to his league-high 15 forced incompletions on 23.4% of his targeted passes.
Best slot cornerback
Jonathan Jones, New England Patriots
When lined up in slot coverage, Jones has been great, seeing 32 targeted passes come his way and allowing just 20 catches for 211 yards while forcing four incompletions. He hasn't missed a tackle in slot coverage, as he has done a terrific job of keeping the plays in front of him and limiting big plays from shifty slot receivers and big tight ends.
Best box safety
Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City Chiefs
Mathieu's free-roaming style of play gives him an edge over most safeties lined up in the box, as he has racked up two pressures and 47 total tackles with just six misses and allowed just 125 yards after the catch on his 388 total snaps in coverage. He hasn't allowed a reception longer than 26 yards and hasn't allowed more than 48 yards in his primary coverage this season while making four additional plays on the ball.
Best deep safety
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers
Fitzpatrick has found a home in Pittsburgh and played great since his trade from Miami. He leads all safeties in overall and coverage grade when lined up more than 8 yards from the line of scrimmage and has more splash plays than any other defensive back. He has three pass breakups and five interceptions; three of those interceptions came when he lined up deep and was able to roam the field.
Best defensive back inside the numbers
Quinton Dunbar, Washington Redskins
Among defensive backs who have been targeted at least 10 times between the numbers, Dunbar leads in coverage grade, allowing just 10 receptions on 17 targets while intercepting two balls and forcing another three incompletions. He has recorded 10 solo tackles and seven defensive stops in such situations, also league-leading figures.
Best defensive back outside the numbers
Marcus Peters, Baltimore Ravens
It was Peters or new teammate Marlon Humphrey here, as Peters has two pick-sixes since joining the Ravens, both of which came on throws targeted outside the numbers. In total with the Rams and Ravens, Peters has been targeted 22 times on throws outside the numbers, allowing just 11 receptions with four interceptions and another pass breakup to boot.
Best defensive back by route: screen
Poole leads all defensive backs who have seen at least five screen passes into their primary coverage in grade, limiting the seven screens he has seen to just 36 yards and one first down. He's one of three defensive backs to force an incompletion on screen routes this season and has recorded four defensive stops.
Best defensive back by route: out
Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
Alexander finds himself as the best defensive back on out routes this season, holding strong by limiting receivers to 12 yards on seven targeted passes on the route concept. He has allowed just three receptions and has forced another three incompletions, giving him the league's best forced incompletion percentage on out routes this season.
Best defensive back by route: slant
Quinton Dunbar, Washington Redskins
Dunbar has quietly put together an outstanding start to the season for the Redskins, and he has done so with strong play against slant routes. He has allowed just two receptions for 14 yards from five targets against slants in Weeks 1-10. He also has recorded two forced incompletions and an interception against slant routes so far.
Best defensive back by route: in
James Bradberry, Carolina Panthers
Although he's coming off a down performance against Tennessee in Week 10, Bradberry is still the NFL's best defensive back when it comes to defending the crossing route. He has allowed just two receptions for 22 yards from six targets as the primary coverage defender against crossing routes, and he has recorded an interception and a pick.
Best defensive back by route: hitch
Marcus Peters, Baltimore Ravens
Peters has been lights-out this season for the Rams and Ravens. The veteran ranks inside the top 10 in PFF coverage grade among qualifiers at his position through Week 10, and he has been at his best defending the hitch route. He has allowed just two receptions from seven targets for 19 yards and two first downs defending hitches, and he has an interception and a forced incompletion against said routes.
Best defensive back by route: post
Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Davis has allowed zero receptions from four targets while defending post routes in 2019, picking off one of those targets. The 2018 second-round pick has had an up-and-down start to the season, but his play against post routes has been among the NFL's best.
Best defensive back by route: corner
Conley has allowed just one reception for 19 yards from four targets defending corner routes this season. The former Raiders first-round pick also has forced two incompletions and an interception as the primary coverage defender against corner routes.
Best defensive back by route: go
Donte Jackson, Carolina Panthers
Jackson's elite speed has come in handy while defending go routes this season. Targeted eight times in Weeks 1-10, Jackson has allowed zero receptions and recorded two interceptions and a pick.
Best defensive back by route: crossers
Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
Kuechly has allowed just five receptions for 34 yards and zero touchdowns from 10 targets defending crossing routes in 2019. He has recorded two forced incompletions and an interception against crossers in Weeks 1-10.
Best zone-coverage defensive back
Richard Sherman, San Francisco 49ers
Sherman leads all NFL defensive backs with at least 100 coverage snaps played in zone in PFF coverage grade (90.7) through Week 10. He has allowed zero touchdowns and recorded four forced incompletions and three interceptions in zone as well.
Best man-coverage defensive back
Jonathan Jones, New England Patriots
Jones has allowed three receptions from nine targets for 7 yards across 173 coverage snaps in Cover 0 or Cover 1. He has logged four interceptions in said coverage schemes. He might not be a household name like Stephon Gilmore, but Jones is a big reason that New England has the best defense in the NFL through 10 weeks of play.