Football is a small-sample size sport. With only 17 games, we get limited opportunities to figure out how good players and teams actually are.

This is certainly true just four games into the season. However, the first quarter is also the busiest, with every team still in action before the byes begin.

At SūmerSports, we’ve charted every play so far and drilled into our proprietary data, SumerScores, for each player. With a quarter of the season complete, it’s time to highlight the players who’ve stood out, especially the ones you might’ve missed while locked in on your own team.

Quarterback 

First Team

 After an injury that ended an up-and-down year last year, Dak Prescott has bounced back to his MVP-competitive form. The problem is, he has been asked to do everything to keep their team even remotely competitive. Prescott has logged premium starter SumerScore or better in every game he has played, including a Pro Bowl level and All-Pro level performance in Week 2 and 4, respectively. As a result, the retooled Cowboys’ offense is 6th in expected points added per play, despite losing CeeDee Lamb.

Second Team

The reigning Most Valuable Player has maintained the same form through his first four games. While Allen has not been forced to do much in his past three wins against the outmatched Saints, Dolphins, and Jets; he has one of only three rare, MVP level passing SumerScores this year (his earth-shattering comeback against the Ravens), and he is the only quarterback to also put up quality starts in all other games. Ranking in second in expected points added per play for quarterbacks, Allen maintains his position on the top of the league.

Running Back

First Team

The success rate king has struck again. Kyren Williams has logged an Offensive Player of the Year Level game, an All-Pro level game, and a Pro Bowl level game en route to being by far the highest rated player in terms of per game rushing SumerScore. The recently extended Williams is a major part of the ascendent Rams offense.

Second Team

As stated above, Josh Allen has not had to be overly heroic in order for the Bills to win games. Much of that has been because James Cook has been absolutely incredible.

The recently extended Cook has lived up to his contract, leading the league in rushing EPA en route to a sweep of premium starts or better. This includes three straight Pro Bowl or better starts, capped off with a rare, Offensive Player of the Year-esque performance against the Saints.

Wide Receiver

First Team

The King of the Holy Trinity of Receiving still reigns. After outstanding performances in Target Share, Yards Per Route Run, and Receiving SumerScore last year, Puka has managed to put up a blue-chip performance in every single game this year, alongside being first in yards per route run and second in target share. Puka is currently operating at a hall of fame level in rate statistics, not just this season, but over the course of his entire career. At this pace, Puka Nacua should be the Offensive Player of the Year.

The reliable, do-it-all weapon for the Lions, Amon-Ra St. Brown, continues to dominate across key receiving metrics. He is joined by newcomer Ricky Pearsall, who ranks fourth in per snap Receiving SumerScore, and could probably use an opportunity bump, given he is in the deep 30s in target share.

Second Team

George Pickens has stepped up given that the Cowboys’ top receiver has gone down. He ranks fifth in per snap receiving SumerScore, despite being well in the 30s in target share. It will be interesting to find out whether he can maintain their efficiency as his opportunity inevitably increases. 

Joining him is a newcomer to the top ranks of the Holy Trinity. Smith-Njigba has maintained an eye-popping 35% target share, a ten percentage point increase from last year, while excelling in SumerScore and Yards Per Route Run.

Finally, the rookie Emeka Egbuka has not put up anything under a quality start since joining the Tampa Bay roster, despite being the main focus of defenses as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have missed time.

Tight End

First Team

The rookie, Tyler Warren, has dominated all across the field. Alongside being third in target share and first in yards per route run, Warren is the only tight end to have three blue-chip games in both receiving and run blocking SumerScore at volume.

Second Team

First in target share by almost 4 percentage points amongst tight ends with over 50 routes run, Trey McBride is currently the only true #1 option amongst tight ends in the league. He is showing why he is worth it, as he is the only player other than Warren to have three blue chip receiving SumerScore games.

Offensive Line

First Team

  • Laremy Tunsil, Washington Commanders
  • Isaac Seumalo, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
  • Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
  • Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions

The first team is full of big names who are leading their team. Tunsil, Linderbaum, Lindstrom, and Sewell have been at the top of their game for years. Seumalo, a 2024 Pro Bowler, continues his ascent since joining the Steelers in 2023. Seumalo has had a quality start in both Pass Blocking and Run Blocking SumerScore every game this year, capping it off with an all-pro level performance run blocking in the past two games.

Second Team

  • Kolton Miller, Las Vegas Raiders
  • Chris Paul, Washington Commanders
  • Erik McCoy, New Orleans Saints
  • Mike Onwenu, New England Patriots
  • Morgan Moses, New England Patriots

Joining the excellent-when-healthy McCoy are two New England Patriots. The veteran swingmen Owenu and Moses are key cogs in the Patriots newly minted 4th ranked passing offense in terms of expected points added per attempt. Chris Paul has been stellar after taking over the starting job at left guard for the Commanders. Despite suffering a high ankle sprain last week, Kolton Miller has been a bright spot on the Las Vegas Raiders who have been trying to increase consistency throughout the year. His performance last week was massive in springing Ashton Jeanty loose for the first time in his career in Week 4.

Edge Defender

First Team

  • Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
  • Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers

Surprise, Surprise. The two highest paid non-quarterbacks in the league snag the first team edge defender spots. Garrett has been an absolute game wrecker throughout the game, logging over a premium start in both Pass Rushing and Run Stuffing SumerScores alongside several blue chip games in excess. Meanwhile, Parsons has been unleashed as a super pass rush specialist while battling off back issues. He has had not one but two rare, defensive of the year level performances in Pass Rushing SumerScore, alongside an all-pro level game and a quality start. Right now, Parsons is miles ahead of the next best pass rusher, though an uptick in his run defense would be welcome, especially after a 40-40 tie with his former team.

Second Team

  • Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
  • Will Anderson, Houston Texans

The highly-drafted Hutchinson and Anderson have maintained their intense level of disruption. Hutchinson has logged three straight blue-chip pass rushing SumerScores going into Week 5, alongside a quality start each week in run stuffing. Anderson is the only player in 2025 to log four straight blue-chip passing rushing SumerScores, a stunning feat in and of itself.

Interior Lineman

First Team

  • Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Maliek Collins, Cleveland Browns

Chris Jones has been one of the most disruptive interior rushers and continues to be. He has logged multiple blue-chip games across pass rushing and run stuffing SumerScores. As has the recently acquired Cleveland Brown Maliek Collins, who is a standout member of the Browns’ defense which has kept them afloat this season.

Second Team

  • Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Jordan Davis, Philadelphia Eagles

Post “Spit-Gate”, Jalen Carter has logged a blue-chip Pass Rushing SumerScore in three straight weeks. His running mate both at Georgia and now in Philly, Jordan Davis, is taking advantage of his offseason work. Up until last week, he logged a premium start or above at both Pass Rushing and Run Stuffing SumerScore, alongside scoring a massive special teams touchdown against the Rams.

Inside Linebackers

First Team

  • Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles

Baun, the surprise All-Pro from last year, is joined by fellow Eagle Jihaad Campbell as a top performer a quarter through the season. Baun and Campbell are the only two players to register blue-chip coverage and pass rush SumerScores in three of their four games played. For the most part, they have remained stout against the run as well.

Second Team

  • Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns
  • Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers

Carson Schwesinger  has specialized in stopping the run, logging four straight premium starts alongside several quality starts in coverage as well.The always steady Fred Warner has only had one non-quality performance this year, and has had two, rare Defensive Player of the Year quality SumerScores: one in coverage and one in run defense.

Perimeter Cornerbacks

First Team

  • Charvarius Ward, Indianapolis Colts
  • Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

Charvarius Ward has returned to his all-pro form after joining the Colts. He has not logged any performance less than a premium start. Meanwhile, Tyson Campbell is one of the most targeted players in the league. In spite of that, he has a negative catch rate over expected and EPA on those targets. While he has been flagged for a few big penalties in coverage, those can be considered “subjective”, which is why he has had several quality starts in a row. He projects to continue to play well for what is currently the third ranked defense per pass attempt according to expected points added.

Second Team

  • Nate Wiggins, Baltimore Ravens
  • Isaiah Rodgers, Minnesota Vikings

Despite being on a struggling defense, Nate Wiggins has done his job. Wiggins has logged a quality start every game, with one blue chip coverage SumerScore performance. Isaiah Rodgers had one of the most productive games in cornerback history in Week 3, forcing two fumbles and returning an interception for a touchdown en route to a blue chip SumerScore. While our SumerScores are a little hesitant to call him elite just yet, such production at a position which takes a long time to stabilize warrants credit.

Slot Cornerbacks

First Team

  • Jourdan Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars

Second Team

  • Quentin Lake, Los Angeles Rams 

A key part of two of the top ranked passing defenses right now, Lewis and Lake both have had two quality starts, and two blue chip performances, including a rare, defensive player of the year type outings

Lewis nudged Lake for the first team spot by one additional premium start.

Safety

First Team

  • Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
  • Antoine Winfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The versatile veterans have had excellent seasons. James, the trusty captain of the second ranked defense, has had two blue chip coverage games and two blue chip run defense games. Meanwhile Winfield has not had a quality start across pass and run defense.

Second Team

  • Kamren Curl, Los Angeles Rams
  • Eric Murray, Jacksonville Jaguars

Curl and Murray have both been immensely consistent this year, putting up quality starts both in coverage and run defense from the safety position.

Methodology

In order to compile this list, we took the top per game SumerScore players from each primary role. In places where there were multiple roles (i.e. OL: pass blocking, run blocking), players who (1) performed a tier above in one role or (2) performed well in both roles were prioritized. Ties were broken using per snap SumerScores.