SumerScores utilize tracking data and machine learning to evaluate every tenth of a second of a play. It is able to evaluate the relationships between every player on the field. At the season level, the scores gauge how rare a player’s seasonal performance is and how much we can trust that it will continue to be rare.

Because ranks or rank percentiles can sometimes oversell or undersell the impact a player is having in a game, SumerScores are categorized into a few buckets, designed to explain performances in terms of awards or depth chart positions.

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The “Blue-Chip” Performances (10, 9, and 8) describe the best players in the league. The “Starter” performances (Green; 7 and 6) describe performances that are not quite dominant but are solidly average or above. “Sub-Starter” performances (5 and 4) describe below average play.

The top players in the league were selected for SumerSports’ Midseason All-Pro Team and Awards using this system.

Offensive Player of the Year Most Valuable Player: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

The only quarterback having a certified All-Pro level season according to SumerScore is Justin Herbert. Interestingly, it is not showing up in the result-oriented advanced metrics. Herbert currently sits at 17th in expected points added per play and 11th in success rate amongst quarterbacks with over 100 dropbacks.

So how is Herbert the most valuable player?

Justin Herbert is facing quite a rare set of circumstances. Very few quarterbacks over the years have faced the amount of adversity that Justin Herbert has in 2025.

Despite the hardship, Herbert has kept the Chargers afloat. He has the most Blue-Chip games amongst quarterbacks in 2025 (3 Pro Bowl-level and one All-Pro level), two of which were against top teams in the AFC: the Chiefs and the Colts.

If you are looking for a player who has been the primary fuel behind his team’s record, Herbert is the answer.

Offensive Player of the Year: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the midseason offensive player of the year, beating out Jonathan Taylor by a razor thin margin (just over one-fifth of a point). One of only three offensive skill players who have earned an Award-Worthy SumerScore, Smith-Njigba is having a receiving season that almost does not seem possible.

  • He is currently almost a yard ahead of the next best pass catcher across the past 3 seasons with over 100 routes run in yards per route run.
  • He is doing that while being the center of attention for both the offensive and defensive game plans, given he is currently sporting a 38.81% target share (which, if you were wondering, is over five percentage points over second place for pass catchers with over 100 routes run).

These are far and away the highest figures since 2022, so some regression is likely in order, especially given the Seahawks have bolstered their pass catching options with the acquisition of Rashid Shaheed. Even so, Smith-Njigba’s performance through Week 10 might be enough to propel him to the Offensive Player of the Year Award at the end of the season, regardless of whether his stats do come back to earth.

Defensive Player of the Year: Talanoa Hufanga, Denver Broncos

Talanoa Hufanga is currently having one of the best years we have ever seen at the safety position as it pertains to SumerScore, and he is currently the best player in the league at playing his role.

Hufanga has earned an Award-Worthy SumerScore by putting together multiple Blue-Chip games in the traditional safety roles of coverage (2 games) and run defense (5 games). In addition, he has also become a menace while pass rushing.

 Thus, the Broncos’ dice-roll on the oft-injured, former All-Pro has launched their defense to new heights. The Broncos rank first in success rate allowed at 36.22%, an improvement of almost three percentage points over last year’s already insane first place effort (38.98%).

The rich just get richer, as Hufanga has added new dimensions to an already award-winning defense.

Protector of the Year Award: Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos

Garett Bolles has been a consistently quality player throughout all of 2025. With three Blue-Chip games and no Sub-Starter games, Bolles is the best player on an offense which has quietly become a Top 5 team in terms of expected points added per play in the red area.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

Tyler Warren is the weapon that unlocked the Colts’ offense. He has put up excellent receiving numbers, with 5 Blue-Chip level games in that phase including an impact starter performance in Week 10. As a result, he is currently 7th in Yards Per Route Run on the 4th most target share of all tight ends with over 50 routes run. Warren joins Brock Bowers in a recent run of highly drafted tight ends to live up to their pre-draft hype.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns

The Browns’ second round selection Carson Schwesinger immediately jumped in as a Day 1 starter and contributed at an impact starter level. With only one Sub Starter performance all year, Schwesinger has been amongst the most consistent rookies across positions. He is a core part of the Browns’ defense which currently ranks third in expected points added allowed per play.

Quarterback Midseason All-Pro List

Drake Maye narrowly beats out Dak Prescott (by about two percentage points) for the second team spot on this list due to some massive performances between Weeks 5 and 8. He currently ranks 2nd in total expected points added through the air. While the eye test shows his mobility as a plus, an increase in efficiency with his legs (currently at 27th in total rushing expected points added despite leading all quarterbacks in rushing attempts) would further launch him into the Most Valuable Player discussion.

Meanwhile, we’d be remiss if we did not mention Dak Prescott. He has carried the load for a Cowboys’ team which virtually requires him to go out and score every possession they want to win. The Cowboys’ offense, currently 6th in expected points added per play, is not exactly well complemented by a defense which ranks 31st in expected points added allowed per play. Despite that, Prescott has consistently created opportunities for his teammates.

It must be noted, however, that this is a bit of a down year for quarterback play. No one has an MVP-level Season SumerScore. Only Herbert has an All-Pro level score, while only Prescott and Maye are playing at a certifiable Impact Starter level, according to SumerScores.

Running Back Midseason All-Pro List

Both Taylor and McCaffrey have earned Award-Worthy SumerScores through ten weeks. Neither has had a Sub-Starter level game in 2025.

Taylor, sporting 5 Blue-Chip games, has been dominant on the ground this season. He is first in expected points added per rush and yards per carry amongst backs with 50 carries.

Meanwhile, McCaffrey has recreated himself as one of the best pass catchers in the league, period. As a receiver, he has put up 7 Blue-Chip performances and has never gone lower than a quality start on the 2025 season. His 25.79% target share would be in the Top 20 amongst wide receivers. Despite a drop in athleticism, McCaffrey’s reinvention has kept him and the 49ers relevant despite injuries all over the field, including at quarterback.

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Wide Receiver Midseason All-Pro List

Joining Jaxon Smith-Njigba are annual Offensive Player of the Year contenders Ja’Marr Chase and Puka Nacua. Nacua would likely have an Award-Worthy season if not for a few games missed due to injury. His All-Pro SumerScore is fueled by his second-place ranking in yards per route run, a stat he continually has dominated in his career.

Chase is having an All-Pro level season according to SumerScore. Sporting a career high 33.75% target share (2nd amongst Wide Receivers with over 100 routes run), Chase has carried the burden for an offense which has seen Joe Burrow, Jake Browing, and Joe Flacco start at quarterback.

Despite immense quarterback controversy, Justin Jefferson has been consistent in his play, much like he has the entirety of his career. He has had a Quality Start in every single game, the only player on this list to do so, and has maintained over a 30% target share in 2025.

Amon-Ra St. Brown rounds out the All-Pro level SumerScores, primarily due to his 5th place ranking in yards per route run and target share.

Of all the splashy moves the Cowboys have made this season, trading for George Pickens has been far and away the most successful. Pickens carried the load in the early season while CeeDee Lamb missed time due to injury, putting up two Blue-Chip SumerScore games in that period. Pickens has been the deep ball, contested catch machine that Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams were looking for to supercharge the Cowboys' offense.

Tight End Midseason All-Pro List

Beating out the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the top spot amongst tight ends is Trey McBride, who has put up a Blue-Chip performance in every game except two (the next highest amongst tight ends is 4 by Sam LaPorta). McBride currently is shouldering a massive weight for the Cardinals offense, with a staggering 28.95% target share, which is 1st  amongst tight ends and would be 8th amongst wide receivers.

Offensive Line Midseason All-Pro List

  • First Team:
    • Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
    • Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
    • Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
    • Kevin Dotson, Los Angeles Rams
    • Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions
  • Second Team:
    • Bernhard Raimann, Indianapolis Colts
    • Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears
    • Drew Dalman, Chicago Bears
    • Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos
    • Colton McKivitz, San Francisco 49ers

The main challengers for the Protector of the Year award alongside Bolles will be Penei Sewell and Creed Humphrey, both who have certified Award-Worthy SumerScores.

Sewell is mere tenths of a percentage point away from the top spot due to a Sub-Starter Week 1. However, Sewell put up a rare, record-breaking SumerScore in the Week 3 rout of the Baltimore Ravens.

Creed Humphrey, the longtime tip of the spear for the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line, is in prime position to win the brand new “Protector of the Year” award. With multiple Blue-Chip games in his bag (6 pass blocking and 2 run blocking), Humphrey’s performance has helped restore the Chiefs’ offense back to its former glory (currently second in expected points added per play).

Joining them on the first team are Quenton Nelson (All-Pro SumerScore) and Kevin Dotson (Impact Starter SumerScore). Nelson and Dotson are the interior fuel behind the first (Colts) and second (Rams) ranked teams in terms of offensive success rate.

Bernhard Raimann, the Colts’ left tackle missed out on a first team nod and Award-Worthy SumerScore by a mere 2 percentage points. He is joined on the second team by players who all have Impact Starter SumerScores. Thuney and Meinerz made All-Pro appearances last year and continue to perform at that level en route to what may be Hall of Fame careers. Thuney is joined by his Bears teammate Dalman. Both were acquired in the offseason and have been crucial in the construction of Ben Johnson’s 9th ranked offense in terms of expected points added.

Rounding out the list is the underappreciated McKivitz. Despite playing in the shadow of left tackle Trent Williams, the sixth ranked left tackle according to SumerScore, McKivitz, has quietly become a Pro Bowl level performer in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

Edge Rushers Midseason All-Pro List

  • First Team:
    • Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers
    • Will Anderson, Houston Texans
  • Second Team:
    • Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
    • Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams
  • Honorable Mention:
    • Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
    • Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

The edge rushing position is rich in talent in 2025, as 16 players have had impact starter level years. Atop the list is Micah Parsons. One of three edge rushers who have a Rare game SumerScore (Week 7), Parsons is leading the league in pressures, according to SumerBrain. Parsons has been worth the two first round picks the Green Bay Packers sent out for him.

Also on the first team is Will Anderson, the best player on top ranked defense in terms of expected points added allowed per play. Anderson is less than a half percentage point away from an Award-Worthy SumerScore, in short due to his third-place 48 pressures and excellent run defense, according to SumerBrain.

Just a touch behind Parsons on the pressure ladder is Aidan Hutchinson. While Anderson is the only player with 5 Blue-Chip level games, Hutchinson has only 4 with 1 sub-starter level game, leading to him being the third highest graded edge, according to SumerScore.

Closing out the second team and leading off the honorable mentions are both Rams’ edge rushers: Young and Verse. Young, with a clean sweep of Starter or above game SumerScores, combines an excellent blend of run defense and pass rushing, while Verse has absolutely excelled in pass rushing, racking up 42 pressures, good for 6th in the NFL. Together with some of the other members on this list, they have helped the Rams become the 4th best team in expected points added allowed per play.

Finally, Myles Garrett just slightly missed the top two teams due to a Sub-Starter run stuff game in Week 8 and a Sub-Starter pass rush game in Week 10. Despite the recent performances, Garrett has been the leader on the Browns’ defense that is fighting to keep their team relevant.

Interior Defensive Linemen Midseason All-Pro List

  • First Team:
    • Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
    • Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
  • Second Team:
    • Quinnen Williams, New York Jets / Dallas Cowboys
    • Moro Ojomo, Philadelphia Eagles

Speaking of guys fighting to keep their team relevant, Jeffery Simmons has put up a Quality Start in every game prior to injury. The multi-time All-Pro Cameron Heyward remains dominant after putting together all Quality Starts or above in terms of SumerScore after Week 1.

Quinnen Williams was also fighting to keep his New York Jets relevant before his trade to the Dallas Cowboys. Williams, the only player to have a Rare Run Defense SumerScore amongst defensive tackles this year (Week 3), will oversee trying to shore up the Cowboys’ defense starting this upcoming week. 

The Philadelphia Eagles allowed Milton Williams to walk in free agency in hopes that Moro Ojomo, who had a 79th percentile SumerScore last year (very close to the “Quality Starter” mark) could step up. He has done that thus far, earning an impact starter SumerScore in 2025. I wonder who could have predicted this?!

Linebackers Midseason All-Pro List

  • First Team:
    • Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
    • Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions
    • Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans
  • Second Team:
    • Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins
    • Robert Spillane, New England Patriots
    • Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints

Leading the list yet again is 2024 breakout star Zack Baun, who is following up his All-Pro selection last year with yet another All-Pro level SumerScore year. Joining him is Jack Campbell, the only other inside backer with an All-Pro level SumerScore. Campbell is a core part of Kelvin Sheppard’s 6th ranked Lions defense as measured by expected points added allowed per play. Second year linebacker Cedric Gray, who has absolutely excelled in run defense for the Titans. He is one of four players to earn a rare run defense SumerScore performance (Week 4) and has racked up Blue-Chip run defense scores in 3 of his last 4 performances.

Leading off the second team is Jordyn Brooks, who has really stepped up his play since Week 5, logging all but one Quality Start or above. Robert Spillane’s offseason addition has helped the Patriots’ defense move from 29th in expected points added allowed per play in 2024 to 13th in 2025. Finally, long-time All-Pro candidate Demario Davis continues to produce. He has only two Sub-Starter games in a season in which the Saints are sneakily an above average defense by both expected points added allowed per play and success rate allowed.

Cornerbacks Midseason All-Pro List

  • First Team:
    • Keisean Nixon, Green Bay Packers
    • Deommodore Lenoir, San Francisco 49ers
  • Second Team:
    • Brandon Stephens, New York Jets
    • Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans

Leading off the list is the shutdown corner for the Packers, Keisean Nixon, who has earned 4 Blue-Chip game SumerScores this year.

The San Francisco 49ers are currently the 27th ranked team in expected points added per pass, but that is not due to Lenoir, who is one of the only remaining Day 1 starters on that defense. He has battled to keep the 49ers above water and has had a quality start in three of his last 4 starts.

Many were floored when Sauce Gardner, who allegedly wasn’t even expected to be traded, was sent to the Colts by the Jets. That is likely because they have been getting tremendous value out of Brandon Stephens, who has had a quality start every week since Week 5, including 2 Blue-Chip level performances. Quietly, his Jets defense is 6th in success rate allowed.

Rounding out the list, Kamari Lassiter has joined in on the All-Pro Party in Houston after Derek Stingley made the All-Pro team last year. He too has an Impact Starter level SumerScore after some strong performance post-BYE.

Overall, however, this has been a down year in cornerback play, as no outside corners have had All-Pro or Award-Worthy seasons.

Slot Cornerbacks Midseason All-Pro List

  • First Team:
    • Quentin Lake, Los Angeles Rams
  • Second Team:
    • Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles

Quentin Lake has been amongst the most impactful players in the league this year. He has the most Blue-Chip SumerScore game performances by any corner (slot or outside) this yearr. He has been a major reason why the Rams’ defense is so comfortable with lighter personnels on the field.

Cooper DeJean is setting himself up to continue batting 1.000 on SumerSports All-Pro bids in his two-year career, as he has had only two Sub-Starter game scores this season.

Safeties Midseason All-Pro List

  • First Team:
    • Talanoa Hufanga, Denver Broncos
    • Kamren Curl, Los Angeles Rams
  • Second Team:
    • Coby Bryant, Seattle Seahawks
    • Ronnie Hickman, Cleveland Browns

Joining the Defensive Player of the Year Hufanga on the first team is Kamren Curl, the fourth Ram on this list. He is the only other safety to earn an All-Pro level SumerScore or above on the year after racking up starter level game scores in all but one of his games.

On the second team is Coby Bryant, the only Seattle Seahawk that makes this list (though many were near misses). The Seahawks defense has been immensely strong as a team, and Bryant has been a major player. The Hawks currently are 5th in expected points added allowed per play.

The former undrafted free agent Hickman has been a standout on the underrated Browns defense. Hickman has provided excellent run support (where he has only one sub-starter SumerScore game) for the best run defense in terms of expected points added per rush.

Team Award + Selection Total

  • 6: Los Angeles Rams
  • 4: Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions
  • 3: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles
  • 2: Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans
  • 1: Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets