Emmanuel Sanders ranked No. 11 among NFLPI’s list of 50 “rising stars.” (Tim Rasmussen, The Denver Post)
NFL Players Inc, the marketing and licensing arm of the NFL Players Association, on Wednesday unveiled its first-ever ,” the players projected to be future top-sellers of licensed merchandise.
The list, which is based on the 2014 season, includes NFL veterans as well as “emerging young stars” and even college players who have declared for the draft.
New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., he of the , tops the list, while Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell, Heisman winner Marcus Mariota, Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown and Indianapolis’ T.Y. Hilton round out the top five.
Representing Denver are: Emmanuel Sanders (11), Julius Thomas (14), C.J. Anderson (16), Ronnie Hillman (17-T), Montee Ball (17-T) and Brock Osweiler (50).
Earlier this month, Peyton Manning was revealed to have for the third fiscal quarter of 2014, after in the first quarter.
If Manning returns for 2015, it seems he may have some competition from this group of “rising stars:”
1. Odell Beckham Jr.
2. Le’Veon Bell
3. Marcus Mariota
4. Antonio Brown
5. T.Y. Hilton
6. Jeremy Hill
7. Mike Evans
8. Jameis Winston
9. Randall Cobb
10. Kelvin Benjamin
11. Emmanuel Sanders
12. Alshon Jeffery
13. DeAndre Hopkins
14. Julius Thomas
15. Golden Tate
16. C.J. Anderson
17. (tie) Ronnie Hillman
17. (tie) Montee Ball
19. Blake Bortles
20. Julian Edelman
21. Giovani Bernard
22. Andre Ellington
23. Amari Cooper
24. Brandin Cooks
25. Connor Barwin
26. Bobby Wagner
27. Latavius Murray
28. Khalil Mack
29. C.J. Mosley
30. Travis Kelce
31. Melvin Gordon
32. Jordan Matthews
33. Jarvis Landry
34. Tyrann Mathieu
35. Tre Mason
36. Denard Robinson
37. Lamar Miller
38. Jadeveon Clowney
39. Mark Ingram
40. Martavis Bryant
41. Eric Decker
42. Joique Bell
43. Devonta Freeman
44. Davante Adams
45. Carlos Hyde
46. Todd Gurley
47. Bishop Sankey
48. Kiko Alonso
49. Chris Borland
50. Brock Osweiler
