With the NFL season finally at an end following the conclusion of Super Bowl 50 yesterday evening, it is time to look back on who had the best individual performances of 2015. The performances of these men not only helped improve their legacies and team’s chances towards success, but maintained the interest and entertained millions of fans of the league from around the world. From worst to first, I will list the top ten individuals I felt did the most this year on the field for their respective organizations.

10. Johnny Hekker (Punter, Los Angeles Rams)

Hey! Punters are people too, right? Well, despite my belief that Pat McAfee is the best punter in the NFL, there is no question that Hekker had such an amazing season worthy of a top-10 rank. This past season, the fourth-year punter possessed a net average of 43.7 yards and had 41 kicked balls that landed within the 20-yard line of the opposition’s side of the field. That undoubtedly always helped St. Louis in many ways, especially on defense, as field position can truly determine the outcome of any game.

9. Drew Brees (Quarterback, New Orleans Saints)

At 37-years young and just finishing his 15th season in the league, Brees still proved that his skill-level has not dropped as the quarterback was crowned the passing king of the NFL this past season with 4,870 passing yards. This mark is quite impressive, considering how the rest of his team performed around him. It is quite challenging to be on a rebuilding losing team and post such statistics, but Brees did just that. If the Saints can round up a better supporting cast around him next season, this Super Bowl-winning quarterback could be even more lethal on the field in 2016.

8. Adrian Peterson (Running Back, Minnesota Vikings)

Typically, it would not be a surprise to find this beast on this list, but this year was different. After facing several legal troubles in 2014 that forced the NFL to suspend Peterson for most of that season, there was no telling how the best running back in the league would return to the game. However, after being reinstated this past season, Peterson did not skip a beat, claiming the NFL rushing title again in 2015 with 1,485 rushing yards, while leading his team to its first playoff appearance since three seasons ago. Someone get that man an orange peanut!

7. NaVorro Bowman Linebacker, (San Francisco 49ers)

One of the greatest stories of the entire season, Bowman truly put on an incredible performance in 2015. After missing the entire 2014 season due to an ACL and MCL tear in the 2013 NFC Championship game, Bowman returned in 2015 to lead the entire NFL in tackles with 154. Despite many key pieces from the defense under the Jim Harbaugh era leaving in the previous offseason, Bowman remained in San Francisco to carry the weight as a veteran leader and did an amazing job this past season with his new defensive unit, by leading by example through his remarkable play on the field.

6. D’Brickashaw Ferguson (Left Tackle, New York Jets)

So you all have seen “The Blind Side,” correct? Well if you have, then you should remember the lesson about how the left tackle is one of the most important positions in football, because they protect the quarterback’s blind side. In most cases these men have to go against an opposing defense’s best pass rusher, keeping them from getting a hit or sack on his quarterback. Well in 2015, Ferguson jumped out to me as the best in the league in that position, because of the Jets’ stats as an offensive unit. In 2015, the Jets ranked the sixth-best in the league in preventing quarterback hits, with just 71 allowed, and second in fewest sacks, with only 22 given up all season. While I cannot claim that Ferguson is the sole reason for this overall performance by the Jets, it is easy to assume he made a major contribution to it. Give the big fella some love ya’ll!

5. Rob Gronkowski (Tight End, New England Patriots)

All season long, when reporters would ask opposing defenders how they planned on stopping the New England Patriots’ high-powered offense, one answer that was commonly expressed was “double, or triple-team Gronk.” And rightfully so. Following obtaining his first Super Bowl championship, Gronkowski rebounded with another stellar regular season in 2015, leading all tight ends with 1,176 receiving yards, including 22 receptions that went for over 20 yards and five that went for over 40 yards. Besides his threat in the receiving game, Gronk was also the best blocking tight end in the league this year, given his size and strength, which established lanes for New England to have a successful rushing attack. And one more reason why he’s on this list? The Gronk spike.

4. Josh Norman (Cornerback, Carolina Panthers)

In the past few years, there has always seemed to be a new cornerback who emerges as the new lockdown defender that wide receivers hate and quarterbacks refuse to throw towards. Names like Darelle Revis, Patrick Peterson, and Richard Sherman. This year? Josh Norman. Throughout the entire season Norman consistently made headlines for possessing the ability to crawl under wide receivers skins to throw them off their game, and was a big reason for Carolina’s successful year on defense. While his stats may not top the league for his position, the vocal leader for the Panther’s defense sure made a name for himself this past season with his performance.

3. Julio Jones (Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons)

For years, fans have been waiting for Julio Jones to fully reach his potential and deliver in the hype that was built about him when he was drafted. Each season he would develop further and further, while Roddy White was deemed the Falcons No. 1 receiver. This season, however, Jones finally did what he was drafted to do, and led the entire league in receiving yards with 1,871 yards, while tying with Antonio Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers for first in receptions with 136. Claiming the receiving title was no easy matter for Jones, however, as the season was one of the most competitive amongst receivers, as 26 players finished with over 1,000 receiving yards. Simply put, 2015 was the breakout year for Jones, that established him as one of the top elite receivers in the NFL.

2. J.J. Watt (Defensive End, Houston Texans)

Every team has a player that they would be nowhere near as successful without. Most of the time those players tend to be a quarterback or running back. But a defensive lineman? A team could survive without one of those, right? Well not if you’re talking about J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans. Ever since he stepped into the NFL, Watt has been doing nearly everything for Houston, including creating sacks, forced fumbles, interceptions, touchdowns and just about nearly anything you could think of. An impact that every overlooked linemen would dream of having for themselves. This year, Watt did many of those remarkable things again, and led the league in sacks with 17.5 on the season. To top it all off, he also helped the Texans reach the playoffs along with an AFC South championship (not that a certain No. 12 wasn’t playing for the Colts, but I won’t be biased here).

1. Cam Newton (Quarterback, Carolina Panthers)

Okay, would someone like to explain to me where this guy and his unstoppable Carolina Panthers team came from? I mean, he has been dominant in the past, but nowhere near the level he and his teammates played at this season. Throughout the entirety of this year, Newton played out of his mind, creating plays with his feet, his rocket arm, and taking a simple dance move and turning it into a trending viral celebration. Between his swagger and play-making abilities, Newton was the overall best player in the NFL this past season, and even if you don’t like his attitude, you have to respect his game and that dab.

So obviously there were a ton of worthy players left off this list, but unfortunately not all of them could fit in. It was an amazing year in the NFL, and I don’t know about you, but I am already looking forward to what 2016 brings! If you agree with this list, share it! If you disagree, however, leave a comment below with how you would rank your personal list of the top-10 performers of 2015 in the NFL!