With the beginning of the NFL league year and the Combine still a few weeks away, we have an opportunity for another look back on the season that just completed before turning the page forward.



Players to win awards for the 2016-17 season have included Matt Ryan (MVP), Dak Prescott (ROY), Khalil Mack (DPOY), and Vic Beasley (MIP). The "Madden NFL" video game series presents another method of tracking player performance through its weekly ratings adjustments.



We'll soon be taking a look at the players who declined the most from the start to the end of the season. First, though, it's about recognizing those across the league who improved the most over the past year.

EA Sports https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/69/b/matt-ryan-madden-nfl-17_7t9ry399q55r1pyj7pllb5mp3.jpg?t=1113904274&w=500&quality=80



MVP Matt Ryan was the biggest winner in "Madden" ratings throughout the season. He began with an 84 Overall rating in "Madden NFL 17," which ranked him as the 13th best quarterback in the league. By the end of the campaign, he reached 95 Overall, good enough to be considered as the third-best QB in the league. He trails only Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady.



From the list below, it's the New England Patriots and San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers have the most players represented, with six. The Super Bowl-winning team being there is no surprise, but the 5-11 Chargers might be. They got there because of a bunch of young players who stepped into the place of injured veterans and performing admirably.



Quarterback

Matt Ryan, ATL (from 84 to 95)

Derek Carr, OAK (from 83 to 88)

Dak Prescott, DAL (from 71 to 85)

Sam Bradford, MIN (from 78 to 82)

Jimmy Garoppolo, NE (from 72 to 76)

Trevor Siemian, DEN (from 61 to 76)



Running Back

David Johnson, ARI (from 84 to 90)

Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (from 80 to 88)

Jay Ajayi, MIA (from 75 to 85)

Tevin Coleman, ATL (from 75 to 85)

Melvin Gordon, SD (from 76 to 85)

Jordan Howard, CHI (from 66 to 82)

Ty Montgomery, GB (from 71 to 79)



Wide Receiver

Mike Evans, TB (from 86 to 90)

Michael Thomas, NO (from 70 to 84)

Davante Adams, GB (from 75 to 84)

Terrelle Pryor, CLE (from 71 to 83)

Cameron Meredith, CHI (from 64 to 82)

Tyreek Hill, KC (from 65 to 81)

Adam Thielen, MIN (from 69 to 81)

Tyrell Williams, SD (from 63 to 80)

Quincy Enunwa, NYJ (from 66 to 79)



Tight End

Travis Kelce, KC (from 88 to 94)

Jimmy Graham, SEA (from 89 to 93)

Jason Witten, DAL (from 87 to 91)

Zach Miller, CHI (from 78 to 85)

Trey Burton, PHI (from 69 to 79)



Offensive Line

Alex Mack, ATL (from 84 to 91)

David Bakhtiari, GB (from 79 to 90)

Brandon Brooks, PHI (from 81 to 88)

Marcus Cannon, NE (from 74 to 88)

Matt Paradis, DEN (from 71 to 88)

Bryan Bulaga, GB (from 79 to 86)

Brandon Linder, JAX (from 76 to 86)

Cody Whitehair, CHI (from 69 to 85)

Morgan Moses, WAS (from 78 to 85)

Shaq Mason, NE (from 74 to 84)

Ronald Leary, DAL (from 75 to 84)

Greg Mancz, HOU (from 63 to 83)

Quinton Spain, TEN (from 68 to 81)



Defensive End

Khalil Mack, OAK (from 94 to 98)

Jadeveon Clowney, HOU (from 83 to 89)

Joey Bosa, SD (from 79 to 87)

Chris Jones, KC (from 72 to 83)

Danielle Hunter, MIN (from 72 to 83)

Frank Clark, SEA (from 68 to 81)

Trey Flowers, NE (from 68 to 81)



Defensive Tackle

Damon Harrison, NYG (from 84 to 88)

Leonard Williams, NYJ (from 81 to 86)

Grady Jarrett, ATL (from 72 to 82)

Danny Shelton, CLE (from 72 to 82)

Abry Jones, JAX (from 68 to 79)

Malcolm Brown, NE (form 71 to 78)

Michael Pierce, BAL (from 63 to 77)



Middle Linebacker

Bobby Wagner, SEA (from 88 to 92)

Paul Posluszny, JAX (from 78 to 86)

Zach Brown, BUF (from 74 to 85)

Jordan Hicks, PHI (from 75 to 85)

Perry Riley., WAS (from 74 to 84)

Mason Foster, WAS (from 72 to 83)

Gerald Hodges, SF (from 69 to 82)

Jatavis Brown, SD (from 63 to 79)



Outside Linebacker

Melvin Ingram, SD (from 86 to 89)

Chandler Jones, ARI (from 82 to 87)

Nigel Bradham, PHI (from 75 to 84)

Shaq Thompson, CAR (from 75 to 83)

Lorenzo Alexander, BUF (from 67 to 82)

Trent Murphy, WAS (from 74 to 82)

Markus Golden, ARI (from 69 to 81)



Cornerback

Aqib Talib, DEN (from 90 to 94)

Malcolm Butler, NE (from 85 to 91)

Janoris Jenkins, NYG (from 85 to 89)

A.J. Bouye, HOU (from 73 to 88)

Xavier Rhodes, MIN (from 80 to 87)

Byron Maxwell, MIA (from 76 to 84)

Morris Claiborne, MIN (from 70 to 83)

James Bradberry, CAR (from 70 to 81)

Tavon Young, BAL (from 67 to 80)



Safety

Kam Chancellor, SEA (from 91 to 95)

Landon Collins, NYG (from 77 to 92)

Tony Jefferson, ARI (from 82 to 88)

Johnathan Cyprien, JAX (from 76 to 86)

Maurice Alexander, LA (from 69 to 84)

D.J. Swearinger, ARI (from 72 to 84)

Jahleel Addae, SD (from 74 to 84)

Quintin Demps, HOU (from 75 to 84)

Tavon Wilson, DET (from 73 to 83)

Andrew Adams, NYG (from 66 to 82)



Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the "Press Row Podcast" and be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.