4) Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys running back: After Urban Meyer anointed Elliott the best player he's ever coached without the ball in his hand, the former Ohio State star was billed as the most complete back to enter the league in the past decade. He has exceeded the hype. When I first laid eyes on Elliott in a Cowboys uniform, I was initially struck by the power and competitive fire he showed in running over bone-jarring Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor in preseason action. Once the regular season started, I noted his patience and vision to consistently hit the right hole behind Dallas' road-grading offensive line. After a few weeks, it was easy to see his preternatural balance, as Elliott rarely lost his feet without taking a direct hit. By October, I marveled at his ability to get skinny and burst through a small hole only to flip the switch, find a fifth gear and outrun defenders to the end zone. Along the way, Elliott proved to be a superior blocker and excellent screen-pass back. If there's a weakness in his game, NFL defenses have yet to find a way to exploit it.