National Football League

Mahomes, Kupp, Burrow headline Cowherd's best NFL players remaining

Updated Jan. 26, 2022 10:50 a.m. ET

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Conference championship weekend is when the stars are expected to shine the brightest.

With four star-laden teams remaining in the NFL playoffs, Colin Cowherd had his work cut out for him Tuesday on "The Herd," as he ranked the 12 best players remaining in the playoff field.

Colin Cowherd names the best NFL players left in the playoffs

Colin Cowherd names the top 12 players still remaining in the NFL playoffs. Watch as he lists the best from the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Here are his favorites:

12. Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
Stats: 40 tackles, 16 sacks

11. Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Stats: 79 tackles

Colin's thoughts: "Fred Warner is the best, most dependable, athletic linebacker in the NFL. And Nick Bosa's healthy, he leads a defensive front that reminds me of the Niners' defensive front several years ago that got to a Super Bowl."

10. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Stats: 111 receptions, 1,239 yards, nine touchdowns 

9. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Stats: 92 receptions, 1,125 yards, nine touchdowns

Colin's thoughts: "They're both great. Flip a coin."

8. Trent Williams, LT, San Francisco 49ers

Colin's thoughts: "He may have had one of the great tackle years in league history. In that system, he is so valuable for Kyle Shanahan."

7. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Stats: 81 receptions, 1,455 yards, 13 touchdowns

Colin's thoughts: "Again, like Justin Jefferson of the Vikings, good luck. Most of the time, I'm not sure if he's open, or you throw it up and he makes it open. A remarkable, once-in-a-decade franchise talent."

6. Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Stats: 4,885 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, 17 interceptions

5. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Stats: 4,611 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, 14 interceptions

Colin's thoughts: "I put Burrow ahead of Stafford simply because he's done something Matt couldn't. Both ended up with a chronically losing franchise. Burrow turned it around immediately. Stafford never could."

4. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Stats: 145 receptions, 1,947 yards, 16 touchdowns

Colin's thoughts: "When you find a corner that can defend him, call me. He makes Pro Bowl corners look lost. Again, you can use him in so many ways — great hands, great routes."

3. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Stats: 77 receptions, 1,405 yards, six touchdowns

Colin's thoughts: "I don't believe the Niners are a playoff team without him, and I'm dead serious. In the toughest division, I think he is an old-school football player. Is he a running back? You can put him in the slot. … He is the ultimate piece. You don't know where he is lining up, and the Niners use him brilliantly."

2. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
Stats: 38 tackles, 13 sacks

Colin's thoughts: "The last defensive lineman that was this disruptive from the interior spot was Reggie White. He is unblockable. What he did to Tampa's interior line was comedy."

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Stats: 4,839 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, 13 interceptions

Colin's thoughts: "Josh Allen has some of the same skills but is a little bit more jagged. Mahomes is ahead of him on the curve. Mahomes is more refined. He is a one-of-one."

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National Football League

San Francisco 49ers

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Cincinnati Bengals

Patrick Mahomes

Aaron Donald

Deebo Samuel

Cooper Kupp

Joe Burrow

Matthew Stafford

Ja'Marr Chase

Trent Williams

Travis Kelce

Tyreek Hill

Fred Warner

Nick Bosa

NFL - San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams - 01/30/2022

NFL - Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs - 01/30/2022

Colin Cowherd

The Herd with Colin Cowherd