The 26-year-old is a freak of nature, and his 2015 campaign was without question one of the best in the league. These are injuries that more than often keep players sidelined for extended periods of time, and Watt continued to play through them without any apparent hindrance. The 2015 season could be argued as his best year for the simple fact that he was still dominant even with a nagging groin problem and a fractured hand. He has continued to be a major factor despite constant double teams - and even triple teams at times.

Watt has been a force to reckon with since entering the league. His 6-foot-5 frame and 289 pounds combined with his strength and speed make him the most difficult defensive lineman to guard for opposing players. This helped the Houston Texans defensive end earn his fourth straight Pro Bowl nod and likely second straight and third overall NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. It was more of the same in 2015 for the league’s best defensive player despite dealing with a groin injury and a fractured left hand as he still started all 16 regular season games, recording 76 tackles, an NFL-leading 17.5 sacks, eight passes defended, and three forced fumbles. Watt, Houston Texans Scott Halleran/Getty Images Without further ado, here are the top five players in 2015. Of course, many of the usual suspects put together strong showings from Week 1 through Week 16, but there were definitely a few who deserve extra recognition for their outstanding overall achievement, both in terms of their individual play and for how critical they were to their team’s success. The 2015 NFL season, like every season before it, was filled with a plethora of standout performances across the league.

2015 nfl rosters by team