Pani
ni America and the NFL Players Association recently unveiled its quarterly NFLPA Trading Card Index, which ranks the top-performing football players in the licensed trading card industry.
This latest index ranks the cards from the fourth quarter of 2017. Each quarter, the top 15 rookies and top 15 veterans are ranked based on several key factors, including secondary-market transactions, overall trading volume and collectability based on a player’s on-field performance.
Topping the charts on the veterans’ side is a familiar name. For the sixth time in the past seven indexes, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady held down the No. 1 spot. Rounding out the top five are Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, Rams running back Todd Gurley, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell.
Veterans landing on the index for the first time include Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen and Saints running back Mark Ingram.
“It’s still a dream come true for me to see my name listed among some of the best players in the NFL,” said Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who was ranked No. 8 in the fourth quarter rankings. “It goes to show how much support I have from all my fans and collectors. I’m honored, and I hope to remain on this index for years to come.”
Running backs dominated the rookie rankings, with Leonard Fournette, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt and Christian McCaffrey holding down the top four spots. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson rounded out the top five.
Kamara and Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster made the index for the first time.
“It’s an honor to be included among so many of the exciting and talented rookies in the latest Panini trading card index,” Hunt said. “I am humbled to be included on this awesome list in my rookie season, and I want to thank Panini and all my fans for making this possible.”
Some of the high-ticket veteran cards during the fourth quarter included a gem mint 2000 Contenders Football Rookie Ticket Autograph card of Brady, which sold for $85,000. A 2010 National Treasures Football Autograph rookie card of Brown sold for $1,325.
Notable rookie sales included a 2017 Prizm Football Rookie Autograph Black 1/1 card of Fournette, which fetched $1,025. A 2017 Impeccable Football 1/1 autograph card of Kamara sold for $1,490.
The next index will be released in April.
Here are the top 15 rankings for veterans and rookies. Previous rankings are in parentheses.
Fourth-quarter rankings, veterans:
- Tom Brady, New England Patriots (1)
- Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (NA)
- Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams (NA)
- Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (6)
- Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (7)
- Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (NA)
- Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (NA)
- Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams (11)
- Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (NA)
- Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (NA)
- Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (5)
- Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (NA)
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (2)
- LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills (NA)
- Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (NA)
Fourth quarter rankings, rookies:
- Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars (2)
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (NA)
- Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs (5)
- Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (3)
- Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans (1)
- JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers (NA)
- Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (4)
- Evan Engram, New York Giants (NA)
- J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NA)
- Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (11)
- Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (NA)
- J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers (9)
- Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City Chiefs (8)
- Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (NA)
- Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (6)
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