Midseason Film Room All-Stars: Offense Edition

Ahead of Week 9, it's time to review the biggest difference-makers around the league so far this season. Here's a breakdown of the top offensive players by position, based on how they've looked on tape:

Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

It's Patrick Mahomes' world, and we're all just living in it.

Mahomes has been electric through eight games, leading the league in passing yards (2,526) and touchdowns (26) with just six interceptions and a sensational 65.6 percent completion rate. In terms of adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) - the passing stat most correlated with wins, according to Football Perspective - Mahomes ranks third among quarterbacks (9.26). He’s done all this while carrying a defense that ranks 31st in yards allowed per game and 21st in points allowed.

The Texas Tech product is unique because of his ability to win inside and outside the structure of the offense. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is one of the best at designing plays, and Mahomes has done an excellent job of carrying out those brilliant schemes.

Additionally, when a play breaks down, Mahomes shows an innate ability to buy time with his legs before finding an open receiver in a scramble drill. He can make jaw-dropping throws even when his mechanics aren’t perfect. The play below demonstrates his ability to throw accurate (deep) balls while on the run and off-platform:

Sure, Mahomes is blessed with a bevy of dominant playmakers, including Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, and Kareem Hunt, but he’s done his part to maximize the effectiveness of each weapon with pinpoint throws through tight windows.

In his first full year as Kansas City's starter, Mahomes has easily been the best quarterback in football so far.

Running Back: Todd Gurley, Rams

The Rams have been the best team in football over the first eight weeks, and Todd Gurley's been their top offensive player while emerging as one of the favorites to win the league's MVP award.

Gurley leads the NFL in rushing yards (800), rushing touchdowns (11), and yards from scrimmage (1,151), while also adding four receiving scores, putting him on pace to challenge LaDainian Tomlinson's all-time record of 31 total TDs. And Gurley's made it look easy:

He's a special back who intertwines speed, explosiveness, vision, and elusiveness as well as anyone at the position. Gurley shows the patience to let blocks develop and the quickness to burst through a hole once it opens.

As a receiver out of the backfield, Gurley's potent on swing routes and screen passes, where he’s able to use his elusiveness and speed in space:

Even when the Rams don't give the ball to Gurley, they often use the star running back as a decoy on play-action passes, meaning most of the offense is run through him in one way or another.

When you combine the NFL's preeminent talent at running back with the best play-caller in football (Sean McVay), you get a dominant force that's almost impossible to stop. Gurley isn't just the best running back in football through eight weeks - he might be the best offensive player, period.

Wide Receiver: DeAndre Hopkins, Texans

With apologies to Michael Thomas and Adam Thielen, the best wide receiver this season has been DeAndre Hopkins.

Through eight games, Hopkins has 53 catches (eighth among WRs) for 789 yards (third) and six touchdowns (third). He's also third in yards per reception (14.9) among receivers with at least 45 catches. And Hopkins has done this despite being pitted against an impressive Rolodex of cornerbacks, including Byron Jones, Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, and Tre'Davious White.

Hopkins is a master of creating separation at the top of his routes by using physicality. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, he leverages his frame and length to bully defensive backs:

He's also the best weapon in contested-catch situations, as he continually makes the toughest plays look easy. Hopkins uses uncanny timing, impressive leaping ability, and incredibly strong hands to consistently win at the catch point. Case in point:

Hopkins had played with subpar quarterbacks for most of his career to date, but the NFL is finally seeing how dominant he can be with a competent thrower under center. He's firmly entrenched among the top tier of wide receivers, and he's our Midseason Film Room All-Star at the position.

Tight End: George Kittle, 49ers

If this section was dedicated to the best receiver masquerading as a tight end, Travis Kelce would be the easy choice. But we're looking for the best overall tight end - with blocking as a key factor - so George Kittle gets the nod over Kelce.

Offensively, Kittle's combination of size and speed is a matchup nightmare:

Through eight games, he has 37 catches (third among TEs) for 584 yards (third among TEs) and two touchdowns while leading the 49ers in targets, catches, and receiving yards. Kittle isn’t just satisfied with making the reception, either, as he leads all tight ends in yards after catch (399) and has forced six missed tackles.

He's done all this while being perhaps the best blocking tight end in the NFL. Kittle does an excellent job of initiating contact with proper hand placement and leverage so he can overwhelm linebackers and defensive backs at the point of attack:

He's also one of the few tight ends who can hold his own against a defensive end.

After flashing starting-caliber traits as a rookie last season, Kittle's quickly become one of the best weapons in the league, regardless of position. And unlike many tight ends, his effectiveness doesn’t wane when the offense calls a run.

Offensive Tackle: David Bakhtiari, Packers

Playing offensive tackle is one of the most difficult tasks in the NFL. Not only does it require a 300-plus-pound athlete to fluidly move backward in pass protection, but he must do so while defending a much quicker athlete with comparable strength. It takes savviness and a supreme mastery of technique to survive on the edge.

No offensive tackle has made that tough task look easier than David Bakhtiari has in 2018. And that shouldn’t surprise anyone who's been paying attention, as Bakhtiari's been among the best at his position for the last three seasons.

At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Bakhtiari has some of the best footwork in the NFL, as he routinely beats pass-rushers to the contact point and effortlessly mirrors them up the arc.

In the past, Bakhtiari’s biggest weakness was defending strength, as he didn't yet have the ability to consistently anchor against more powerful pass-rushers. That hasn’t been a problem this season, as the Colorado product's done an excellent job of leveraging his core strength and footwork to anchor against bull rushes:

In the run game, Bakhtiari's masterful at latching onto and steering defenders at the point of attack, creating open lanes for running backs. He's also an adept blocker on the back side of runs, using his fluid movement skills and savvy techniques to reach and block defenders.

It may be time to stop regarding Bakhtiari as simply one of the best offensive tackles in football, and instead start considering him the premier player at his position.

Offensive Guard: Marshal Yanda, Ravens

Marshal Yanda may be the most underrated player in football, as he's quietly been a top-three offensive lineman since 2013. Most fans outside of Baltimore have no idea that the dominant Yanda even exists.

The Iowa product is the most technically sound and savvy interior guard in the NFL, as he's mastered the ability to vary his pass sets and hand techniques to keep pass-rushers off-balance. Against power rushers, Yanda uses elite footwork and core strength. And against rushers with more active hands, he has a unique ability to sequence his own hand techniques to defend whatever moves come at him.

In the run game, there isn’t a block that Yanda can’t execute. He can displace a defensive tackle at the point of attack with a base block, and he can reach a shaded defender on a zone concept. Yanda leverages his crafty hands and strong base to routinely be in the right position to carry out his responsibilities.

There are a number of guards with worthwhile arguments, but none have been as consistent on a snap-by-snap basis this season.

Center: Jason Kelce, Eagles

Jason Kelce's been a top center in the NFL for quite some time, and he’s continued his stellar play this season.

At 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, Kelce's not going to overwhelm defensive tackles with his power. Instead, he's one of the most athletic centers in football who uses angles and leverage to wall off defenders and create open running lanes.

He's also a masterful blocker in space who can redirect against moving targets. That makes Kelce a weapon as a puller and in the screen game, where he’s able to make blocks outside the hash marks and down the field:

In pass protection, Kelce's fantastic at setting the depth of a pocket, and he does well to look for work when there’s no rusher in the A-gaps. Furthermore, Kelce’s mental processing ability stands out in pass protection, as he quickly and easily passes off and takes on defenders who are running stunts.

Like Yanda and Bakhtiari, it’s not surprising to see Kelce play at such a high level through eight games, as he’s been doing this for a few years. The Eagles may not be playing up to expectations right now, but Kelce certainly is.

John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.