Fans draft: assembling the ultimate NFL team based on Google search data
- Damar Hamlin tops the charts as the most searched NFL player, garnering more than 7.1 million monthly searches following his in-game cardiac arrest.
- Aaron Rodgers was the second most searched for NFL player in America, receiving more than 2.5 million monthly searches following his Achilles heel injury.
When it comes to the NFL, football fans are eager to tout their favorite players and argue a case for why their team is the best. And since no one team has a monopoly on the best players, this begs the question – what would the ultimate NFL line up look like?
Sports betting experts at Bettingtop10 Canada analyzed search data over the past year for all 2,421 current players in the NFL, to find the nation’s most Googled players, in order to create their ‘Dream Team’ roster.
From quarterbacks to defensive backs, here’s the lineup that America has been Googling the most:
America’s NFL dream team:
Offensive Lineup: Skill players
Quarterback (QB):
New York Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers was revealed to be the most searched for quarterback in America and receives an average of 2.5 million searches every month nationwide. The high number of searches is partly due to public interest in his torn Achilles tendon received during the September game against the Buffalo Bills.
Running back (RB):
New England Patriots’ Ezekiel Elliott is the most searched for running back in the nation and receives around 587,000 searches every month, securing his place as running back on America’s football dream team.
San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey is the second most searched running back in America and receives around 566,000 searches each month, earning him a place in the squad. Part of this search traffic may be due to McCaffrey recently breaking the 49ers record for most consecutive touchdowns in an NFL game, with 13. The record was previously held by Jerry Rice in 1987.
Wide receiver (WR):
Baltimore Ravens’ Odell Beckham Jr. is the most searched wide receiver in America, receiving 826,000 Google searches each month and securing his place as one of the two running backs on America’s NFL dream team. It’s important to note that a proportion of this traffic may result from rumors of Beckham Jr. being linked to Kim Kardashian romantically.
Tennessee Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins is the nation’s second most searched for wide receiver. He amasses more than 650,000 Google searches nationwide each month, earning his place as the second wide receiver in America’s NFL dream team.
Tight end (TE):
Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce is the most searched for tight end in the NFL, with more than 1 million dedicated searches each month across the nation. For this reason, he earns his spot as tight end on America’s NFL dream team.
It’s important to note that part of his search traffic comes from his rumored romance with American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who has appeared at multiple Chiefs games this season.
Offensive skill players are directly involved in ball handling and play-making, including quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. They’re central to executing and advancing offensive plays.
Offensive Lineup: Offensive Line
Offensive tackle (OT):
Cincinnati Bengals’ Orlando Brown Jr. is the nation’s most searched for offensive tackle and receives an average of 277,000 Google searches each month, securing him the first offensive position on America’s NFL dream team. Brown Jr. is the current highest-paid left tackle in the NFL.
San Francisco 49ers’ Trent Williams is America’s second most searched for offensive tackle. The left tackle from Texas secured his place on America’s NFL dream team by receiving more than 96,000 Google searches each month.
Offensive guard (OG):
Washington Commanders’ Chris Paul is the most searched for offensive guard in America, and his 576,000 Google searches each month have earned him the first offensive guard position on America’s NFL dream team.
Seattle Seahawks’ Damien Lewis is America’s second most searched for offensive guard. He receives more than 109,000 Google searches each month, awarding him the second offensive guard position on America’s NFL dream team.
Center (C):
Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce is the most popular center in America, receiving more than 420,000 dedicated Google searches every month, resulting in his placement on America’s NFL dream team. A high proportion of these Google searches may be due to his brother’s recently rumored romance with Taylor Swift.
Comprising the center, offensive guards, and offensive tackles, the offensive line’s main job is to protect the quarterback and make way for running backs. They’re the foundational support for offensive plays.
Defensive lineup: Defensive front
Defensive tackle (DT):
Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Carter is America’s most searched defensive tackle and receives around 243,000 Google searches each month, securing his place on America’s NFL dream team.
Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald is the second most searched for defensive tackle in America and is responsible for around 197,000 Google searches each month, earning his place on the team.
Defensive ends (DE):
San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa, who receives more than 309,000 Google searches monthly, is America’s most popular defensive end and earns a place on America’s NFL dream team. Bosa receives a cash salary of $51.01 million, making him the highest-paid defender in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett is the second most searched for NFL defensive end in America, generating more than 144,000 Google searches monthly and finalizing his place on America’s NFL dream team.
Linebacker (LB):
Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons is the most searched for linebacker in America, with 263,000 monthly searches securing his placement on America’s NFL dream team.
Buffalo Bills’ Von Miller is America’s second most searched for linebacker, amassing more than 195,000 monthly searches on Google and securing his place on the dream team.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt is America’s third most searched for linebacker, with fans typing his name into Google more than 169,000 times each month, driving his inclusion into the team.
Known as the ‘front seven,’ the defensive front includes defensive tackles, defensive ends, and linebackers. Their primary role is to resist the opposing team’s offensive advances and disrupt their plays.
Defensive lineup: Defensive back
Defensive back (DB):Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin is the most searched for defensive back in America and receives more searches each month than any other NFL player, with his name being ‘Googled’ more than 7.1 million times each month.
Hamlin recently completed his first regular season game after returning from a cardiac arrest that saw the 25-year-old collapse mid-game on January 2nd. This event was undoubtedly contributed somewhat to the number of Google searches he received.
Miami Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey receives the second highest number of Google searches for a defensive linebacker, with more than 238,000 searches per month, securing his inclusion in America’s NFL dream team.
Dallas Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs is the third most searched for defensive back in America, earning his space as a linebacker in America’s NFL dream team. The cornerback receives more than 141,000 Google searches each month.
New York Jets’ cornerback Bryce Hall is the fourth highest searched defensive back in America, receiving more than 116,000 Google searches each month and earning his place among the defensive back lineup dream team.
The defensive secondary lineup, also known as the defensive back, is the last line of defense for the team and includes cornerbacks and safeties. They are tasked with preventing long passes, covering wide receivers, and making interceptions. They protect against deep offensive threats.
Speaking on the study, a spokesperson from Bettingtop10 Canada said:
“America’s fascination with NFL players frequently extends beyond their on-field performance, with injuries, romances and rumors of their personal life, influencing who the nation searches for the most.”
“The ‘NFL Dream Team’ aims to showcase the players who have captured the nation’s attention the most over the past year, in order to create the perfect team line up.”
Methodology:
The study analyzed average monthly search data over the past year for 2,421 NFL players. The obtained data determined the most searched players in each position. The roster of 48 active players was selected based on a typical lineup, with specific names removed due to clashes with famous figures.
Removed names:
The following player’s search traffic was either affected by famous cultural personalities or shared names with other players in the NFL, making it difficult to provide precise search result volume: Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Chris Evans, Bill Murray, Bobby Brown, Isaiah Thomas, Anthony Johnson, Michael Thomas.
Sources:
NFL, Google Keyword Planner
************************************
2023 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Football Conference Standings: Links to Area Conferences
Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?
We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?
Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:
Nominate an athlete or team: HERE
**********************************************
Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
