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Andrew Luck Ranked at No. 43 in ESPN NFL Player Rankings

By Garrett Hagan

Aug 20, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Andrew Luck ranked in as the 43rd-best player according to ESPN’s #NFLRank — which ranks solely off of how good a player is and nothing else. Luck looks to have a bounce-back 2016 campaign.

Andrew Luck suffered the worst year of his professional career in 2015. He missed nine total games, and threw 12 interceptions in the seven games that he appeared in.

As a result, the Colts finished with eight total wins in 2015 — missing out on the postseason after being favorites to make an appearance in Super Bowl 50.

On Monday and Tuesday, the staff at ESPN decided to come up with their own rankings of their top players in the NFL. The experts ranked Luck as the 43rd overall player in the NFL. 50 voters from ESPN and various other networks partook in the process.

Here was the reasoning for Luck clocking in at No. 43:

"No. 43: Andrew LuckAverage rating: 85.8; 2015 rank: 12Don’t be fooled by Luck’s disappointing numbers — 15 touchdowns and 13 turnovers — in seven games last season. The former No. 1 overall pick was barely healthy. Go back to the 2014 season when Luck threw for 4,761 yards and 40 touchdowns if you want a better picture of what he can do. This is a redemption season for the $140 million quarterback."

It is without-a-doubt that Luck would fall in the rankings after his lackluster performances in 2015, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t rebound and get back into the top-12 that he found himself in this time a year ago.

Rankings mean nothing in the long run, but if any Colts fans watched Luck’s preseason debut on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens, they saw a smarter, more consistent quarterback.

Luck went 8-for-8 with 71 yards with a 103.6 rating after two series. He threw no touchdowns, but had two that were negated by penalties early on in the game.

If the Colts can get that type of consistency from Luck on a weekly basis, then they should be in good hands overall.

Vontae Davis also ranked in on the list, coming in at No. 96.

"96: Vontae DavisAverage rating: 80.27; 2015 rank: 71Davis’ string of 25-straight games of not giving up a touchdown reception ended in Week 2 last season. The Colts need Davis, who dealt with nagging injuries all year, to get back to taking away one half of the field on defense again. “He knows, in order for us to be the type of defense that we want to be, that he has to,” coach Chuck Pagano said. “There’s no gray area there. He either does it, or we’re not going to be the same type of defense.”"

Next: Colts: Vontae Davis to Miss Extended Time

With Davis being sidelined to an ankle injury for “at least” the first month of the regular season that starts on Sep. 11, the Colts will have to rely heavily on players like Luck and the rest of the defense to carry the weight of the team.

Andrew Luck looks to continue his good play when the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Colts Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. ET.

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