Highlights of the Second NFL Players Association's Top 50 Player Sales List in 2018

Top Things to Know About NFLPA’s Top 50 Player Sales List through Start of Season

The NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List is the only verified ranking of all officially licensed, NFL player-branded merchandise sold from online and traditional retail outlets as reported by over 70 NFLPA licensees such as Nike, Fanatics, Outerstuff, Fathead, McFarlane Toys, FOCO, Wincraft and Funko. Licensed product categories include men’s, women’s and youth game jerseys and T-shirts, player murals, figurines, matted and framed photos, bobbleheads, drinkware, jewelry, and electronic device accessories, among others.

Below are highlights from the NFLPA Top 50 player sales second quarter rankings, including sales results through the preseason (March 1-August 31, 2018), which is the most up-to-date comprehensive sales standing currently available. Highlights include Patrick Mahomes II debuting on the overall sales list; Dak Prescott topping jersey sales; Saquon Barkley leading collegiate co-branded Fathead wall decals; and 21 quarterbacks ranking as best sellers on the list, followed by running backs taking up 10 spots.

The Top 10 among all licensed product sold:

1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
2. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
3. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
5. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
6. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
7. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers
8. Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
9. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants

View complete list here

Highlights from the Top 50 Player Sales for March 1 - August 31, 2018

• Tom Brady reclaimed the top spot in overall sales after finishing No. 2 to Nick Foles on the first quarter list. Brady is the only player to top the NFLPA’s quarterly Top 50 Players Sales List six different times – including twice as year-end retail king. This also marks a record 13th appearance for Brady in the top three since the Player Sales List’s inception in 2014, and he has never ranked outside of the top nine.
  
• The Dallas duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott has now occupied two of the top four spots on the last six Top 50 Player Lists.
  
• Overall, 21 of the top 50 players and six of the top 10 play quarterback, the most among any position in overall licensed product sales. Directly after Brady were Prescott and Wentz. Running backs, led by Elliott (No. 4) and Barkley (No. 6), accounted for 10 spots on the list, while wide receivers occupied eight slots, and tight ends had three. On the defensive side, eight players made the list this quarter, with Von Miller the highest ranked (No. 14). J.J. Watt was ranked No. 28, while his brother, T.J. Watt finished at No. 39.
  
• Patrick Mahomes II jumped from the 2018 NFLPA Rising Stars List to the overall Top 50 list at No. 42. Rising Stars rankings consider on-field performances, early demand from current partners, fantasy league popularity and new faces in strong markets as factors for sales popularity analysis.
  
• Female fans are ahead of the curve on the Mahomes II train, as the rising Kansas City Chiefs quarterback topped sales of all women’s collegiate fashion tops from G-III Apparel Group.

• We Are… Barkley. Penn State University fans powered the former Nittany Lion star to the top of collegiate co-branded Fathead wall decal sales – and more than double the next closest player, Baker Mayfield from the University of Oklahoma. The two rookies were followed by veterans Jabrill Peppers (University of Michigan; Peppers did not appear in the overall Top 50), Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State University) and Deshaun Watson (Clemson University) in the top five.
  

• Among sales of collegiate co-branded jerseys from adidas, Fanatics and Nike, Rob Gronkowski’s University of Arizona jersey led all players followed by Marcus Mariota (University of Oregon) and Drew Brees (Purdue University).
  
• Dak Prescott sold the most jerseys from June 1 through August 31, including men’s, women’s and children’s versions. Following Prescott in the top five of jersey sales was Brady, Wentz, Elliott and Garoppolo.
  
• It’s fitting that in a league with so many teams named after animals—there are plenty of pet accessories and apparel featuring players. Brady, Beckham Jr. and Wentz ranked as the top three best sellers of pet accessories and apparel from Pets First.
  
• Fan frenzy around Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles continued throughout the preseason as the Super Bowl MVP sold the most autographed memorabilia from Fanatics Authentic and The Highland Mint, twice as much as the next closest player, Tom Brady.
  
• Ezekiel Elliott sold the most player calendars by The Lang Companies.
  
• Can’t walk in Tom Brady’s shoes? Put his likeness on your socks. Brady led all players in socks sold by Strideline, FBF Originals and Freaker. Wentz, Prescott, Antonio Brown and Elliott complete the top 5.
  
• Funko Pop! Vinyl sales featured Brady ranked No. 1, J.J. Watt the highest ranked defensive player at No. 3 and Todd Gurley appearing in the top 10 of Funko sales for the first time.
  
• Five quarterbacks ranked among the top 10 best sellers of licensed headwear from Lids and New Era, including Brady, Wentz, Prescott, Andrew Luck (who did not appear among the top 50 players overall) and Derek Carr.
  
• Tom Brady, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb sold the most jigsaw puzzles by MasterPieces.
  
• Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Brown, Gronkowski, and Larry Fitzgerald were among the top sellers for cornhole boards sold by Victory Tailgate and Wild Sports.
• Baker Mayfield sold the most custom designed t-shirts by 500 Level.
• Odell Beckham Jr. brought a lot of celebrations to life… off the field. The wide receiver led sales of cake toppers from DecoPac.
  
• Russell Wilson sold more licensed novelty products by Wincraft than any other player, including buttons, clocks, drinkware, flags, banners, jewelry, luggage tags, tattoos, towels, welcome mats, and more.