On August 14th, EA Sports will release the newest installment in its NFL game franchise, Madden NFL 26. Every summer, the studio builds hype for the game by releasing player ratings ahead of the launch.
In extremely unsurprising fashion, some of these player ratings don’t make any sense. Madden has a habit of getting these wrong, and reducing an athlete to a single number is a difficult task to begin with. That’s no excuse here, so it’s time to look at some of the most head-scratching Madden NFL 26 ratings.
Most of the high overall players on this list are because they’re too high. In Joe Burrow’s case, a 97 overall is too low. The Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback dominated every time he hit the field in 2024. He led the league in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43).
The Bengals’ offense scored less than 20 points in only four games last season, with multiple games exceeding 35 points, even in losses. Burrow single-handedly kept Cincy in the fight with a bottom-tier defense. If Joe Cool’s 2024 performance isn’t enough for the “99 Club”, then what is?
Tyreek Hill is a tremendous wide receiver, but after his 2024 season, a 95 for him is simply too high. The Miami Dolphins’ speedster tied his career low in touchdowns last season (six), and went under 1,000 yards for the first time since 2019.
The most egregious part of Hill’s 95 rating is the names that come after it, names that outperformed him. Terry McLaurin is a 94 overall, and A.J. Brown and Mike Evans are both a 93. Hill’s 95 puts him on the same level as CeeDee Lamb. Simply put, his 2024 season doesn’t stack up.
It might be unfair to argue Christian McCaffrey’s 94 overall, considering the injuries he dealt with last season. It’s best to go off of when he did see the field. McCaffrey played in four games in 2024, rushing 50 times for 202 yards and no touchdowns.
Strictly based on McCaffrey’s 2024 season, a 94 is way too high. He’s rated higher than Bijan Robinson (92), Josh Jacobs (90), and James Cook (89), three players who were focal points of their respective offenses. CMC is a great player, but he hasn’t had a better year than these guys.
Cam Ward was taken first overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Miami product might not have been the best overall prospect, but he was certainly on the higher end. His Madden rating puts him below players who were taken as late as the fourth round.
Cam Skattebo (73), Dylan Sampson (74), and even the Titans’ own second-round pick Oluwafemi Oladejo (74) are all higher than Ward. Madden doesn’t usually give rookie QBs high ratings, but this one is disrespectful.
Kyren Williams has climbed the running back ranks in the NFL and become a big-time player in the Los Angeles Rams’ offense. In 2024, he ranked seventh in rushing yards (1,299) and third in total touchdowns (19). He outperformed several running backs rated higher than him in Madden 26.
Nick Chubb (87) only played eight games, rushing for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Kenneth Walker (88) played in 11 games, rushing for 573 yards and seven touchdowns. Kyren played 16 games, put up better numbers than both of them, and still received a lower rating.
End Of My Madden NFL 26 Rant
Madden has been a staple in the video game industry for over 30 years, but the game isn’t always on point. With every new installment comes head-scratching ratings. There are plenty of players rated appropriately, but the five on this list just don’t make any sense.
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