The hype for Madden 20 is growing. After recently revealing the rookie ratings, Madden 20 took some agonising time to reveal the lucky few players that will start the game with the magic 99 OVR rating.
Madden has long stood out from the rest of the sporting crowd by awarding the maximum 99 OVR rating to players, but with a new ratings system for this season and an emphasis on making OVR vital to a players performance some questioned if anyone would get the top rating this year.
The 99 Club
After handing out 7 99 OVR launch ratings in Madden 19, this years game has cut that number to just an elite selection of 4. This reduction seems to be in-line with a general trend toward harsher ratings that create a clear gap between elite players and the rest. Most teams will have starting players that are sub-70 OVR, and there is a big slash in players clearing that 70 OVR bar, from 54 percent in Madden 19 to just 41 percent this year. The launch ratings will be released later this month, but for now we know who the 99 OVR players are…
Aaron Donald, RE, Los Angeles Rams
It is no surprise that Donald makes the 99 Club once again. He is a two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year and joined a very select few defensive players to rack up 20+ sacks in a single season in 2018 as he ended the year with 20.5.
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Donald is once again listed as a defensive end thanks to the Rams 3-4 base defense, but his natural position is defensive tackle, which makes his insane sack total all the more impressive. In Madden 20 he has some ridiculous stats too, with 99 strength, 99 power moves, and 98 pursuit, all of which are the best in Madden 20. His 97 block shedding and 96 finesse moves are the second-best too, and combined with his incredible Superstar X-Factor abilities he could be an unstoppable force in Madden 20.
Bobby Wagner, MLB, Seattle Seahawks
Donald’s NFC West rival team also has a 99 OVR player in middle linebacker Bobby Wagner. While the Seahawks Super Bowl team is known for Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor, their defense is still an elite force thanks to the presence of the incredible Wagner.
He has long been a tackling machine, but his biggest asset for Seattle has been his insane coverage skills. He demonstrated them by intercepting Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLIX and has been graded 90+ in coverage by Pro Football Focus in both 2017 and 2018. In Madden 20 he boasts 99 tackle, 99 pursuit, and 98 hit power too, which all come in as the highest ratings in the game.
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Khalil Mack, OLB, Chicago Bears
No trade had a bigger impact in 2018 than that of Khalil Mack to the Bears. His addition to an already talented defense made them the #1 defense in football last season and his presence on the edge caused chaos. Mack finished the year with 12.5 sacks, a ridiculous 6 forced fumbles, and a pick-six against the Packers in Week 1.
In Madden 20 Mack is a crushing force on the edge. His superstar abilities and X-Factor zone ability will make him almost impossible to block. He brings stellar stats like 97 power moves, 95 pursuit, 94 tackle, and 94 jumping to the Bears and is just as comfortable putting his hand down in a 4-3 as he is standing up in a 3-4 if you want to change the Bears playbook in Franchise Mode.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
The only offensive member of the 99 Club is Houston’s wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. After two-straight First Team All-Pro seasons and some incredible plays on the field for the Texans this will be Hopkins’ first time as a 99 OVR player and the best wide receiver in Madden 20.
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There can be little doubt that he deserves the honor after posting 115 catches, 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. In Madden 20 Hopkins will be blessed with 5 99 ratings: catching, jumping, spectacular catch, catch in traffic, and release. In other words good luck stopping him even if you have the best cornerback in Madden 20. His Red Zone Threat superstar ability and Double Me X-Factor ability will make him a threat at all times.
So they are the 4 99 OVR players to start Madden 20. There are some who will feel hard done by this year. NFL MVP and human highlight reel Patrick Mahomes felt like a lock for the 99 Club, but he will start Madden 20 below that mark. As will Tom Brady for the first time in a few years. Von Miller, Eddie Jackson, and Julio Jones also own remarkable resumes and could have been 99 OVR, but they will undoubtedly still have elite ratings when the game does hit the shelves.
Do you agree with the 99 Club? Who do you think should have been 99 OVR to start Madden 20? Let us know in the comments below!
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