I was watching highlights from last week's games and saw Jahmyr Gibbs' electrifying 69-yard run on the first play of overtime to beat the New York Giants and it made me think to myself, "Who are the players in the NFL I am most excited to see right now?"

In this era of the Red Zone channel, unless it is your favorite team playing, few people enjoy sitting down an watching just any two teams play for an entire game. However, the NFL does have several players who are "must-watch" and keep you glued to the TV screen even though you may not have any rooting interest in the game.

Here is my list of top 25 NFL players that I think are the most exciting players in the league right now. Keep in mind that current health plays a factor in my list. Players like Tyreek Hill would rank high on this list, but he is out for the year. Players like Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson aren't 100%, so they would, most likely rank higher, as well.

25. Xavier Worthy – WR, Chiefs

It helps he plays with Patrick Mahomes, but the combination of the two is dynamic. Anytime Worthy has the ball in his hands he is a threat to score a touchdown. Worthy has the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.21 seconds) in combine history.

24. Brock Bowers – TE, Raiders

Bowers has been banged up this year and he is plagued by playing on a horrible team. Even still, he managed 112 receptions last year. If he ever gets a quarterback who can get him the ball more often, he could easily break the top-15 on this list in years to come.

23. Tyler Warren – TE, Colts

I may be a bit biased on this one because I was extremely high on Warren coming out of college. I was, actually, in favor of my hometown New England Patriots taking him at number four in last year's draft – something unheard of for a tight end. The Patriots did alright drafting Will Campbell, but I can still dream of what Tyler Warren would look like catching passes from Drake Maye. Warren has not disappointed for the Colts. He has 55 catches, 4 rushing attempts, and has even attempted a pass.

22. Jaxon Smith-Njigba – WR, Seahawks

JSN is on pace for 2,000 yards receiving this year, which would set an NFL record. He has Seattle fans asking, "DK who?"

21. Joe Burrow – QB, Bengals

Oh, Joe Burrow. If only he could stay healthy.

20. Ja’Marr Chase – WR, Bengals

Oh, Ja'Marr Chase. If only Joe Burrow could stay healthy.

19. George Kittle – TE, 49ers

Kittle is the closest thing we may ever see to another Rob Gronkowski.

18. Derrick Henry – RB, Ravens

After his 169-yard rushing performance in Week 1, combined with his career's work and near 2,000-yard rushing season last year, Henry would have been worthy of the top spot on this list. But then I questioned in my Week 2 picks when Henry would start showing his age, and since then he has.

17. James Cook – RB, Bills

Josh Allen gets all the attention in Buffalo, but Allen became a superstar once James Cook emerged and became Robin to Allen's Batman. Cook scored 16 touchdowns rushing a year ago and is a dual threat out of the backfield.

16. Micah Parsons – EDGE, Packers

The Cowboys were fools for trading away one of the most unstoppable pass rushers in the league. Their loss is Green Bay's gain.

15. Puka Nacua – WR, Rams

How can you not like watching Nacua play. You see all these over-hyped wide receivers – with their flamboyant clothes and expensive jewelry – get drafted in the first round and they amount to nothing, and then you see someone like Nacua get drafted in the fifth round and have 105 receptions for 1,486 yards as a rookie. Nacua is just a hard-nosed, lunch-pail, blue collar kind of player that you can't help but love to watch play.

14. Drake Maye – QB, Patriots

Maye is working his way up this list fast. He is the youngest guy on this list and the sky is the limit on his potential. Instead of comparing him to Justin Herbert and Josh Allen, in another three or four years, people may be comparing the next big thing at quarterback to Drake Maye.

13. Myles Garrett – EDGE, Browns

It is a shame Garrett plays in Cleveland. Imagine if he played in a big market like New York, Philadelphia, or Los Angeles. You never know when he will bust out for four or five sacks in a game.

12. Bijan Robinson – RB, Falcons

Bijan is so under-utilized in Atlanta. He could be a top slot receiver in this league if he ever changed positions. If you watched his Monday night performance against the Buffalo Bills this year where he rushed for 170 yards and had 8 more receptions for another 68 yards, you know why he is this high on this list. Not many other players are capable of doing that.

11. Saquon Barkley – RB, Eagles

Except Saquon Barkley. Just maybe not this year. But the guy had over 2,000 yards rushing just a year ago and you never know when he will do this ...

10. De’Von Achane – RB, Dolphins

I've compared Achane to Marshall Faulk and Faulk was one of the most electric multi-dimensional runnick backs I've ever seen. Achane is the fastest running back on this list, and he may be one of the fastest running backs in NFL history.

9. Justin Herbert – QB, Chargers

Herbert hasn't proven he can win the big game yet, but that doesn't mean he doesn't do everything in his power to win a game. If you were to create a quarterback in a lab, he would look like Herbert.

8. Christian McCaffrey – RB, 49ers

McCaffrey may not make as many highlight runs as someone like Barkley or Bijan, but he just always seems to pick up 8-14 yards consistently every time he touches the ball – which is a lot.

7. Dak Prescott – QB, Cowboys

Dak is as tough as they come. It is not easy to be the quarterback of "America's Team" and to play for an owner like Jerry Jones, but Prescott has done it for ten years now. And for most of those years he has done it without a running game. He has carried the Cowboys team on his back to the tune of a 82-51-1 record.

6. Matthew Stafford – QB, Rams

Stafford has aged like a fine wine. Stafford came into the league two decades ago (2009) he might be having his best season ever as a 37-year-old. He has thrown 30 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. The game has become so easy for him, he is making no-look passes at a high frequency now adays. Watching him play quarterback is like watching a brain surgeon at work... if that's your thing.

5. Baker Mayfield – QB, Buccaneers

Injuries were bound to catch up to Mayfield at some point. For the first half of the season, Mayfield would have been at the top of my list of "must-watch" players in the NFL. He lead the team to four last-minute come-from-behind victories in Tampa Bay's first five games. Think about that for a second. Ok, time's up.

There are more elusive quarterbacks in the league like Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson, but there aren't any quarterbacks who will try to run through you like Mayfield will.

4. Lamar Jackson – QB, Ravens

Jackson is hampered by hamstring and ankle injuries right now, otherwise he might be a couple of runs higher on the list. When he drops back to pass, you just don't know what is going to happen. That's what makes him fun to watch.

3. Patrick Mahomes – QB, Chiefs

What can you say about Patrick Mahomes? Just look at his Super Bowl rings. Mahomes really becomes fun to watch in the closing minutes of a tight game.

2. Josh Allen – QB, Bills

Josh Allen is the football version of Superman. Need any proof...

1. Jahmyr Gibbs – RB, Lions

You might have guessed from my opening paragraph who my number one most exciting player would be. Or maybe not. Gibbs might not get as much publicity as the other guys in this top ten because of how overall explosive the Detroit Lions' offense has been in recent years. Maybe Gibbs accepts this honor for the entire Lions' offense, including Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and David Montgomery.

But no. Gibbs deserves this honor on his own. On a team with so many explosive offensive weapons, he is the best of the best. He is the only one who doesn't need any help. He is averaging 5.8 yards per carry this year and already has over 1,000 yards rushing with five games still left in the season. He also has 51 catches already.

Gibbs leads the NFL this season with six runs of over 40 yards, almost double everyone else.

Final Thoughts

This is my list of players who I love to watch. Your list is likely different, and that is ok. That is what makes football fun to watch.

There are different styles that appeal to different people.

Some like watching the strong-armed quarterbacks, the mobile quarterbacks, the multi-dimensional running backs, the hard-nosed defenders, or the gifted receivers.

Some like watching the young, developing players and some watching the grizzled, veteran tacticians.

Don't be afraid to subscribe (it's free) and drop a comment if you think my rankings suck or if I missed someone.