Top Ten Tuesday: Teams To Use In Madden 18

Today, the “G.O.A.T. Edition” of Madden 18 releases, which helps some get their football fix until the season starts. To honor the release of the game, we’re going over the top ten teams to use in Madden 18. Keep in mind, these are simply for a video game—they aren’t projections for how teams will do in 2017, otherwise the list would be different than this.

 

10. New Orleans Saints (84 OVR)

If this list was based on just the offense, the Saints might be in the top five. The additions of Adrian Peterson and rookie Alvin Kamara gives New Orleans a three-headed monster in the backfield with Mark Ingram to tandem with Drew Brees. It’s pick your poison when going against the Saints, as you can hit your opponent with a powerful running game or hit play-action passes for big plays with Brees if the defense crowds the box. Just be ready to be in some shootouts when using the Saints.

 

9. New York Giants (84 OVR)

The only concern with the Giants in Madden 18 is Eli Manning’s 80 overall rating—the lowest of any starting quarterback of a team on this list. Still, the Giants have premiere weapons on the outside, with Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram. The defense is also one of the best in the game, with a great secondary and pass rush; so when the offense is clicking, they are difficult to beat.

 

8. Dallas Cowboys (89 OVR)

Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dez Bryant make a great trio that defenses have trouble stopping in Madden. Even in a video game, the elite offensive line can give Prescott all day to throw while they open up holes for Zeke. With talented second-year linebacker Jaylon Smith now healthy to work alongside Sean Lee, the defense should be fun to use too.

 

7. Carolina Panthers (79 OVR)

With electric rookies Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel added to the mix, the Panthers should be an entertaining team to use this year. McCaffrey has 91 speed, 92 acceleration, and 96 agility—all underrated, but he should still be very good in the game. While Samuel has a blazing 95 speed with 93 acceleration and 91 agility. Adding them to an offense that already includes Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin, along with 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton, will make the Panthers one of the most popular teams to use. Oh, and Luke Kuechly is one of the eight highest-rated players in the game.

 

6. Los Angeles Chargers (80 OVR)

Tight ends can be a big weapon in Madden, and the Chargers have two really good ones with Hunter Henry and Antonio Gates. The offense also has Melvin Gordon in the backfield and a plethora of receivers, so you can run a very multiple offense with Philip Rivers leading the way. The defense has one of the best corner combinations in the league with Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward, and one of the best defensive end combinations with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

 

5. Seattle Seahawks (86 OVR)

For a few years now, the “Legion of Boom” has made Seattle one of the most popular teams to use in Madden. Everyone knows about the talent on defense that makes it very difficult to throw on, but the offense can do some damage too. Russell Wilson might be the best duel threat runner/passer in Madden 18, while they also have three very good running backs, depth at receiver, and Jimmy Graham at tight end.

 

4. Green Bay Packers (88 OVR)

The Packers present matchup issues in both real life and Madden, as they have three great receivers and a former receiver (Ty Montgomery) playing running back. Aaron Rodgers delivers precise passes, and the Packers playbook is one of the best to use in Madden, as it moves around the receivers (Jordy Nelson in the slot, etc). The defense isn’t the strongest, but Green Bay has one of the best safety combinations in the game with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Morgan Burnett.

 

3. Atlanta Falcons (91 OVR)

Just as is the case with the real team, the Falcons might be the most multiple team in Madden 18 and you can do whatever you want with them. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman can both do it all out of the backfield, and the video game version of Julio Jones might be even more uncoverable than in real life. The defense is also very fast, despite some of them (like Vic Beasley at an 83 overall) being underrated.

 

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (88 OVR)

The Steelers have the best skill position combination in Madden 18, as Le’Veon Bell (highest rated running back) and Antonio Brown (second-highest rated wide receiver) are both 97 overalls. Pittsburgh also has Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback and a ton of depth at receiver, including Martavis Bryant and his 93 speed at 6’4”. Defense is the concern with the Steelers in the game, but the strong offensive line (overall is close to the Cowboys in Madden 18) will help control the ball and the game.

 

1. New England Patriots (93 OVR)

There’s a reason some people are talking about the Patriots going 19-0. After winning Super Bowl LI, the Patriots added even more to their team on both offense and defense. New England is crazy deep at every skill position on offense, and the defense has a top five corner combination in Madden 18 with Malcolm Butler and Stephon Gilmore. Based off the ratings, the front seven is the slight concern for the Pats in the game, but Dont’a Hightower anchors that part of the defense. The cover star is also on the Patriots, as the 99 overall Tom Brady throws lasers all over the field in Madden 18.