Panini America, the exclusive trading card manufacturer of the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA), in conjunction with NFL Players Inc., the licensing and marketing arm of the NFLPA, today unveiled the updated NFLPA Trading Card Index for 2017 Q4. The quarterly report ranks the top-performing football players in the licensed trading card industry.
Panini America, the exclusive trading card manufacturer of the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA), in conjunction with NFL Players Inc., the licensing and marketing arm of the NFLPA, today unveiled the updated NFLPA Trading Card Index for 2017 Q4. The quarterly report ranks the top-performing football players in the licensed trading card industry.
Once a quarter, the NFLPA Panini Trading Card Index ranks the top 15 rookies and top 15 veterans based on several key factors, including secondary-market transactions, overall trading volume and collectibility based on on-field performance and expectations (e.g., rookie hype and collector speculation). The latest NFLPA Panini Trading Card Index, listed in its entirety below, includes updated rankings for both rookies and veterans based on late regular-season and early postseason performances. The newest Index rankings are based on secondary-market transactions and trading volume that took place during the fourth quarter of 2017.
Promising running backs dominate the rookie rankings this quarter thanks to dynamic first seasons for Leonard Fournette, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt and Christian McCaffrey, all of whom helped their teams qualify for the playoffs. Despite a season-ending injury, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson maintains his hold on fans and collectors with a spot at No. 5. Kamara and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster lead an impressive list of six rookies appearing on the Index for the first time.
For the sixth time in the past seven Indexes, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady commands the No. 1 spot on the veteran side. He’s joined in the top five by Antonio Brown, Todd Gurley, Carson Wentz and Le’Veon Bell. Veterans making their Index debuts this quarter include Minnesota Vikings receiver Adam Thielen and New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram.
“It’s an honor to be included among so many of the exciting and talented rookies in the latest Panini trading card index,” Hunt said. “I am humbled to be included on this awesome list in my rookie season, and I want to thank Panini and all my fans for making this possible.”
“It’s still a dream come true for me to see my name listed among some of the best players in the NFL,” said Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who checks in at No. 8 on this quarter’s veteran rankings. “It goes to show how much support I have from all my fans and collectors. I’m honored and I hope to remain on this index for years to come.”
Notable fourth-quarter sales driving rookie rankings include a Fournette 2017 Prizm Football Rookie Autograph Black 1/1 that sold for $1,025 and a Kamara 2017 Impeccable Football 1/1 Autograph that sold for $1,490. On the veteran side, a Gam Mint 10 Brady 2000 Contenders Football Rookie Ticket Autograph sold for a staggering $85,000 and a Brown 2010 National Treasures Football Autograph Rookie Card sold for $1,325.
The next NFLPA Panini Trading Card Index will be the first to incorporate 2018 rookies and will be published in April (capturing early pre-Draft speculation and a complete recap of Super Bowl LII).
The 2017 NFLPA Panini Trading Card Index: Rookies (4Q); previous ranking in parentheses
- Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 2)
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: NA)
- Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 5)
- Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 3)
- Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 1)
- JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: NA)
- Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 4)
- Evan Engram, New York Giants (Previous Rank: NA)
- O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: NA)
- Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 11)
- Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: NA)
- T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 9)
- Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 8)
- Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: NA)
- Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 6)
The 2017 NFLPA Panini Trading Card Index: Veterans (4Q); previous ranking in parentheses
- Tom Brady, New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 1)
- Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: NA)
- Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: NA)
- Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 6)
- Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 7)
- Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: NA)
- Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: NA)
- Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 11)
- Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: NA)
- Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: NA)
- Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 5)
- Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: NA)
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 2)
- LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: NA)
- Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (Previous Rank: NA)