Who are the SEC’s top 10 players — regardless of position — heading into the final week of the regular season? There are several methods used to define this group of Heisman frontrunners, defensive player of the year candidates and irreplaceable assets to their respective teams, but the easiest way is best.

  1. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
  2. Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
  3. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
  4. Shane Ray, DL, Mizzou
  5. Landon Collins, DB, Alabama
  6. Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi State
  7. Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn
  8. Senquez Golson, DB, Ole Miss
  9. Trey Flowers, DE, Arkansas
  10. Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina

Takeaways: Without Nick Chubb’s exploits over the second half of the season, Georgia wouldn’t be in position to win the division with a Mizzou loss heading into the final weekend. The true freshman’s been the SEC’s best offensive player during the month of November and deserves MVP mention with a solid game against Georgia Tech … Tops in the SEC in sacks, Shane Ray’s been a unblockable force off the edge for Mizzou this season, headlining a front seven that’s played at an incredibly high level over the final month. He’s the leading candidate for defensive player of the year for the division-leading Tigers … Likely the league’s highest draft in the secondary, Landon Collins rarely misses a tackle and has blossomed as a junior into a hard-hitting, ballhawking playmaker. His dominance at the back end for the Crimson Tide has stabilized an oft-criticized unit against the pass.

Just missed the cut: Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn; Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama; Martrell Spaight, LB, Arkansas; Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss; Cody Prewitt, DB, Ole Miss; Bo Wallace, QB, Ole Miss; Preston Smith, DL, Mississippi State; Myles Garrett, DL, Texas A&M; Vernon Hargreaves, DB, Florida; Bud Dupree, Kentucky; Jonathan Williams, Arkansas; Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee