According to Sports Fans, What Would the Ultimate Athlete Look Like? [Study]

The Real QB1

It is no secret that quarterback is the most important position on a football team. What would the ultimate one look like?

Rounding out the top three for each NFL QB attribute, according to fans:

In reality, according to statistics since 2020, the QBs atop each measurable attribute were as follows:

• Accuracy: Aaron Rodgers had the highest completion percentage of all QBs in 2020 at 70.7%, while Kyler Murray currently has the highest completion percentage among QBs in 2021 at 72.7%.
• Clutchness: Since 2020, Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill had the most game-winning drives (9).
• Decision-Making: Since 2020, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 69 touchdowns to just nine interceptions, yielding the highest touchdown to interception ratio (7.67) in the NFL. Furthermore, Rodgers has the all-time lowest interception percentage (1.3%) among qualified quarterbacks, meaning he has thrown the lowest percentage of interceptions among all his pass attempts.
• Legs/Mobility: Since 2019, Lamar Jackson has rushed for 2,848 yards in 39 games (roughly 73 rushing yards per game), by far the most as a QB.

The Ultimate Pass Catching Threat

Quarterbacks need their go-to wide receiver to make plays for them to be successful. What would the ultimate weapon look like?

Rounding out the top three for each NFL WR attribute, according to fans:

In reality, according to statistics since 2020, the WRs atop each measurable attribute were as follows:

• Deep Threat: In 2020, D.J. Moore and D.K. Metcalf led the league with receptions over 30 yards with 20 each. So far in 2021, Deebo Samuel leads the league in that category, with 20.
• Hands/Catching: In 2020, Davante Adams caught 115 of his 116 catchable targets, yielding a catch rate of 99.1%, leading the league. In 2021, of receivers with at least 50 catchable targets, Diontae Johnson leads the league in catch rate (100%, 68 catches off 68 catchable targets).
• Strength: In 2020, of receivers with at least 50 catches, A.J. Brown led the league in yards after contact per reception with an average of three. In 2021 so far, of receivers with at least 30 catches, Deebo Samuel leads the league in yards after contact per reception with an average of 3.6.

The Key to an Elite Ground Game

The key to an elite NFL offense and NFL Odds is a dominant running game. Whether it’s running rough between the tackles or bouncing outside to the house, what combinations would make the best back?

Rounding out the top three for each NFL RB attribute, according to fans:

In reality, according to statistics since 2020, the RBs atop each measurable attribute were as follows:

• Broken Tackles: In 2020, Derrick Henry led all running backs with 34 broken tackles. So far in 2021, Joe Mixon and Javonte Williams are leading all running backs with 19 broken tackles.
• Receiving: In 2020, Alvin Kamara led all running backs with 83 receptions. De’Andre Swift is leading all running backs in that category (56 receptions) so far in 2021.
• Strength: In 2020, Ronald Jones II led all running backs with three yards after contact per rush. In 2021 so far, Nick Chubb is leading all running backs with 3.4 yards after contact per rush.

The Perfect Point

One could say an NBA guard is the quarterback of a basketball team—orchestrating the offense. According to NBA fans, what would be the best possible guard build?

Rounding out the top three for each NBA guard attribute, according to fans:

In reality, according to statistics, the NBA guards atop each measurable attribute were as follows:

• Defense: Among guards who played in at least 50% of their team’s games in 2020, Mike Conley of the Utah Jazz had the highest defensive win shares (0.184). In 2021, Stephen Curry is leading the pack (0.199).
• Passing: In 2020, Russell Westbrook led the league in assists at 11.7 assists per game. In 2021, to this point, Chris Paul is leading the league at 10.3 assists per game.
• Shooting: In 2020, Stephen Curry averaged 5.3 3-pointers made per game, 1.2 higher than second place (Damian Lillard). In 2021, Curry continues to lead the league in average 3-pointers made per game at 5.4.

The Forward That Can Do It All

Within the last decade, the Finals MVPs and NBA Odds have all been dominant forwards like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and, more recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo. What would the best NBA forward look like?

Rounding out the top three for each NBA forward attribute, according to fans:

In reality, according to statistics, the NBA forwards atop each measurable attribute were as follows:

• Defense: Among forwards who played in at least 50% of their team’s games in 2020, LeBron James had the highest defensive win shares (0.172). In 2021, Andre Iguodala is leading the pack (0.175).
• Rebounding: In 2020, Domantas Sabonis led all forwards in rebounds, at 12 rebounds per game. In 2021, to this point, Domantas Sabonis is still leading all forwards in rebounds, at 12 per game.
• Shooting: In 2020, of all forwards who attempted at least three 3-pointers per game, Duncan Robinson led all forwards in average 3-pointers made per game, at 3.5. In 2021, Robinson is continuing to lead the league in average 3-pointers made per game at three.

The Best Pitcher

The pressure on the mound is like no other. Teams (and MLB Odds) put all of their faith in a pitcher to hold it down and deny their opponents any run-scoring opportunities. Whether it’s pitching a shutout or getting out of a jam, how would baseball fans construct the ultimate pitcher?

Rounding out the top three for each MLB pitcher attribute, according to fans:

In reality, according to statistics, the MLB pitchers atop each measurable attribute were as follows:

• Consistency: During the 2021 MLB season, Corbin Burnes had the lowest earned runs average (ERA), at 2.43.
• Pitching Speed: In 2021, Jacob deGrom had the fastest average pitching speed on the 4-seam fastball (99.2 mph) and slider (91.6 mph).
• Strikeouts: Robbie Ray, of the Tampa Bay Rays, threw for the most strikeouts in 2021 (248).

The Best NHL Forward

According to Spotrac, 20 of the top 30 highest-paid NHL players, by average annual salary, were attacking players (forwards, centers, or wings). When it comes to this financially glamorous position (and NHL Odds), what did hockey fans feel the best combination would look like?

Rounding out the top three for each NHL forward attribute, according to fans:

In reality, according to statistics, the NHL forwards atop each measurable attribute were as follows:

• Passing: During the 2020-21 NHL season, Connor McDavid recorded 72 assists in 56 games.
• Playmaking: Connor McDavid totaled 105 points (goals plus assists) last season in the NHL, 21 more than second (Leon Draisaitl).
• Scoring: Auston Matthews, of the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored the most goals last season in the NHL (41).
• Toughness/Physicality: Brady Tkachuk, of the Ottawa Senators, delivered the most hits among forwards in the NHL last season (248). His total ranked second among players of all positions across the league.

Coming to a Consensus

Overall, when looking at fan creations of the best athletes among different leagues and positions, NBA and NFL fans had a more diverse selection of which top players really were the best when it came to different vital skills. On the other hand, MLB and NHL fans felt specific players (Clayton Kershaw and Connor McDavid, respectively) embodied more key traits of players than all others combined. Either way, fans would surely agree that if these “super athletes” were real, they would put their respective leagues on notice.

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Methodology and Limitations

For this study, we ran four separate surveys targeting sports fans of the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL via Amazon MTurk. In the first survey of 252 NFL fans, 63.9% reported as men, 35.3% reported as women, and the remaining 0.8% reported as nonbinary, with an average age of 37 years (standard deviation of 10.7 years). In the second survey of 263 NBA fans, 65.4% reported as men, and 34.6% reported as women, with an average age of 35.5 years (standard deviation of 10.4 years). In the third survey of 251 MLB fans, 67.3% reported as men, 32.3% reported as women, and the remaining 0.4% reported as nonbinary, with an average age of 37.1 years (standard deviation of 10.2 years). In the fourth survey of 252 NHL fans, 62.3% reported as men, 36.9% reported as women, and the remaining 0.8% reported as nonbinary, with an average age of 36.4 years (standard deviation of 10.6 years).

The main limitation of this study is its reliance on self-report, which is faced with several issues, such as attribution, exaggeration, recency bias, and telescoping.

Additionally, player statistics were sourced from www.pro-sports-reference.com, www.fantasypros.com, www.nba.com/stats/, and https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard, specifically looking at 2020 and 2021 data up to December 1, 2021.

Fair Use Statement

Want to start a debate among other sports fans about the best athletes at different positions in different sports leagues? You are surely welcome to share our findings—we only ask that you do so for noncommercial use and that you provide a link back to this original page so contributors can earn credit for their work.