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J.J. Watt, Odell Beckham Jr. Lead NFLers In Social Media Exposure

Texans DE J.J. Watt leads all NFLers in terms of social media exposure, and his big year-over-year rise was fueled by his charitable efforts following Hurricane Harvey and documenting his rehab from a season-ending knee injury, according to data from MVPindex. Watt jumped 16 spots from last year to overtake Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. But among Watt's 10 most-engaging posts of the past year, three were photos of him and his girlfriend -- NWSL Houston Dash MF Kealia Ohai -- compared to two posts about his injury and rehab, and one about his charity work. The three photos averaged more than 250,000 engagements apiece. No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield leads the NFL's rookie class heading into the season, and one of his top posts of the year was during the preseason. However, it was a highlight video from last season at Oklahoma rather than of NFL life. Patriots WR Julian Edelman's top post of the past year included an appearance by Beckham, who had just signed a big extension with the Giants. Edelman posted on Instagram, "Friendship is what makes a man wealthy. Also ... contracts. #DinnerOnDell." The post generated more than 156,000 engagements. Although he did not make the top 25 list of players based on the past 12 months, free agent LB Antwione Williams was at the top of the general engagement rate rankings during the preseasonthanks to a tweet about a highly questionable roughing-the-passer call from the Jaguars-Vikings game on Aug. 18. The post generated more than 45,000 engagements, including about 10,300 shares. Also see Thursday's issue for a rundown of top NFL teams on social according to MVPindex.

TOP NFL PLAYERS IN SOCIAL MEDIA EXPOSURE (BY MVPINDEX RANKING)
RANK (CHANGE FROM '17)
PLAYER
TOTAL FOLLOWERS (CHANGE FROM '17)*
1 (+16)
Texans DE J.J. Watt
10,668,348 (+2,136,390)
2 (-1)
Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.
15,548,998 (+2,548,902)
3 (-1)
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson
11,180,422 (+1,644,226)
4t (+1)
Steelers WR Antonio Brown
4,319,576 (+770,933)
4t (--)
Free agent WR Dez Bryant
7,312,358 (+495,242)
6 (+2)
Former LB James Harrison
2,006,872 (+467,229)
7t (+3)
49ers CB Richard Sherman
6,356,569 (+287,915)
7t (+4)
Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell
3,750,618 (+1,043,952)
9 (-2)
Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski
7,183,821 (+986,196)
10 (+17)
Eagles QB Carson Wentz
1,916,696 (+1,194,514)
11 (+58)
Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
2,349,081 (+2,105,783)
12 (--)
Raiders QB Derek Carr
1,699,040 (+190,452)
13 (+163)
Texans QB Deshaun Watson
2,118,465 (+785,054)
14t (+4)
Browns WR Jarvis Landry
1,796,918 (+339,790)
14t (-8)
Patriots WR Julian Edelman
4,087,006 (+439,311)
16 (+8)
Saints QB Drew Brees
5,924,342 (+427,526)
17 (+6)
Panthers WR Torrey Smith
1,427,077 (+172,323)
18 (+78)
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
5,267,776 (+1,134,351)
19 (+2,239)
Browns QB Baker Mayfield
810,881 (+810,881)
20 (+2,336)
Giants RB Saquon Barkley
1,231,852 (+1,231,852)
21 (+2,723)
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
862,798 (+862,798)
22 (-1)
Seahawks S Earl Thomas
2,464,156 (+141,826)
23 (-8)
Broncos LB Von Miller
2,095,881 (+348,959)
24 (+8)
Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette
1,144,091 (+298,803)
25 (+6)
Lions RB LeGarrette Blount
914,821 (+160,842)

NOTES: * = Platforms tracked bY MVPindex include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube.

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Top NFLers In Social Media Exposure

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