ESPN picked an Ironman team based on snaps in 2015, and while some are obvious, like offensive lineman Marshal Yanda (1078 snaps) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (369 snaps), others come as quite a surprise. Wide receiver Kamar Aiken was second to All-Pro Steelers wideout Antonio Brown with 891 snaps, and Rick Wagner led all right tackles with 1074 snaps to round out the offensive selections.
On defense, several of the Ravens top players lead their positions: inside linebacker C.J. Mosley with 990 snaps, nose tackle Brandon Williams with 684 snaps, both starting outside linebackers Elvis Dumervil (747 snaps) and Courtney Upshaw (750 snaps) and one big surprise at cornerback, Jimmy Smith (939 snaps), who was second to Steeler William Gay (1013 snaps).
When you think about it, Smith did stay healthy for the entire season, and while he was not the usual stalwart he has been in the past for the first 8 games coming back from a foot injury which ended his 2014 season early. He graded a sub-par 87th cornerback per PFF, but came on strong the second half of the season. If he can carry over the play from the second half of 2015 into 2016, and stay healthy, he will show that he is again a shut-down corner, worthy of the big extension he signed in the offseason.
Here is the complete AFC North Ironman team:
OFFENSE
QB: Andy Dalton, Bengals (757 snaps)
RB: DeAngelo Williams, Steelers (655)
FB: Kyle Juszczyk, Ravens (369)
WR: Antonio Brown, Steelers (967)
WR: Kamar Aiken, Ravens (891)
TE: Gary Barnidge, Browns (888)
LT: Joe Thomas, Browns (1,041)
LG: Ramon Foster, Steelers (1,010)
C: Alex Mack, Browns (1,041)
RG: Marshal Yanda, Ravens (1,078)
RT: Rick Wagner, Ravens (1,074)
DEFENSE
DE: Cam Heyward, Steelers (924 snaps)
NT: Brandon Williams, Ravens (684)
DE: Stephon Tuitt, Steelers (831)
OLB: Courtney Upshaw, Ravens (750)
OLB: Elvis Dumervil, Ravens (747)
ILB: Lawrence Timmons, Steelers (1,004)
ILB: C.J. Mosley, Ravens (990)
CB: William Gay, Steelers (1,013)
CB: Jimmy Smith, Ravens (939)
S: Mike Mitchell, Steelers (994)
S: Reggie Nelson, Bengals (938)