Madden NFL 2018 shipped in summer 2017 for the 2017 NFL season. Launch ratings are set before the season is played, so they reflect the previous year’s performance - a player’s breakout shows up in the next year’s game.
Madden NFL 18 released August 25, 2017 with Tom Brady on the cover, his first solo Madden cover. Aaron Donald, Brady, and Von Miller headlined the 99 tier.
Philadelphia won Super Bowl LII, 41-33 over New England, with backup Nick Foles named game MVP. Tom Brady won regular-season MVP. Todd Gurley took Offensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald Defensive Player of the Year, and Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore swept the rookie awards for New Orleans. Antonio Brown led the league with 1,533 receiving yards.
Brady backed up his 99 with an MVP at 40. The launch miss belonged to Aaron Rodgers, a 98 who broke his collarbone in Week 6 and played just seven games. Gurley went the other way, exploding for 2,093 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns a year after a down sophomore season.