Josie Lepe/Associated Press

Michael Thomas, George Kittle and WR, TE X-Factors Revealed for Madden NFL 21

Joseph Zucker

Madden NFL 21 will make some of the league's best pass-catchers even harder to stop.

As the game's Aug. 28 release date nears, the developers have rolled out additional details about gameplay and player ratings.

On Thursday, Madden announced it's adding a new Superstar X-Factor ability: Yac'em Up. The ability will give players an "increased chance to break the first post-catch tackle."

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is the only confirmed star with the Yac'em Up ability.

Madden also announced the unique abilities for Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen (Max Security), Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams (Double Me), Kansas City Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill (Rac'em Up) and New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas (Max Security).

Kittle finished 2019 with 85 receptions for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games. His Yac'em Up ability speaks to how frequently he would turn short passes into long games. His 622 yards after the catch were third-most in the league behind Christian McCaffrey and Austin Ekeler.

Thomas, meanwhile, set a single-season record with 149 receptions, a number that's even more impressive when considering Drew Brees missed five games last season.

The Max Security X-Factor ability guarantees receivers a "high success rate on possession catches."

Thomas has certainly earned that designation. Among players with at least 400 receptions, he's third in catch percentage (78.1) since it was first recognized as a stat in 1992, per Pro Football Reference.

Fans can view the full list of announced Superstar X-Factors on Madden's official website. Full player ratings have been revealed as well ahead of Madden NFL 21's launch next month.

   

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