Madden NFL 21: Team By Team X-Factor Superstars Abilities List

Madden 21 is here, and this year’s game returns with a whole new slate of Superstar X-Factors. While dozens of players across all teams have been deemed Superstars of the league, a mere 50 players have been granted the title of X-Factor and given their own special abilities.

If you’re curious how your favorite team fared in the evaluation, or if you’re looking to see which players to draft in your Madden fantasy league, we’ve got you covered. 

Here’s a complete breakdown of every team’s standout players, including details on their Superstar abilities and the 20 rare X-Factor abilities.

What Are X-Factor Abilities?

Brand new to the Madden franchise, X-Factor abilities are the super rare skills only given to 50 players with the launch day rosters of Madden 21. 

There are 20 different skills, so some players share their skills with others, and not every team has players that boast X-Factors.

Which Teams Don’t Have Any X-Factor Superstars?

For seven sad franchises, their rosters open the season with a combined zero X-Factor Superstars among them. Those seven teams are the Bengals, Colts, Lions, Washington Football Team, Jets, Dolphins, and Raiders. 

While almost every team has multiple designated superstars, each with their own passive bonus skills, only these seven lack any of the 50 X-Factor players. Though, that doesn’t mean they’re the teams with the highest ratings or wouldn’t be some of the game’s best teams if you built them up correctly. 

Which Teams Have The Most X-Factor Superstars?

The reigning champions have the most X-Factors at launch. The Kansas City Chiefs squad rolls out for the new season with five Superstar X-Factors, alone in first place.

However, if you combine Superstars with Superstar X-Factors, you may be surprised to find the Philadelphia Eagles lead the league. They have just one X-Factor in defensive disruptor Fletcher Cox, but with six Superstars alongside him, they lead the league with seven total Superstar or better players.

Complete Madden NFL 21 X-Factors List

Chicago Bears

• X-Factor: Khalil Mack
  • Ability: Unstoppable Force — pass runs wins lead to quicker block shedding
• Other Superstars: Allen Robinson II

Cincinnati Bengals

• X-Factor: None
• Other Superstars: Joe Mixon, Geno Atkins

Buffalo Bills

• X-Factor: Stefon Diggs
  • Ability: Rac ‘Em Up — wins RAC catches versus single coverage
• X-Factor: Tre’Davious White
  • Ability: Shutdown — tighter coverage and more INTs on contested catches
• Other Superstars: Micah Hyde

Denver Broncos

• X-Factor: Von Miller
  • Ability: Fearmonger — chance to pressure the QB while engaged with a blocker
• Other Superstars: Justin Simmons, Courtland Sutton

Cleveland Browns

• X-Factor: Myles Garrett
  • Ability: Unstoppable Force — pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding
• X-Factor: Nick Chubb
  • Ability: Wrecking Ball — high success rate on next three trucks or stiff arms
• Other Superstars: Odell Beckham Jr.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• X-Factor: Mike Evans
  • Ability: Double Me — wins aggressive catches versus single coverage
• X-Factor: Tom Brady
  • Ability: Pro Reads — highlights the first open target and ignores pressure
• Other Superstars: Rob Gronkowski, Lavonte David, Chris Godwin, Shaquil Barrett

Arizona Cardinals

• X-Factor: Deandre Hopkins
  • Ability: Double Me — wins aggressive catches versus single coverage
• X-Factor: Chandler Jones
  • Ability: Fearmonger — chance to pressure QB while engaged with a blocker
• Other Superstars: Budda Baker, Kyler Murray

Los Angeles Chargers

• X-Factor: Keenan Allen
  • Ability: Max Security — high success rate on possession catches
• X-Factor: Joey Bosa
  • Ability: Unstoppable Force — pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding
• X-Factor: Derwin James
  • Ability: Reinforcement — higher chance to defeat run blocks and disrupt catches
• Other Superstars: Chris Harris Jr.

Kansas City Chiefs

• X-Factor: Patrick Mahomes
  • Ability: Bazooka — max throwing distance increased by 15+ yards
• X-Factor: Travis Kelce
  • Ability: Double Me — wins aggressive catches versus single coverage
• X-Factor: Tyreek Hill
  • Ability: RAC ‘Em Up — wins RAC catches versus single coverage
• X-Factor: Tyrann Mathieu
  • Ability: Reinforcement — higher chance to defeat run blocks and disrupt catches
• X-Factor: Chris Jones
  • Ability: Momentum Shift — on field opponents have their zone progress wiped
• Other Superstars: Mitchell Schwartz

Indianapolis Colts

• X-Factor: None
• Other Superstars: Quenton Nelson, Deforest Buckner, T.Y. Hilton

Dallas Cowboys

• X-Factor: Amari Cooper
  • Ability: Max Security — high success rate on possession catches
• X-Factor: Ezekiel Elliot
  • Ability: Freight Train — increased chance to break the next tackle attempt
• X-Factor: DeMarcus Lawrence
  • Ability: Unstoppable Force — pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding
• Other Superstars: Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, Dak Prescott

Miami Dolphins

• X-Factor: None
• Other Superstars: Byron Jones

Philadelphia Eagles

• X-Factor: Fletcher Cox
  • Ability: Fearmonger — chance to pressure the QB while engaged with a blocker
• Other Superstars: Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Darius Slay Jr., Zach Ertz, Lane Johnson, Carson Wentz

Atlanta Falcons

• X-Factor: Julio Jones
  • Ability: Double Me — wins aggressive catches versus single coverage
• Other Superstars: Grady Jarrett, Matt Ryan

Washington Football Team

• X-Factor: None
• Other Superstars: Brandon Scherff, Ryan Kerrigan

San Francisco 49ers

• X-Factor: George Kittle
  • Ability: YAC ‘Em Up — increased chance to break the first post-catch tackle
• X-Factor: Richard Sherman
  • Ability: Shutdown — tighter coverage and more INTs on contested catches
• X-Factor: Nick Bosa
  • Ability: Relentless — rush moves no longer cost points
• Other Superstars: Trent Williams, Fred Warner, Arik Armstead

New York Giants

• X-Factor: Saquon Barkley
  • Ability: First One Free — high fakeout rate on next juke, spin, or hurdle
• Other Superstars: None

Jacksonville Jaguars

• X-Factor: None
• Other Superstars: Leonard Fournette, Josh Allen

New York Jets

• X-Factor: None
• Other Superstars: None

Detroit Lions

• X-Factor: None
• Other Superstars: Kenny Golladay

Green Bay Packers

• X-Factor: Davante Adams
  • Ability: Double Me — wins aggressive catches versus single coverage
• X-Factor: Jaire Alexander
  • Ability: Shutdown — tighter coverage and more INTs on contested coverage
• X-Factor: Aaron Rodgers
  • Ability: Gambler — faster passes that can’t be picked off by AI defenders
• Other Superstars: David Bakhtiari, Kenny Clark, Za’Darius Smith

Carolina Panthers

• X-Factor: Christian McCaffrey
  • Ability: Ankle Breaker — high fakeout rate on skill moves following the catch
• Other Superstars: D.J. Moore

New England Patriots

• X-Factor: Stephon Gilmore
  • Ability: Shutdown — tighter coverage and more INTs on contested catches
• X-Factor: Devin McCourty
  • Ability: Zone Hawk — More INTs in zone coverage
• Other Superstars: Julian Edelman

Las Vegas Raiders

• X-Factor: None
• Other Superstars: Rodney Hudson, Josh Jacobs, Trent Brown

Los Angeles Rams

• X-Factor: Aaron Donald
  • Ability: Blitz — on field blockers have their resistance bars wiped
• X-Factor: Jalen Ramsey
  • Ability: Bottleneck — dominantly win man press attempts
• Other Superstars: Cooper Kupp, Andrew Whitworth

Baltimore Ravens

• X-Factor: Calais Campbell
  • Ability: Run Stuffer — block shedding is more effective versus run plays
• X-Factor: Lamar Jackson
  • Ability: Truzz — can’t fumble as a result of a tackle
• Other Superstars: Ronnie Stanley, Marlon Humphrey

New Orleans Saints

• X-Factor: Michael Thomas
  • Ability: Max Security — high success rate on possession catches
• X-Factor: Cameron Jordan
  • Ability: Unstoppable Force — pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding
• X-Factor: Drew Brees
  • Ability: Pro Reads — highlights the first open target and ignores pressure
• Other Superstars: Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, Alvin Kamara

Seattle Seahawks

• X-Factor: Bobby Wagner
  • Ability: Avalanche — downhill hit-sticks force fumbles
• X-Factor: Russell Wilson
  • Ability: Blitz Radar — highlights extra blitzers
• X-Factor: Jamal Adams
  • Ability: Avalanche — downhill hit-sticks force fumbles
• Other Superstars: None

Pittsburgh Steelers

• X-Factor: T.J. Watt
  • Ability: Unstoppable Force — pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding
• Other Superstars: David Decastro, Cameron Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick

Houston Texans

• X-Factor: J.J. Watt
  • Ability: Relentless — rush moves no longer cost points
• Other Superstars: Deshaun Watson

Tennessee Titans

• X-Factor: Derrick Henry
  • Ability: Freight Train — increased chance to break the next tackle attempt
• Other Superstars: Kevin Byard

Minnesota Vikings

• X-Factor: Harrison Smith
  • Ability: Reinforcement — higher chance to defeat run blocks and disrupt catches
• X-Factor: Dalvin Cook
  • Ability: First One Free — high fakeout rate on next juke, spin, or hurdle
• X-Factor: Adam Thielen
  • Ability: Double Me — wins aggressive catches versus single coverage
• X-Factor: Danielle Hunter
  • Ability: Unstoppable Force — pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding
• Other Superstars: Eric Kendricks

That should cover it for every X-Factor for every player, as well as what teams have X-Factors and who their Superstars are in Madden 21. You can leverage these abilities in any of the game’s modes, whether you’re playing Franchise or MUT. Madden 21 is out now on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One; it will release later in 2020 for Xbox Series X and PS5.