Let’s face it, Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, aka CJ2K, stunk this season. The back was more like CJ2Lame.

In the past, such dips in production in real life were not reflected on the virtual gridiron of Madden. Recently, however, EA Sports has done a good job tinkering with player ratings each week in its flagship sports title. As happens each Sunday, some players get better while others regress.

With the regular season over and approximately 17 roster updates here and gone, let’s take a look at some of the players who made the biggest rating jumps — and dips — from the first to the final roster update in Madden 12.

Biggest Bumps

Victor Cruz, WR, N.Y. Giants
Original Overall: 61
Current Overall: 87
Cruz burst onto the scene this season after being a non-factor, in real life and in Madden, last season. His biggest rating bump came in awareness, where he jumped from a 42 to a 76. He’s been so good Madden developers are probably hard at work motion capturing his salsa dance TD celebration for Madden 13.

Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Original Overall: 69
Current Overall: 83
Like Cruz, Brown has come out of seemingly nowhere to became a go-to pass catcher. In Madden, he is best in the slot where he can use his much-improved speed, agility and acceleration ratings to rack up the YAC.

Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills
Original Overall: 80
Current Overall: 92
Before an injury cut his season short, Jackson was piling up yardage in the running game as well as the passing game for the Bills. The Buffalo offense wasn’t the same after he was lost for the season. Jackson was barely average before his emergence this season; C.J. Spiller was a much better play at the RB position in Madden. Jackson, though, saw large increases in his important ratings, including an eye-popping 30-point bump in his elusiveness rating.

Roy Helu, RB, Washington Redskins
Original Overall: 65
Current Overall: 79
The Redskin back showed his value on Sundays and saw some massive rating increases on Thursdays.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers
Original Overall: 79
Current Overall: 89
Nelson has been buoyed by the passing genius of Aaron Rodgers and all the weapons surrounding him in the Packers’ attack. Nelson, though, has made the most of his opportunities and is now a downright stud in Madden.
All of his key receiving ratings have received healthy bumps, but his catch in traffic and release ratings each got a 10-plus point bump.

Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Original Overall: 75
Current Overall: 85
Sense a trend here? Most of the players who have received the biggest bumps are on playoff teams. There’s a reason for that — Madden rewards winners.

Smith came into the season wondering if he would even be a 49er, let alone a starter. Now he is one of the most efficient signal callers in the league. HisMadden rating have reflected that change as he received significant accuracy increases.

Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Original Overall: 75
Current Overall: 85
No one really knew what to expect from the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick entering the season. His poor preseason didn’t help much, but he instantly proved he could play at a high level and his ratings received significant boosts from the start. Newton played better as the season went on and he topped out with mighty ratings increases in all three accuracy categories and awareness.

Biggest Dumps

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
Original Overall: 96
Current Overall: 89
It could have been worse for Johnson if not for a late-season resurgence.
Johnson saw his biggest rating drop in Madden in trucking, which in reality was probably too high at 80 anyway, but dipped all the way down to a 59 by season’s end.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns
Original Overall: 91
Current Overall: 85
Even Hillis believes in the Madden cover jinx now. Injuries slowed him down quite a bit this season, as well as his poor attitude.

Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Original Overall: 86
Current Overall: 79
Ward’s best days are long gone. He was barely used down the stretch by the Steelers. The only reason he was even on the field at all was because he was chasing 1,000 career receptions. His ratings in Madden dipped significantly -- speed and agility ratings in particular. Apparently, Ward caught MaddenAlzheimer’s and lost more than 10 awareness points.

99 Club

Antonio Gates, Darrelle Revis, Troy Polamalu and Tom Brady each started the season with an overall rating of 99 in Madden, but only Brady finished the season in the 99 Club.

Brady as well as Adrian Peterson, DeMarcus Ware, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Shane Lechler (yes, a punter) finished the season in that exclusive club.