each player has special ratings like speed agility awareness, then they have attributes that are specific to there position like for RB's trucking and juke and spin move, for WR's catch, catch in traffic, for QB's throw power, throw accuracy, short, deep, and medium accuracy, just stuff like that, on the depth chart you can scroll over to the right to see these attributes.
ill give you an example of what i do, i like my slower guys inside cuz it takes less time for A gap blitzes to develop, and it takes more time for heat off the edge to get there so i want my faster guys on the edge cuz when i bring heat off the edge its gonna take a lil longer then when i bring A gap heat so i want my fastest players there, i play alot of zone so i pay attention to my DB's and LB's zone rating, not man coverage rating, these are jus some examples of adjustments you would make depending on what type of player you are.