NFL 2011 Preview: Power Ranking the Top 5 Players at Each Position
2011 NFL Preview: The Top 5 Players at Each Position
A handful of days ago, I set out to rank the top five teams at each position. Like you'd expect, many of the top teams dominated the rankings.
And while that generated some much-needed debate about actual football, we're not done yet creating a buzz.
Instead of ranking the NFL by the top five teams at each position, we'll look at the top five players at each position.
Will this create more buzz than a team-focused view? Likely not, but we'll certainly give it a try.
From quarterbacks to return specialists, let's get this started.
Quarterbacks
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1. Tom Brady
The guy has three Super Bowl rings and consistently produces top numbers at the position. There's not much more you can ask for in a quarterback.
He might break all the records before he's done, and there's never been a better student of the game than Manning at the quarterback position.
3. Drew Brees
He's one of the best leaders in football and he matches that with equal production on the field. His Super Bowl victory two years ago solidifies a top-five spot.
The best young passer in the NFL, Rodgers has a chance to ascend closer to the top of this list. Concussions are a big concern, but he's the complete package and has won a Super Bowl.
If you're a numbers guy, then Philip Rivers is your choice here. If you want championships, it's Roethlisberger.
Running Backs
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1. Chris Johnson
The premier home-run hitter in the game, Johnson also doesn't get enough credit for the work he does between the tackles and out of the backfield.
He represents the best throwback runner in the NFL. Peterson is one of the hardest to tackle in the game and can run away from you if needed.
3. Jamaal Charles
He's very similar to Johnson in many aspects. Charles should continue to get more carries as his stardom heightens and Thomas Jones ages.
4. Maurice Jones-Drew
Jones-Drew has been the workhorse of the Jaguars offense for several seasons, and he's undervalued because he's played on an up-and-down team.
5 (t). Arian Foster
One breakout season isn't enough to get him higher on this list, but Foster can cement a top-five status with another big year in 2011.
5 (t). Steven Jackson
Is he the most underrated back of the past five seasons? The Rams have put plenty of miles on Jackson.
Wide Receivers
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1. Andre Johnson
Johnson might have the best hands in football, and he can physically dominate any cover man thrown against him.
Arizona's lack of a quarterback has hurt his stats, but Fitzgerald is still one of the top two receivers. He's the best receiver in the air we've seen in a while.
3. Calvin Johnson
This Johnson comes in a close second in the physically dominating department, but a full season with Matthew Stafford could vault Calvin even higher on this list.
4. Roddy White
The three listed above him get most of the attention, but White has a case for the top three. He's caught 200 passes and 23 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
5. Reggie Wayne
He's on the downside of his career, but Wayne is still Peyton Manning's favorite target. Another 100-catch season would make it three in a row for Wayne.
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Tight Ends
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1. Antonio Gates
Gates is still the NFL's best tight end despite being almost 31. He missed six games in 2010 and still caught 10 touchdowns.
2. Jason Witten
If you want your tight end to catch and block, Witten is your man. No tight end in the game combines the two better.
3. Vernon Davis
Somebody get this guy a quarterback. Even with a revolving door of below-average QB's throwing to him, Davis has 20 touchdowns in the past two seasons.
4. Dallas Clark
After catching over 100 passes with 10 touchdowns in 2009, an injury cut Clark's '10 season short. He'll be a big part of the Colts offense again in 2011.
5. Jermichael Finley
Too high for a guy who has only 16 career NFL starts? Maybe. But Finley is the most athletic tight end in the game and could skyrocket up this list with an injury-free 2011 season.
Offensive Tackles
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1. Joe Thomas
Thomas is an elite pass blocker who more than holds his own in the run game. The best of the best at the tackle position.
2. Jake Long
You could easily consider Long 1b to Thomas' 1a. He'll be an All-Pro for years to come.
3. Ryan Clady
One of the better athletes playing the position, Clady is another young and dominant tackle. He's best in pass protection.
4. Michael Roos
Ross is simply one of the more underrated offensive linemen in the game. While he was named an All-Pro in both 2008 and '09, very few would mention his name when speaking of the top tackles.
5. Jordan Gross
Gross often gets overlooked at the tackle position, but he's been to two of the last three Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in '08.
Interior Offensive Linemen (Guards and Centers)
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1. Nick Mangold
The best center in football helped anchor the NFL's fourth-best rushing attack in 2010.
2. Jahri Evans
Evans is considered the best guard in the NFL, and he's been named an All-Pro in both the last two seasons.
3. Josh Sitton
Haven't heard of Sitton? Get to know him. He's the best offensive lineman no one has heard of.
4. Maurkice Pouncey
There was a reason that the media made such a big deal about Pouncey's absence from the Super Bowl. He had a dominant rookie season in 2010.
5. Logan Mankins
He's on the downside of his career, but Mankins is still one of the best. He plays with a nasty streak.
Defensive Ends
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1. Julius Peppers
An underrated storyline from 2010 was how Peppers brought the Bears' once-vaunted defense back to prominence. He can single-handedly change football games.
2. Dwight Freeney
Injuries are creeping up on Freeney, but there are very few better when he's healthy. It helps he has a feared sidekick opposite him (Robert Mathis).
3. Jared Allen
Is he the elite pass-rusher he was a couple seasons ago? Probably not. But Allen knows how to get to the quarterback as well as anyone in the game.
4. Justin Tuck
Tuck could very easily jump over both Allen and Freeney in 2011. He has the complete package as a 4-3 pass rusher.
5. Osi Umenyiora
Umenyiora not only had 11.5 sacks in 2010, but he also recorded 10 forced fumbles. He's a strip-sack waiting to happen.
Interior Defensive Linemen
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1. Haloti Ngata
He's a monster of a man who disrupts everything that offenses try to do in the interior. Ngata earned his first All-Pro selection after a dominant 2010 season.
2. Ndamukong Suh
I have no doubts that Suh will be No. 1 on this list very soon. He's a game-changer against both the pass and run.
3. Kevin Williams
Williams might be the best pass-rushing interior lineman in the NFL. He's recorded 49.5 sacks in eight pro seasons.
4. Vince Wilfork
He's one of the most athletic big men in the NFL, and he anchors the Patriots 3-4 defense.
5. Jay Ratliff
While his production dropped off in 2010, Ratliff can still cause problems in both the run and pass game. I'd expect a rebound season in 2011.
Outside Linebackers
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1. DeMarcus Ware
He's the best pass rusher in the NFL, and his five-straight 10-plus sack seasons prove it. No one is feared more in pass protection.
2. Clay Matthews
Matthews still has a long ways to go to get to Ware's status, but he's slowly on his way. He has 23.5 sacks in his first two NFL seasons.
3. James Harrison
Harrison has a strong case for No. 2 on this list, but his best days are likely over at age 33. He's still a force on the edge.
4. Lance Briggs
The only 4-3 linebacker on this list, Briggs can still impact games without rushing the passer on most downs. He's a big part of what the Bears accomplish on defense.
5. Tamba Hali
Strongly considered Cameron Wake for this spot, but Hali has proven to be the more complete pass rusher.
Inside Linebackers
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1. Patrick Willis
He's the new standard by which all inside linebackers are now judged. Willis is one of the more complete players in the NFL.
2. Jon Beason
Overlooked on a mediocre Panthers defense, Beason makes as many plays as anyone on this list. He'll eventually get the credit he so rightfully deserves.
3. Ray Lewis
He's still a defensive force despite his age. A talented player and leader, Lewis is the best linebacker of this generation.
4. Brian Urlacher
The heart and soul of a Bears defense that sorely missed him in 2009. He bounced back with a typical Urlacher season in '10.
5. Jerod Mayo
Mayo is a tackling machine for the New England Patriots. He's No. 5 on this list, but it's hard to argue with 175 tackles.
Cornerbacks
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1 (t). Darrelle Revis
He's the definition of a shutdown cornerback. Only Asomugha can compete with him on a purely coverage basis.
1 (t). Nmandi Asomugha
It's almost impossible to separate Revis and Asomugha, so I'm not even going to try. They both represent the best the NFL has to offer at the cornerback position.
3. Charles Woodson
While not a shutdown corner, Woodson impacts offenses in several different ways. He's the best in the business at playing near the line of scrimmage.
4. Asante Samuel
Samuel quietly put together one of the better seasons of any cornerback in 2010. He's also mastered the art of taking "smart chances."
5. Tramon Williams
Maybe a bit of my Packers bias shows here, but Williams has slowly developed himself into both a shutdown corner and big-play guy. He was absolutely vital to the Packers winning the Super Bowl in 2010.
Safeties
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Injuries and age have taken a toll, but Polamalu is still the most important defender on one of the NFL's best defenses.
2. Ed Reed
Despite playing in just 10 games in 2010, Reed intercepted eight passes. No defender since Deion Sanders could turn defense into offense faster than Reed.
3. Adrian Wilson
One of the most underrated defenders in the NFL today. Wilson is solid in all aspects of safety play.
4. Nick Collins
Collins is also vastly underrated, and he's slowly cut down on the stupid risks he took earlier in his career. He's been a Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro the past three seasons.
5. Eric Berry
Berry represents the next generation of game-changing safeties. He's a big hitter who has a nose for the football.
Specialists
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1. Shane Lechler
The best punter in the NFL, hands down.
2. Nate Kaeding
It's hard to forget his misses against the Jets in '09, but Kaeding is still one of the most consistent kickers.
3. Rob Bironas
Bironas missed just two field goals in 2010 and made a 55-yarder.
4. Andy Lee
In 2010, Lee was fourth in average (46.2 yards) and third in punts inside the 20-yard line (34).
5. Josh Brown
Brown made an NFL-high 33 field goals in 2010.
Returners
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1. Devin Hester
He's had this title for a while, but Hester's three punt returns for touchdowns in 2010 confirmed it once again.
2. Josh Cribbs
Cribbs is a player who often gets overlooked in Cleveland (as I did in leaving off the original list), but has 10 career returns for touchdowns (eight kicks, two punts). He's top 15 all-time.
3. Leon Washington
He became a feared special teams weapon in 2010 with three kick returns for touchdowns.
4. DeSean Jackson
One of the most electric players in the NFL, Jackson is always a big play waiting to happen on special teams.
5. Marc Mariani
He became one of the better all-around returners during his rookie season. Mariani returned both a punt and kick for a touchdown in 2010.
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