Bleacher Report's Midseason NFL All-Pro Team

There are familiar names on this midseason consensus All-Pro list voted on by Bleacher Report's eight NFL writers. But many of them are posting unfamiliar numbers. Or even unprecedented numbers.

Like New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who's on pace for 1,477 receiving yards, which would break the all-time single-season record at his position. The current record-holder? Gronkowski, of course (1,327 yards in 2011).

Then there's his quarterback, Tom Brady, who's soaring toward 5,509 passing yards, which would be the second 5,000-plus-yard season of his career. It would also surpass Peyton Manning's record of 5,477 passing yards.

The list goes on, with San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman powering toward his fourth straight 140-plus-tackle year and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt averaging over a sack per game.

It takes a lot to unseat NFL royalty, and at many positions those thrones haven't been touched. But rising stars like Falcons running back Devonta Freeman are quickly disturbing the natural order of things.

Let's break it down position by position and see which veterans are holding serve and which young talent is rising fast.

Quarterback

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Winner: Tom Brady, New England Patriots (6 votes)

The early September version of this democratic voting process can, in hindsight, show just how far once-mighty players have fallen. That's depressingly true in the case of the Colts' Andrew Luck, who received three votes when we gathered to predict the best quarterback of 2015 (related: predicting football is hard).

The NFL can be a humbling league as your world begins to spiral. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady isn't familiar with that concept.

The laws of time and nature say Brady should be declining. That would be perfectly acceptable at the age of 38. We're constantly slapping Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning with the "old" label, but Brady is only one year younger than his primary position rival.

Yet he's still sizzling for the undefeated Patriots.

Brady's current completion percentage of 68.9 is tied with his career single-season high set back in 2007. Although the Patriots wisely put receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola in space and give them opportunities to gain yards after the catch, Brady's passing mileage hasn't just been a product of dinking and/or dunking.

His arm strength isn't fading despite that elderly quarterback status. Brady ranks third in air yards with 1,272, according to Pro Football Focus, and he's completed 56.5 percent of his attempts that travel 20-plus yards downfield.

At midseason, he's one of only two quarterbacks averaging 340-plus passing yards per game (the other is Philip Rivers). Overall he's on pace to throw for 5,509 yards, which puts a new single-season record within reach. Oh, and on 289 attempts he's thrown just one interception.

Eventually Brady will stumble and stay down for good because, like the Patriots, time and age remain undefeated. But for now, that day still seems like it's far off in the distance.

Others receiving votes: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (2 votes)

Preseason winner: Rodgers (4 votes)

Running Back

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Winners: Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons (8 votes); Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (4 votes)

Michael Turner holds the Atlanta Falcons' franchise single-season rushing touchdown record. He scored 17 times in 2008, which was Turner's best season both in Atlanta and in the NFL.

Turner recorded six touchdowns by midseason that year, and overall he had four multi-touchdown games. It was a Pro Bowl season, though Turner had the simple but rather important advantage of starting all 16 games.

Devonta Freeman wasn't given that luxury. The second-year running back didn't start and receive a full workload until Week 3, after backfield running mate Tevin Coleman went down with an injury. His lack of early playing time hasn't mattered at all, even a little bit.

Freeman became the first running back since the AFL-NFL merger to score three touchdowns in each of his first two starts, as noted by Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He scored seven times by Week 4, and has since increased that number to 10, including a receiving touchdown.

He's doing so much more than just finishing drives, too. Freeman has finally provided a backfield complement to support the efforts of wide receiver Julio Jones, and he's done it while posting two games with 140-plus rushing yards. It gets better, as he's averaged 132.8 yards from scrimmage per game.

That production recently prompted Falcons head coach Dan Quinn to state the obvious: Freeman has become central to everything his offense does.

"The belief in Devonta, in terms of our mindset and what he can do, he's a factor in everything," Quinn told Charles Odum of the Associated Press.

As for the Steelers' Le'Veon Bell, his midseason All-Pro case requires pretty much one number: 692.

That's Bell's total yards even after missing two games due to a suspension, and even after coping with two backup quarterbacks.

Of course, Bell being listed here now seems like a cruel joke directed at the grieving Steelers fan in your life. After shining in limited time, his season ended early due to a torn MCL.

Others receiving votes: Chris Ivory, New York Jets (2 votes); Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (2 votes)

Preseason winners: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (6 votes); Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (3 votes)

Fullback

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Winner: Patrick DiMarco, Atlanta Falcons (8 votes)

Freeman has created plenty of space for himself through eight games, either by darting and weaving or by rumbling past defenders. But even the most gifted running backs need to be sprung with quality lead blocks from fullbacks who run into human walls for a living.

That's why Patrick DiMarco is a name you're going to hear more often. He's the fullback who has plowed the way for an Atlanta Falcons rushing offense currently tied for second while averaging 126 yards per game.

Calling that turnaround remarkable would be, well, a remarkable understatement. The Falcons' rushing offense averaged 93.6 yards per game in 2014 (24th), 77.9 in 2013 (32nd) and 87.3 in 2012 (29th).

DiMarco has played a significant role in that surge, finally finding his NFL niche after being an undrafted free agent in 2011. Pro Football Focus gives him the best run-blocking grade among fullbacks at 9.3, and it's really not all that close. The Lions' Michael Burton is the runner-up with a grade of 5.8.

Dan Quinn focused on two words when summarizing DiMarco's importance.

"I think two of the adjectives or words that help me describe Patrick DiMarco are smart and tough," he told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Those two things go a long way as a player. He knows where to be and he's physical when he does it. He's a really important guy to us."

Others receiving votes: None

Preseason winner: Kyle Juszczyk, Baltimore Ravens (7 votes)

Tight End

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Winner: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (5 votes)

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is still young at the age of 26. Which is a scary fact on his bio, even alongside his height and weight measurements (6'6", 265 lbs).

He may only just be entering his prime as an athlete. That's scary too, and the scariest fact about everyone's favorite NFL teddy bear is this: He's played only 72 career games, and his 61 career touchdown receptions already place him fifth of all time among tight ends.

He's the fastest tight end to reach that mark. Of those touchdowns, seven have come in 2015, which means Gronkowski is on pace for his second career season with 15-plus TDs. He's doing that while chugging along at 16.2 yards per reception and 92.3 per game so far, setting a course for two new single-season career highs.

Gronkowski is known for his point-producing and yardage-compiling presence. But opposing coaches are well aware that, frighteningly, he does so much more.

"The guy is an animal," Miami Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell told Josh Baumgard of CBS Miami prior to a Week 8 matchup. "He can do everything. You put him out there and he's a mismatch one-on-one because of his route running, big body and excellent hands. He can pass protect. I guess you can hand him the ball if you wanted to and have him run it as a running back."

Dan, you forgot excellent run-blocker. But other than that, the whole Gronkowski package is covered there.

Others receiving votes: Gary Barnidge, Cleveland Browns (3 votes)

Preseason winner: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (5 votes)

Wide Receiver

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Winners: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (8 votes); DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans (6 votes)

There's only been one wide receiver in NFL history to top the 140-reception mark in a season. Former Indianapolis Colts legend Marvin Harrison holds the all-time single-year record with his 143 catches back in 2002.

At the midway point of his record-setting season, Harrison had caught 69 balls. Fast-forward 14 years later, and now the Falcons' Julio Jones has snatched 70 throws from quarterback Matt Ryan at midseason.

Jones could challenge Harrison's record, and he's setting his blistering pace while piling up yardage, too. The 26-year-old became the first player in league history to record 135-plus yards during each of his team's first three games to start a season.

Former teammate Harry Douglas recently gave Jones the highest praise possible, saying he has a chance to be the best receiver in NFL history.

"Being able to play with him for all those years, I know his work ethic," Douglas told Mark Inabinett of AL.com. "I know he's an unbelievable player. He has a chance to be the greatest player to ever play this game."

That sound you just heard was Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins clearing his throat.

He's only marginally behind Jones in receiving yards (870 yards, and Jones sits at 892) and receptions (66), even though Hopkins has been forced to deal with sprayed balls from the Texans' carousel of replacement-level passers.

Others receiving votes: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote); Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers (1 vote)

Preseason winners: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (6 votes); Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys (5 votes)

Offensive Tackle

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Winners: Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns (7 votes); Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys (5 votes)

Eventually Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas will stop being a consistent rock on the left side. Age is an evil force, after all, and he'll turn 31 years old in December.

But he's not slowing yet, and he finds himself in the middle of yet another ho-hum Pro Bowl-level year. The third overall pick in 2007 has been named a Pro Bowler during each of his eight NFL seasons.

You'd think maybe one year Thomas could slide just a touch and fall below the towering bar he's set for himself to give someone else a turn at the top. But he's Joe Thomas, so that might not happen for a while.

He does have a challenger for the left tackle throne, though, and it's the Cowboys' Tyron Smith.

Thomas has allowed only 14 pressures over 349 pass-blocking snaps in 2015, per PFF. As always, that makes him an impressively solid wall on the left side, especially with how often he's asked to pass-block for a Browns team often clawing from behind.

Smith, however, has given up just four pressures this season, albeit on far fewer passing snaps (246). It might not quite be his time yet, but Smith is much younger at 24 years old, putting him next in line to take Thomas' crown.

Others receiving votes: Andrew Whitworth, Cleveland Browns (2 votes)

Preseason winners: Tyron Smith (8 votes); Joe Thomas (7 votes)

Guard

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Winners: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys (4 votes); Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens (3 votes)

Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin has played 23 career games, starting each one. That's given him 763 opportunities to allow pressure to reach his quarterback, per PFF. Yet his total pressures allowed sits at only 13.

That should be sufficiently impressive, but let's look at Martin's consistent interior blocking strength from a slightly different angle. Prior to Week 7 Pro Football Focus made this observation: "23 Guards have given up more pressures this season than Zack Martin has in his entire career."

At the time, that was 22 games for Martin compared to six from 23 of his position peers. Now a week later, Martin's dominance has been hammered home even further. He allowed one more pressure during Week 8 to bring his career total to 13, and 29 others have given up that much or more in 2015.

Much like Smith at left tackle, Martin has to unseat a veteran to be declared ruler of his position kingdom. And the Ravens' Marshal Yanda isn't going anywhere just yet.

Yanda is 31 years old and is still performing at a peak level. Even while playing the third-most passing snaps in the league (338), he's allowed only one sack this season.

Others receiving votes: Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers (3 votes); Richie Incognito, Buffalo Bills (2 votes)

Preseason winners: Marshal Yanda (8 votes); Zack Martin (3 votes)

Center

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Winner: Ryan Kalil, Carolina Panthers (3 votes)

The Carolina Panthers seemed destined to have a leaky offensive line in 2015, just as they did in 2014 when quarterback Cam Newton was often gimpy while taking 38 sacks.

But there's been an improvement, and Newton isn't frantically dodging bodies as much as he was a year ago. He's on pace to be sacked 30 times while playing behind a line still anchored by center Ryan Kalil.

Kalil has allowed only one of those sacks, per PFF. The four-time Pro Bowler has especially excelled as a run-blocker, getting a 9.2 grade in that area while opening lanes for the league's top-ranked rushing offense that's averaging 144 yards on the ground per game.

Others receiving votes: Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys (2 votes), Weston Richburg, New York Giants (2 votes), Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders (1 vote)

Preseason winner: Travis Frederick (7 votes)

Defensive End

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Winners: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans (6 votes); Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints (2 votes)

During your next moment of quiet, deep inner thought, please make sure to reflect on life's great privileges. Chief among them is this: We all get to watch Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt during his prime.

Unfortunately, Watt remains a shining example of franchise-building failure. Employing the league's best defensive player means so very little when his team's quarterbacks have delivered only heaping helpings of sadness. The Texans are 3-5 even while playing in the NFL's worst division, and even while powered defensively by Watt's 8.5 sacks over eight games.

He's halfway through his fifth season, and now Watt is on pace to average a sack per game in three of those years. Since entering the NFL in 2011 Watt has totaled 65.5 sacks, which leads the league during that time, and it's not close. The Chiefs' Justin Houston is second with 54.

Jordan Cameron was named the second All-Pro defensive end by our esteemed panel of voters, and although he doesn't have Watt's career numbers, the New Orleans Saints pass-rusher has generated plenty of pocket chaos. That's especially been true during the Saints' current three-game win streak when Jordan has recorded five sacks and a whopping 28 pressures, per PFF.

Others receiving votes: Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins (1 vote); Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati Bengals (1 vote), Chandler Jones, New England Patriots (1 vote); Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks (1 vote)

Preseason winners: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans (8 votes); Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders (4 votes)

Defensive Tackle

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Winners: Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams (6 votes); Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals (4 votes)

Watt has set the current standard for game-changing defensive line play. But he plays the sexier position along the line, and the interior grunts often get a smaller slice of the glory.

But what if there was a defensive tackle version of Watt? St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long thinks he knows someone who can fit that title: his teammate Aaron Donald, one of the league's most promising young defensive tackles.

"J.J.'s a once-in-a-lifetime player, and we look at J.J. on film and we're always like, 'Man, that guy is unbelievable,'" Long told ESPN.com's Elizabeth Merrill. "But I'm sure other people look at Aaron and say the same thing. It's just that Aaron hasn't been doing it as long."

Donald is still only 23 games into his NFL career, and that's all the time he's needed to establish himself as a dominant force up the middle. He's undersized for a defensive tackle, and he does his damage with a lightning-quick release right after the snap.

With that skill set, he leads all defensive tackles in sacks since the beginning of 2014 with 13.5, and he's already recorded 77 career pressures halfway through his second season.

As a prospect, Donald was often compared to the Bengals' Geno Atkins, who's our second midseason All-Pro defensive tackle. Like Donald, Atkins is a little undersized at 6'1" and 300 pounds, so he leans on quickness, winning one-on-one battles with sound technique.

The result for Atkins throughout his career has been constant disruption as a pass-rusher. So far in 2015, he's second among all defensive tackles with 31 pressures, per PFF.

Others receiving votes: Brandon Williams, Baltimore Raven (2 votes); Kawann Short, Carolina Panthers (1 vote); Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote)

Preseason winners: Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams (7 votes); Tie: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 votes), Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills (3 votes) and Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins (3 votes)

Outside Linebacker

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Winners: Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs (4 votes); Tie: Von Miller, Denver Broncos (2 votes); Telvin Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars (2 votes)

Two of the three outside linebackers listed here have combined for 9.5 sacks in 2015 and were part of arguably the best pass-rusher draft class in recent memory.

The Chiefs' Justin Houston and the Broncos' Von Miller have occupied the top tier of their position for, well, a long time. They each have 50-plus career sacks (Houston has 54, and Miller sits at 53), and Houston brings the added dimension of excelling against the run too, with a position-leading 16 defensive stops at midseason, per PFF.

The other guy? It doesn't seem like the Jaguars' Telvin Smith belongs alongside Houston and Miller, but that feeling will fade soon. Smith was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 7 when he finished with three passes defensed, a pick-six and nine tackles during a win over the Buffalo Bills.

His vision and keen instincts have led to 68 tackles (sixth). In his second season after being a fifth-round pick, Smith is quickly developing into a technically sound linebacker who can anchor the Jaguars run defense.

Others receiving votes: Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders (1 vote); Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings (1 vote); DeMarcus Ware, Denver Broncos (1 vote)

Preseason winners: Justin Houston, (4 votes); Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4 votes)

Inside Linebacker

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Winners: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers (7 votes); NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers (5 votes) 

The San Francisco 49ers are crumbling around inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, and prior to the season there was concern he could be part of the smoldering ruins.

Bowman hadn't played since the NFC Championship Game in 2013 after suffering a severe knee injury. He's been effective throughout his career because of nearly unmatched sideline-to-sideline quickness, so would we see the same Bowman again in 2015 when the three-time All Pro finally returned?

His answer to that question has been to record four straight double-digit-tackle games leading up to midseason. Bowman is just fine, thanks, and if he stays healthy, the 27-year-old will easily glide to his fourth season with 140-plus tackles.

The Panthers' Luke Kuechly presents nearly a mirror image next to Bowman. He's averaging 11.5 tackles per game for one of the NFL's four remaining undefeated teams, and he has recorded a run stop on 14.9 percent of his defensive snaps, per PFF.

Others receiving votes: Jamie Collins, New England Patriots (1 vote); Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers (1 vote); Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos (1 vote)

Preseason winners: NaVorro Bowman (6 votes); Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks (4 votes)

Cornerback

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Winners: Darrelle Revis, New York Jets (4 votes); Tie: Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers (2 votes); Desmond Trufant, Atlanta Falcons (2 votes)

The three cornerbacks listed here have a couple of common bonds. 

The first is simple: Throwing in their direction is usually a bad idea, and often little is gained from that decision.

That's especially true with the Panthers' Josh Norman, who's grabbed four interceptions over seven games, two of which have been returned for touchdowns. The Jets' Darrelle Revis is right behind him with three picks already. Norman and Revis also have the top two passer ratings allowed in coverage. Norman leads with his pristine 25.5, and Revis is second at 41.8, per PFF.

The second is that they're all pretty good at their job description as cornerbacks, which is to not allow completions, or at least minimize them.

All three of our All-Pro cornerbacks rank among the top 10 in cover snaps per reception, again according to PFF, with the Falcons' Desmond Trufant leading the entire league at 22.7.

Others receiving votes: Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks (1 vote)

Preseason winners: Darrelle Revis, New York Jets (5 votes); Tie: Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks (4 votes); Desmond Trufant, Atlanta Falcons (4 votes)

Safety

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Winners: Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings (4 votes); Tie: Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks (2 votes); Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders (2 votes); Reshad Jones, Miami Dolphins (2 votes)

This safety group has a little something for everyone. The Raiders' Charles Woodson brings the veteran savvy as the guy who refuses to acknowledge his age. And the Seahawks' Earl Thomas is the staple, annually playing at a Pro Bowl level.

Then there's the new blood, or at least new-ish. Harrison Smith is in his fourth season with the Minnesota Vikings, and he's tied for the team lead in tackles. As Sports Illustrated film analyst Andy Benoit noted, Smith is also a critical piece in the Vikings' blitz packages.

"Smith is a crucial part of the Vikings' pressure concepts," Benoit tweeted. "Both as a blitzer and a disguiser."

Lastly, the Dolphins' Reshad Jones is the late-bloomer. In his sixth season, Jones could be destined for his first Pro Bowl appearance, because he just doesn't miss tackles. He's attempted 25 of them, per PFF, and has missed only two at a position where tackling efficiency in the open field is key in the effort to minimize chunk plays.

Jones has also returned two interceptions for touchdowns over just the past three weeks.

Others receiving votes: Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles (1 vote); T.J. Ward, Denver Broncos (1 vote)

Preseason winners: Earl Thomas, (6 votes); Tie: Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers (3 votes); Harrison Smith, (3 votes)

Special Teams

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Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots (6 votes)

The success of a kicker is always tied to the success of his offense. But that also means a kicker who has the luxury of playing on a juggernaut team will be called upon more often, and more kicking means more opportunities to fail. That's why Stephen Gostkowski has been All-Pro-worthy.

The New England Patriots kicker has attempted 17 field goals so far and 28 extra points, which are something less than a chip shot now at the changed distance. And he's still flawless, sending 45 footballs through the uprights.

Others receiving votes: Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks (2 votes)

Preseason winners: Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys (4 votes)

Punter: Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Colts (4 votes)

Yes, punters are still people too, and Pat McAfee has been trotted out regularly by the Indianapolis Colts. A drain-circling season for the Colts offense has kept McAfee's leg busy, as he's been needed 43 times at midseason (third). Luckily, McAfee is filled with golf-swing swagger and has responded with a net average punt distance of 49 yards.

Others receiving votes: Johnny Hekker, St. Louis Rams (2 votes); Andy Lee, Cleveland Browns (1 vote); Brad Wing, New York Giants (1 vote)

Preseason winners: Tie between Andy Lee (4 votes); Johnny Hekker (4 votes)

Kick/punt returner: Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (8 votes)

Tyler Lockett has cooled off after a sizzling start, but that's mostly a product of opponents preferring to kick anywhere other than his direction.

He posted 240 kick-return yards after just the first three weeks of his rookie season, and much of that yardage came on a Seahawks record-setting 105-yard touchdown return in Week 3. He also scored on a 57-yard punt return in Week 1 against the St. Louis Rams, becoming the first Seahawks returner to have kick and punt return touchdowns in the same season since Nate Burleson in 2007.

Others receiving votes: None

Preseason winners: De'Anthony Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs (5 votes)