Ranking the Top 50 Players at the NFL's Three-Quarter Mark

Now that we are at the three-quarter point of the 2011 NFL season, a lot of things are starting to come into shape. The Green Bay Packers remain the odds-on favorite to repeat as Super Bowl champions but will get a touch challenge from impressive NFC foes across the board as the regular season draws to an end and the postseason becomes reality.

Earlier in the season I wrote an article similar to this one. In that article I laid out the top 50 players in the NFL at that time.

Today, I am going to do something pretty similar. However, I am not going to focus on name recognition and past success to come to a determination of where a players stands. Instead, I am only going to focus on his individual work from the 2011 season: nothing else.

Accordingly, you will see a wide array of different positions represented, but a majority of the players on this list will be from playoff contenders. So if you are an Indianapolis Colts fan and plan on finding a player from your team on this list, think again.

Let's go....

Deserve Mentioning

Surprise Additions of Consideration

WR- Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

WR- Laurent Robinson, Dallas Cowboys

RB- Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

QB- Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

WR- A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

RB- Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders

CB- Aqib Talib, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Too Sick or Injured (missed most if not all of season)

QB- Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

RB- Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs

S- Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs

Injuries Sure do Dampen Things (would have been on list if not injured)

WR- Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants

WR- Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles

WR- Andre Johnson, Houston Texans

QB- Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

50. RB Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons

Michael Turner could easily be much higher on this list and probably should be. That said, there are a couple different reasons why I don't have him up toward the elite. He doesn't block too well for a running back and is pretty one-dimensional when it comes to receiving out of the back field.

Still, Turner has been an incredibly productive running back over the course of the last few seasons and complements the talents of Matt Ryan pretty well.

49. TE Jason Witton, Dallas Cowboys

Jason Witten has been a cog in the armor of the Dallas Cowboys offense for the better part of the last decade. All he does is provide Tony Romo with a safety valve underneath and down the middle. He is a better than average blocker and has been known to break a few tackles here and there.

I love the way Witten plays, and 2011 has just been par for the course in regards to his already impressive career.

48. TE Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers

Jermichael Finley is one imposing figure on the football field for opposing secondaries and linebacker groups. Not only is he one of the faster tight ends on the game, Finley knows how to get separation at the line of scrimmage and find a seem in the defense. 

He has acted as a nice underneath target for Aaron Rodgers over the last couple seasons, but Finley has been unable to have that real big breakout season as of yet.

Still, I am a huge fan of his all-around talents on the football field.

47. QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

I contemplated putting Cam Newton higher on this list but just couldn't do it. He has had an absolutely spectacular rookie season; that cannot be denied. Now that we are three quarters of the way through the season and Newton has elevated his game to near-elite status, he needs to start being compared to veterans.

Newton threw 14 interceptions through his first 11 games and had only led the Panthers to three wins during that span. Those are two things that he is going to have to fix in order to be considered among the best in the game.

46. LB Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants

When I did an article similar to this at the halfway point of the season I got a lot of grief for not having Pierre-Paul on this list and it was well warranted. For the purpose of full disclosure the omission was a pure overlook on my part.

Not this time.

The former South Florida standout has played extremely good football in just his second season. He has an amazing outside pass rush move and finds himself in the backfield on a consistent basis.

At this point Pierre-Paul is somewhat of a one dimensional player but you can expect that to change with experience.

45. TE Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Rob Gronkowski has quickly became Tom Brady's second favorite target outside of Wes Welker. He has a relatively fleet foot for a tight end that appears to catch opposing defenses caught off balance more times than not. The fact is that the second year players isn't the most talented tight end in the NFL, but he gets the job done.

In order to be considered an all-around tight end, Gronkowski is going to have to improve his blocking game. That has turned the corner in 2011 and he appears well on his way to the Pro Bowl this season.

44. LB Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis may have lost a step and hasn't been healthy for the last few weeks, but he can still play the football game. The future Hall of Fame linebacker is a difference maker even at his age and continues to show tremendous leadership on a great Baltimore Ravens defense.

There isn't much more you can say about the greatest inside linebacker to ever play the game of football. This dude is simple dazzling.

Still, he is nowhere near the 2003 levels that saw Lewis play the game of football better than any in the history of the sport.

Some good things must come to an end and it appears Ray Lewis may only have a couple more years of football left in him.It will be sad when we are unable to watch No. 52 dominate opposing offenses anymore.

43. S Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

Injuries just keep on catching up to Troy and it has affected his status in the league at this point. I guess it does have a lot to do with the way Polamalu plays the game and gives himself up on the football field.

The former USC star is a dynamic play maker in the defensive backfield and scares the collective crap out of wide receivers and tight ends that dare venture up the middle. He is also a leader within Pittsburgh's locker room and enjoys showing young players the ropes.

42. RB Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders

Darren McFadden would be much higher on this list if he hasn't been out since mid October. The former top ten pick was dominating opposing defenses and on pace to do some serious damage to Raider' record books.

But as what's been the case over the course of McFadden's short career, the injury bug hit him once again. You have to start wondering if this is going to be something that will affect McFadden's career from here on out.

Look for No. 20 to be back on the field within the next couple of weeks and make an impact for the AFC West leading Oakland Raiders.

41. WR Victor Cruz, New York Giants

Statistics are just that, statistics. Victor Cruz is still an incredibly young player and raw talent. He doesn't have the consistency of some of the receivers listed above him and has made his mistakes in crunch time. He has also come up big when it counted the most. This underscores my previous point.

Still, it is hard to discount what Cruz has done so far in 2011 and I don't see that changing anytime soon. No. 80 is going to be a truly elite receiver in the not so distant future. 

40. DL B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers

B.J. Raji struggled a great deal as a rookie coming out of Boston College. He didn't have the ability to be a three down players and was pretty much one dimensional.

That has changed a great deal over the last couple seasons. Raji is an ultimate cog in the middle of a really good Green Bay Packers front. He gets great leverage against interior linemen and is stout against the run.

The defensive tackle position doesn't get a lot of play in the media, but he plays that position pretty damn well.

39. QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Some of you will probably be shocked that I have Matthew Stafford this low on the list and I don't blame you. I still don't think that he has taken the next step towards near elite status as of yet. Stafford has had some amazing games this season, but he has also had some real stinkers. Put a really good defense up against the former No. 1 pick and his talents seem to be neutralized a great deal.

Just look at Stafford's performances against San Francisco, Green Bay and Chicago.

We do have to realize that he is an extremely young quarterback in terms of in game experience and that his talent is obvious. So, expect great things in the future from this up-and-coming franchise signal caller.

38. OT Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns

The only offensive linemen that makes this list, Joe Thomas is as dominating as they come. He run blocks with the best of them, can handle the bull rush and plays well against outside speed rushers.

In short, Thomas doesn't have a weakness to his game.

37. WR Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers

Greg Jennings' statistics have not been awe-inspiring in 2011, rather he has continued to remain one of the most consistent receivers in the entire NFL.

He also acts as a favorite outside target for Aaron Rodgers. If the Green Bay Packers lacked receiving weapons you would see Jennings numbers goes way up. As it is, he is part of a dynamic offense and plays well within the system.

36. LB LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers

LaMarr Woodley has turned into a much better all-around outside linebacker over the course of the last couple seasons. No longer is he just a pass rush specialist. Instead, the former Michigan star is able to drop back into coverage, read offensive schemes and handles the run pretty well.

Even while makes a strong effort to be a better all-around player, Woodley still gets to the quarterback consistently and can change the outcome of the game in a split second.

He is one of the best and underrated defensive players in the entire league.

35. RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

Wow! I think that one word best describes what DeMarco Murray has done for the Dallas Cowboys over the course of the last month-and-half. He has exploded onto the scene with tremendous performance after tremendous performance.

From Murray's record breaking game against the St. Louis Rams to his solid workman like performance against the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving, the Oklahoma product has impressed.

He isn't a flash in the pan either. Instead, you can expect Murray to continue to progress as a running back and the Cowboys to have their best backfield threat since Emmitt Smith.

34. TE Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

Is Jimmy Graham's performance a product of Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints offensive attack? Maybe! However, this is a player that showed a lot of talent in college and has all the abilities to be the best tight end in the NFL. He is really good in the blocking game, runs like a wide receivers and has soft hands.

Just look for Graham to get better as he gains experience and be a perennial Pro Bowl performer moving forward.

33. LB Von Miller, Denver Broncos

I am telling you, Von Miller looks like a reincarnated version of Lawrence Taylor. This dude is mean on the field, dominates zone blocking schemes and gets to the outside faster than Tim Tebow's message gets to his God.

I loved watching Miller play with Texas A&M, but his performance as a rookie did catch me off guard a little bit. 

32. DL Richard Seymour, Oakland Raiders

Richard Seymour is just as good as he was with the New England Patriots some five years ago. He doesn't put up crazy statistics or talk himself up off the field and you really don't hear a lot about the Pro Bowl player.

What Seymour does do is dominate with a combination of strength and quickness at the line, while reeking havoc in the offensive backfield.

He is still one of my favorite defensive players in the league.

31. WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers

I have said this before, but I want to reiterate it. I am so glad to have made the decision to pick up Mike Wallace on both of my fantasy teams; he has done me a real solid a couple times.

Wallace is gaining confidence and consistency every single time that he steps on the field. He has taken over for Hines Ward as Ben Roethlisberger's go to guy and made the Steelers offense better for it.

If I have him so high on this list right now just wait for two or three years down the road. This dude has a tremendously bright future ahead of him.

30. QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo has continued his tremendous play in November and looks to bring that to December for yet another year. He has led the Cowboys to four consecutive wins and first place in the NFC East.

Still it doesn't matter what Romo does or accomplishes during the regular season. He needs to put up or shut up when it counts the most during crunch time in the postseason. If Romo is able to do that, a big if, he will be considered an elite quarterback.

29. LB NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers

Some of you are probably shocked that I have the second year player from Penn State on this list and even this high. What you probably don't know is that I even considered putting NaVorro Bowman higher on this list.

He has played at an All-Pro level opposite Patrick Willis for the San Francisco 49ers and continues to progress as a read coverage linebacker.

Sometimes it is even hard to tell who made the tackle, Bowman or Willis. The former leads the 49ers and in second in the NFL in tackles. Bowman also leads the entire league in third down stops and stuffs of less than three yards.

Watch out people!

28. LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears

Brian Urlacher may have lost a step but that really doesn't matter. He still reads offensive schemes with the best of them and is a major ball-hawk around the line of scrimmage. More so than before, Urlacher is also dropping back into coverage with a great amount of success.

Although he may only have a few years left, the future Hall of Fame linebacker continues to dazzle fans of defense like myself with exceptional on field awareness and pre snap recognition.

27. CB Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers

Like Urlacher, Charles Woodson may have lost a step but it really hasn't affected his game all too much.He may not be the shut down guy that we saw five seasons ago, however, Woodson is still a strong play maker on the outside and  has the ability to change the outcome of the game with just one play.

In short, Charles Woodson is still an elite cover guy in the NFL.

26. WR Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

Steve Smith may be having his best season is an already border line Hall of Fame career and has helped Cam Newton out a lot on the football field.

Just six months following a trade request, Smith has reinvented himself as one of the better receivers in the NFL. No matter your opinion of his character, you have to give him credit for his 2011 play.

25. RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

Frank Gore remains one of the most productive all-around running backs in the entire NFL. His receptions have tailed off a great deal in 2011 because of a switch in philosophy under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman but he still possesses that ability as well. 

What I like most about Gore is that he never gives up on a run and doesn't avoid contact. This may come back to haunt him in the ladder years of his career, but right now it represents the mentality of the NFC West Champions.

24. WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

I have drawn a lot of criticism recently for stating that Larry Fitzgerald isn't the receiver he used to be. He hasn't been as productive since Kurt Warner left and continues to struggle finding chemistry with a myriad of different Arizona Cardinal' signal callers. I could be said, and I am inclined to agree, that Arizona's quarterback situation is more indicative of Fitz's "struggles" than him under performing.

Still, No. 11 is an ultra talented receivers who gives his all on and off the field. He represents exactly what it means to be a complete 180 from the likes of DeSean Jackson, among others.

23. DT Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions

Ndamukong Suh's suspension and fine troubles aside, he has regressed a little bit as a second year player. Detroit has struggled a great deal in rush defense, which could have to do with average linebacker play. That said, he just doesn't seem to be as dominant as he was as a rookie. Instead, I have seen opposing offenses neutralize his athletic ability and take Suh completely out of the game.

He is still an All-Pro performer with amazing talents. Suh just needs to put everything together in order to be considered the dominant player that many of us saw from him as a rookie.

22. RB Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills

Fred Jackson represented over 50 percent of Buffalo's offense before he went down to injury two weeks ago. He was extremely solid in the passing game and an above average blocker. Additionally, Jackson is a good downhill runner.

Look for this up-and-coming back to continue his progression towards elite status when he returns back to full health in 2012.

21. LB Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens

Take it from someone that follows the San Francisco 49ers, Terrell Suggs is an absolute beast. He has a great first pass rush move and disables his opponents ability to take on the block at first contact. What I like most about Suggs is the fact that he has become a better all-around player over the course of his career.

You are going to see this Pro Bowl performer continually rack up double digit sack seasons and by the time it is all said and done could hold the career sack record.

He has been dominating in 2011.

20. LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

Clay Matthews might not be putting up the sack numbers that we saw a couple years ago, but an argument could be made that he is a better player right now. In fact, I would take that to the bank.

Matthews has stepped up a great deal in the run game, which is one of the reasons the Green Bay Packers have improved in that category.

19. DL Justin Smith, San Francisco 49ers

Justin Smith is probably the most unheralded player in the entire National Football League. He dominates at the point of contact and can play extremely well inside. The former Missouri standout also plays with a non-stop motor and reeks havoc in the opposing backfield.

What Smith has done this season it take his game up to elite status. He has pretty much had two game winning plays over the course of 2011 and is one of the reasons San Francisco ranks No. 1 in rush defense.

18. WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

I could have Calvin Johnson higher on this list, but his productivity has dropped off a little bit over the course of the last month. A lot of that could have to do with the recent "struggles" of Matthew Stafford and some of it might have to do with defenses understanding how to limit Johnson's success.

Still, Calvin Johnson has to be considered a top three receiver in the NFL and he is only going to get better.

17. RB Maurice Jones Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

If Maurice Jones-Drew was playing in New York or New England you would hear a lot more about him. As it is, he is nothing more than a fantasy stud to many fans.

The UCLA product may be one of the best all-around backs in the league. He stays in and blocks extremely well, which has helped Blaine Gabbert a lot in his rookie season. What I like most about Jones-Drew is his ability to shed would be tacklers and mix it up in the middle. That is a rare talent from such a small back.

16. RB Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

Talking about all-around backs, Ray Rice probably ranks as the best in the entire NFL when it comes to that. He is solid in the blocking game, acts as a great safety valve for Joe Flacco and can dominate on the ground.

I was a big fan of Ray Rice coming out of Rutgers, but I wasn't sure that his game would translate great at the next level. I couldn't have been more wrong.

15. WR Wes Welker, New England Patriots

Wes Welker is no longer putting up record setting numbers as the 2011 season progresses. I doubt very much that many of us expected him to continue on the pace he was on during the first five games of the season, that was unattainable.

Welker is still the biggest receiving threat in the entire league and has a great connection with Tom Brady.They now need to lock this dude up with a huge contract extension, he deserves it.

14. RB Arian Foster, Houston Texans

Man did Arian Foster come out of nowhere last season with the Houston Texans and it wasn't a flash in the pan. Instead, he has picked up where he left off in 2010 and heads the league's best running game.There isn't much more I can say about Foster in regards to that he has done and meant for the Texans in 2011.

He will have to continue this amazing performance in order for the Texans to do much damage in the playoffs without Matt Schaub.

13. DL Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens

Dominating at the line in every possible way, Haloti Ngata may in fact be the best football player in the entire league. He does everything, not good, but great.

This is a player that can take on double teams and blow past them like nothing or open up gaps for the likes of Terrell Suggs to run through in route to the quarterback.

It is hard to imagine a player that it is better than what he does than Ngata is.

12. QB Eli Manning, New York Giants

I am under the belief that Eli Manning is having the best year of his impressive career. He seems to be on target and more accurate than in previous seasons. Manning is also limiting his mistakes a great deal and calling a good game from the line.

It just sucks to see that the rest of the Giants roster isn't playing up to their capabilities at this point because Manning is turning into an elite signal caller as I type this.

11. RB Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

I am under that belief that Jerry Angelo would be burnt alive as Hyde Park if they Chicago Bears don't retain the services of Matt Forte past the 2011 season.

He is more important to his team than any non quarterback in the entire NFL. This is represented by the amount of Chicago's offense that goes through him and Mike Martz's game plan that focuses on his talents.

10. DE Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

You take one look at Jared Allen and he doesn't remind you of an intimidating force on the defensive line. Looks aren't everything because the Vikings' All-Pro is as dominating as they come. He isn't just fast off the edge, Allen dominates at the line and has a really good inside pass rush more.

For all intent and purposes, Jared Allen does what is asked of him as good as any player in the entire league.

9. CB Darrell Revis, New York Jets

Opposing offenses have made the decision to go after Revis a little more in 2011 than in previous seasons. Their success in doing so hasn't been that great.

He is the best cover corner that the NFL has seen since the days of Deion Sanders and that says a lot because of the players that have come since No. 21.

Not much more I need to say about the all everything New York Jets corner.

8. RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings really need to start putting a good team around Adrian Peterson because he faces the possibility of being Barry Sanders 2.0. This means playing for a bad football team over your career and not getting the recognition that lesser backs get.

Peterson isn't one of the most entertaining backs in the league. He just gets it done week after week and continues to put up numbers that will make him the most productive back in NFL history when all is said and done.

7. LB DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys

Yes, DeMarcus Ware may one dimension, but that dimension is absolutely stupid good. He is as elite of a pass rusher that we have ever seen in the NFL and this ability allows him to turn a game around with just one play.

Tell me a bigger difference maker on defense in the NFL and I could argue five points that would suggest Ware is better than him.

6. QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger hasn't had the benefit of great offensive line play or a consistent running game over the course of the 2011 season. This means that the Steelers offensive success has ultimately come down on his right arm.

Big Ben hasn't disappointed.

He is having the best season of an already stellar career and continues to progress in all aspects of his game: even as a veteran.

5. RB LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

Mike Mayock compared LeSean McCoy to Barry Sanders during the Eagles loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night. Many people will take exception to this, not me, McCoy's ability to make something out of nothing reminds me a great deal of Sanders. The one thing that may separate the two is the fact that Shady is a much better pass catching back than the aforementioned, Barry Sanders.

Still, McCoy is extremely young and has a lot of years of great play before that comparison holds any ground.

4. LB Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers

Patrick Willis is the best overall football player in the entire NFL outside of the quarterback position. Yes, you heard that right: the best.

What Willis has done for the San Francisco 49ers defense this season is nothing short of amazing. Listen, they have not given up one rushing touchdown in 12 games this season, NOT ONE! He has helped mold NaVorro Bowman into a Pro Bowl caliber linebacker opposite him and continues to progress in every aspect of the game.

In just his fourth NFL season, it is hard to make an argument against the idea that Willis is already at Hall of Fame level.

That is just plain crazy.

2 (tied). QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

I chickened out out. I couldn't decipher whether Tom Brady or Drew Brees deserved to be in the slot behind Aaron Rodgers. I spent a lot of time doing research and attempting to figure it out, but couldn't.

Drew Brees is one of the most accurate quarterbacks that I have ever seen play the game of football. His pin point control reminds me of some of the greatest pitchers to every play Baseball. Rarely, does Brees miss on a pass and when he does it is only by a couple inches.

All of this had leads to a dominating offensive performance by the New Orleans Saints.

2 (tied). QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

This just in, Tom Brady is really good at what he does. After a couple games of what many would consider struggling (by Brady) standards, the future Hall of Fame quarterback has picked it up a great deal.

It is a thing of beauty to watch as well. He leads the Patriots offense with a swagger and confidence I have not seen since the days of Joe Montana. All Brady does is win football games and put up Madden like numbers.

1. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

I seriously considered putting someone else at this slot just to go against the norm. Then I realized that my next step would be to resign my position from Bleacher Report. I like this job, so I decided against it.

Aaron Rodgers is the best player on the best team. There really isn't much more that I have to say in order to justify me putting him at this slot.

The only question now is how many single season records Aaron Rodgers breaks in 2011. I have an over/under of four.