The Pro Football Focus Top 101 Players of 2011 (Five Saints)

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/05/03/the-pro-football-focus-top-101-players-of-2011/

QB
#1 (1 overall): Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
#2 (3 overall): Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
#3 (8 overall): Eli Manning, QB, New York Giant
#4 (13 overall). Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
#5 (48 overall). Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
#6 (74 overall). Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
#7 (81 overall). Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
#8 (89 overall). Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
#9 (95 overall). Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

WR
#1 (4 overall): Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
#2 (9 overall): Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
#3 (24 overall). Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots
#4 (37 overall). Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants
#5 (42 overall). Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers
#6 (50 overall). Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants
#7 (53 overall). Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers
#8 (56 overall). Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans
#9 (60 overall). Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
#10 (61 overall). Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota Vikings
#11 (63 overall). Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

TE
#1 (6 overall): Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
#2 (21 overall). Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints
#3 (39 overall). Aaron Hernandez, TE, New England Patriots
#4 (84 overall). Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons

RB
#1 (15 overall). Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
#2 (29 overall). Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
#3 (31 overall). LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
#4 (40 overall). Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills
#5 (43 overall). Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
#6 (49 overall). Darren Sproles, RB, New Orleans Saints
#7 (55 overall). Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
#8 (85 overall). Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
#9 (92 overall). Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks

OG
#1 (18 overall). Evan Mathis, G, Philadelphia Eagles
#2 (27 overall). Carl Nicks, OG, New Orleans Saints (now with Bucs)
#3 (34 overall). Marshal Yanda, OG, Baltimore Ravens
#4 (98 overall). Josh Sitton, G, Green Bay Packers

OT
#1 (11 overall). Jason Peters, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
#2 (59 overall). Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys
#3 (65 overall). Duane Brown, OT, Houston Texans
#4 (67 overall). Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland Browns
#5 (71 overall). Bryan Bulaga, T, Green Bay Packers
#6 (82 overall). Andrew Whitworth, T, Cincinnati Bengals

C
#1 (22 overall). Chris Myers, OC, Houston Texans
#2 (46 overall). Nick Mangold, OC, New York Jets
#3 (75 overall). John Sullivan, C, Minnesota Vikings


DT
#1 (19 overall). Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
#2 (36 overall). Sione Pouha, DT, New York Jets
#3 (69 overall). Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Denver Broncos (now a Saint)
#4 (73 overall). Richard Seymour, DT, Oakland Raiders
#5 (77 overall). Jay Ratliff, DT, Dallas Cowboys
#6 (83 overall). Kevin Williams, DT, Minnesota Vikings
#7 (90 overall). Haloti Ngata, DT, Baltimore Ravens
#8 (94 overall). Alan Branch, DT, Seattle Seahawks

DE
#1 (2 overall): Justin Smith, DE, San Francisco 49ers
#2 (10 overall): Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings
#3 (17 overall). Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants
#4 (23 overall). Trent Cole, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
#5 (35 overall). John Abraham, DE, Atlanta Falcons
#6 (45 overall). Ray McDonald, DE, San Francisco 49ers
#7 (47 overall). Julius Peppers, DE, Chicago Bears
#8 (52 overall). Jason Babin, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
#9 (54 overall). J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
#10 (57 overall). Calais Campbell, DE, Arizona Cardinals
#11 (91 overall). Chris Long, DE, St Louis Rams

LB
#1 (7 overall): Terrell Suggs, DE/OLB, Baltimore Ravens
#2 (12 overall). Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
#3 (14 overall). NaVorro Bowman, LB, San Francisco 49ers
#4 (16 overall). Cameron Wake, OLB, Miami Dolphins
#5 (20 overall). Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers
#6 (26 overall). DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys
#7 (28 overall). Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
#8 (32 overall). Brian Cushing, LB, Houston Texans
#9 (38 overall). Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers
#11 (41 overall). Daryl Smith, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
#12 (51 overall). Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs
#13 (58 overall). Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
#14 (64 overall). Aldon Smith, OLB, San Francisco 49ers
#15 (68 overall). James Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
#16 (76 overall). Stephen Tulloch, LB, Detroit Lions
#17 (79 overall). Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Atlanta Falcons
#18 (86 overall). Paul Posluszny, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
#19 (96 overall). London Fletcher, LB, Washington Redskins
#20 (97 overall). Brian Orakpo, OLB, Washington Redskins
#21 (100 overall). Erin Henderson, LB, Minnesota Vikings

CB
#1 (5 overall): Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets
#2 (25 overall). Lardarius Webb, CB, Baltimore Ravens
#3 (30 overall). Johnathan Joseph, CB, Houston Texans
#4 (44 overall). Cortland Finnegan, CB, Tennessee Titans
#5 (62 overall). Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons
#6 (78 overall). Carlos Rogers, CB, San Francisco 49ers
#7 (80 overall). Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos
#8 (88 overall). Joe Haden, CB, Cleveland Browns
#9 (93 overall). Asante Samuel, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
#10 (99 overall). Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks
#11 (101 overall). Chris Gamble, CB, Carolina Panthers

S
#1 (33 overall). Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
#2 (66 overall). Eric Weddle, S, San Diego Chargers
#3 (70 overall). Adrian Wilson, S, Arizona Cardinals
#4 (72 overall). Jairus Byrd, S, Buffalo Bills
#5 (87 overall). Kam Chancellor, S, Seattle Seahawks


3. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
... From [2004] onwards Brees has been arguably the best quarterback in the NFL over that period, forcing his name alongside Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the elite of the league ... Drew Brees has become the benchmark for prolific passing in the NFL, and he does it with unerring accuracy and an arm that can make every throw. ... The remarkable part about [Brees'] numbers though is that he isn’t achieving [them] simply through volume of attempts, but through ruthless efficiency. ...

21. Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints
While he’s not much of a blocker, Graham’s athleticism caused all sorts of problems as teams tried to figure out how to slow him down. They weren’t able to, though, as he finished with 1,310 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. That was good enough to land our second-highest grade of all tight ends in the regular season and he didn’t shy away from making plays in the postseason. In an offense that’s as diverse as the Saints’, it’s telling that Graham has become the biggest difference-maker.
Best Performance: Week 5 at Carolina (+3.2)
Key Stat: Picked up more Yards Per Route Run than any tight end (2.41)

49. Darren Sproles, RB, New Orleans Saints
The Saints’ scatback had some productive years in San Diego, but was a perfect fit in New Orleans and he responded to his new home and contract with 1,327 yards from scrimmage. Defenses just couldn’t cope with Sproles who, under the guidance of Sean Payton, was used in a variety of ways to create all sorts of mismatches. The end result was a +12.7 grade, though the Saints would be wise to limit his time pass protecting where he struggled more than he ever did in San Diego. He also made a big contribution in the return game, finishing the year as our top-ranked all-around returner.
Best Performance: Week 9 versus Tampa Bay (+3.4)
Key Stat: 14 of his 87 carries went for 15 yards or more; the best percentage of all backs in the league.

56. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans
It’s easy for Colston to get lost in the shuffle when you consider the other components of the New Orleans offense, but when you start to think about it, he had a remarkable year. A mismatch that can operate in the slot and outside, he had the fourth-best drop rate, was ninth in the league with 2.42 yards per route run, and (including the post season) had the fourth-highest receiving grade of all wideouts. The Saints know how to get the best out of the former seventh-rounder and he continues to repay them with great seasons like this one.
Best Performance: Week 17 versus Carolina (+4.1)
Key Stat: Drew Brees had a 132.4 quarterback rating when throwing to Colston.

69. Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Denver Broncos (now a Saint)
There wasn’t a player in the league like Bunkley last year. He may as well have had his position renamed ‘destroyer’ because it seemed he was sent out on the field simply to dismantle the center across from him; so good was he the Patriots essentially schemed to get him off the field. The reason Bunkley is relatively low down on this list is because he was purely an early down player that only got on the field for 485 snaps in the regular season. That, however, didn’t stop him from picking up a +28.4 run defense grade. Top of the tree among defensive tackles.
Best Performance: Week 11 versus New York Jets (+6.5)
Key Stat: 11.3% of all run plays he was on the field for ended up with him making a defensive stop. Highest of all defensive tackles.

 

I can't stand it that people put Rodgers ahead of Brees. Yeah, he had a great season last year (I still think Brees was the MVP), but lets see him string a few great seasons together before anointing him the best QB in the league. Plus, GB is widely regarded as have the best receiver corps in the league. Not to say that the Saints receivers suck, but I think I could even put up respectable numbers throwing to those guys.