This summer, after watching games and breaking down film, Scouts Inc. evaluated and graded more than 2,500 NFL players heading into the 2011 season. The rankings (listed in the box on the right) were broken down into an overall top 200 and then by position.
With the NFL season now at its midpoint, we thought it was a good time to re-rank the NFL's top players. Keep in mind that while this list heavily considers performance this season (including projected value for the second half of the season), it also incorporates what a player has done over the course of his career. That way some injury issues don't completely detract from what we know of a player. However, due to his injury and the fact that he hasn't yet -- and may not --appeared in even one game, one notable exception is Peyton Manning, who would likely be in the top 10 otherwise.
That said, here is the Scouts Inc. Midseason Top 50 Rankings:
Scouts Inc.'s Midseason Top 50:
1-25
| 26-50 | 10 up-and-coming stars
1
Aaron Rodgers
AGE: 27
DOB: 12/2/83
HT: 6-2
WT: 225
POS: QB
Att 265
Comp 192
Yds 2,619
TD 24
Int 3
QBR 88.0
Player Analysis
Rodgers has been pretty much flawless. He leads the best team in the league and the current defending Super Bowl champion.
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His physical abilities are off the charts, and his mental acumen is quickly rivaling his amazing talent. Rodgers could go down as an all-time great.
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2
Tom Brady
AGE: 34
DOB: 8/3/77
HT: 6-4
WT: 225
POS: QB
Att 321
Comp 212
Yds 2,703
TD 20
Int 10
QBR 73.4
Player Analysis
There isn't much more to be said about Brady. He already is an all-time great and a definite first-ballot Hall of Famer.
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And his play isn't dropping off in the slightest. Brady is still very much "The Man."
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3
Darrelle Revis
AGE: 26
DOB: 7/14/85
HT: 5-11
WT: 198
POS: CB
Tkl 25
Solo 17
Sack 0
Int 4
FF 0
TD 1
Player Analysis
Revis is an easy selection for me as the best defensive player in the game today. He destroys opposing No. 1 wide receivers, as much as Deion Sanders did years ago.
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But unlike Sanders, Revis loves contact and will tackle and plays the run as well as any corner in the game today.
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4
Adrian Peterson
AGE: 26
DOB: 3/21/85
HT: 6-1
WT: 217
POS: RB
Att 167
Yds 798
Avg 4.8
Long 54
TD 9
Fum 1
Player Analysis
I recently tweeted that Peterson will go down as a similar player to Jim Brown and Walter Payton. Peterson amazes me, and he looks to only be getting better.
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Not only do I think Peterson is running better than he ever has, but his contributions as a receiver have increased significantly as well.
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5
Drew Brees
AGE: 32
DOB: 1/15/79
HT: 6-0
WT: 209
POS: QB
Att 379
Comp 269
Yds 3,004
TD 21
Int 11
QBR 74.4
Player Analysis
One of the myths in the NFL is that New Orleans is loaded with talent. The Saints aren't one of the most feeble rosters in football, but Brees makes this pedestrian group of talent look much better than it truly is.
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So far this season, Brees has played at a mostly MVP level once again.
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