PFF’s Top 101 of 2012

This is a very interesting list because it takes into account actual on-field performance in 2012 rather than "hype" for players.

For example, there is no Earl Thomas in this list. Profootballfocus watches every snap and has determined that Thomas is not even the best DB on his own team.

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1. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans

2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

3. Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals

4. Von Miller, OLB, Denver Broncos

5. Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks

6. Evan Mathis, OG, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos

8. Cameron Wake, DE, Miami Dolphins

9. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans

10. Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers

11. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

12. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

13. Duane Brown, LT, Houston Texans

14. Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets

15. Eric Weddle, S, San Diego Chargers

16. Joe Staley, LT, San Francisco 49ers

17. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

18. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills

19. Charles Tillman, CB, Chicago Bears

20. Gerald McCoy, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

22. Kyle Williams, DT, Buffalo Bills

23. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

24. Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers

25. Jairus Byrd, S, Buffalo Bills

26. John Sullivan, C, Minnesota Vikings

27. Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

28. Devin McCourty, DB, New England Patriots

29. Calais Campbell, DE, Arizona Cardinals

30. Brandon Marshall, WR, Chicago Bears

31. Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins

32. Marshal Yanda, RG, Baltimore Ravens

33. Antonio Cromartie, CB, New York Jets

34. Joe Thomas, LT, Cleveland Browns

35. Max Unger, C, Seattle Seahawks

36. Casey Hayward, CB, Green Bay Packers

37. Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers

38. Alfred Morris, RB, Washington Redskins

39. Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers

40. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks

41. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

42. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots

43. Jerod Mayo, LB, New England Patriots

44. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons

45. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

46. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants

47. Ryan Clady, LT, Denver Broncos

48. Reshad Jones, S, Miami Dolphins

49. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons

50. Alex Boone, RG, San Francisco 49ers

51. Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota Vikings

52. Michael Roos, LT, Tennessee Titans

53. Mike Iupati, LG, San Francisco 49ers

54. Sebastian Vollmer, RT, New England Patriots

55. Russell Okung, LT, Seattle Seahawks

56. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts

57. Aldon Smith, OLB, San Francisco 49ers

58. Antoine Winfield, CB, Minnesota Vikings

59. NaVorro Bowman, LB, San Francisco 49ers

60. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions

61. Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks

62. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys

63. Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore Ravens

64. Chris Harris, CB, Denver Broncos

65. Derrick Morgan, DE, Tennessee Titans

66. Anthony Spencer, OLB, Dallas Cowboys

67. Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas City Chiefs

68. Nick Fairley, DT, Detroit Lions

69. Charles Johnson, DE, Carolina Panthers

70. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

71. Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers

72. Antonio Smith, DE, Houston Texans

73. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

74. Daryl Washington, LB, Arizona Cardinals

75. Tarrell Brown, CB, San Francisco 49ers

76. Brandon Graham, DE, Philadelphia Eagles

77. Jason Hatcher, DE, Dallas Cowboys

78. Brandon Moore, RG, New York Jets

79. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

80. Anthony Davis, RT, San Francisco 49ers

81. Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

82. Lavonte David, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

83. Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals

84. Henry Melton, DT, Chicago Bears

85. Will Beatty, LT, New York Giants

86. Greg Hardy, DE, Carolina Panthers

87. Justin Smith, DE, San Francisco 49ers

88. Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

89. Lawrence Timmons, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

90. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

91. Dwayne Allen, TE, Indianapolis Colts

92. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens

93. Sam Shields, CB, Green Bay Packers

94. Jared Veldheer, LT, Oakland Raiders

95. Jurrell Casey, DT, Tennessee Titans

96. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

97. T.J. Ward, S, Cleveland Browns

98. Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos

99. Reggie Nelson, S, Cincinnati Bengals

100. Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens

101. Blair Walsh, K, Minnesota Vikings

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