PFF: Top 101 players from 2012

Phoenix · Apr 29, 2013

Because I love how polarizing PFF is around these parts bwaaaa ha ha ha!

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/04/29/pffs-top-101-of-2012-101-to-91/

Every year the PFF team gets together, and every year there is mayhem. Getting six individuals to put together an inherently subjective list of the top 101 players in the NFL in 2012 is a grueling process, but once again we’ve reached our destination.
Now some things are pretty important in understanding the criteria for the list;
- This is based solely on 2012 play. Nothing that happened in years previous was accounted for.
- This is created with an “all-positions created equal” mantra, so it asks for a leap of faith that you assume a guard is an important as a quarterback (there are some exceptions here with more situational roles not quite as equal).
So without further ado, let’s count from 101!
(Last year’s ranking in brackets)

96. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (Unranked)

The scary thing about Bryant is that even with 1,382 yards he could have had so much more. A quite fantastic end to the season shouldn’t make you forget a somewhat inconsistent start where big plays mixed with equally big disconnects with his quarterback. His final eight games though, including that game versus New Orleans, should put all the NFL on notice for 2013.
Best Performance: Week 16 versus New Orleans, +4.2
Key Stat: His five touchdowns on passing thrown over 20 yards in the air were second most in the entire league.

The second group has no Cowboys listed...

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/04/29/pffs-top-101-of-2012-90-to-81/

Phoenix · May 1, 2013

continuing on with the list.... 80 to 71 ...

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/04/30/pffs-top-101-of-2012-80-to-71/

77. Jason Hatcher, DE, Dallas Cowboys (Unranked)
Of all the players on the Cowboys’ defense, Hatcher isn’t a guy who you automatically think of as being one of their best players. That is changing though after his breakout 2012. Coping with his most significant amount of playing time (784 snaps), by the end of the year you were wondering just why it took him so long to have such a prominent role. Stepped up on every down.

Best Performance: Week 16 versus New Orleans, +4.3

Key Stat: His 42 quarterback disruptions were third-most of any 3-4 defensive end.

Phoenix · May 1, 2013

...and 70 to 61...

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/04/30/pffs-top-101-of-2012-70-to-61/

66. Anthony Spencer, OLB, Dallas Cowboys (Unranked)
If you had predicted one Cowboys outside linebacker to make the list before the year, odds are it wouldn’t have been Spencer. However, the Cowboys’ franchise player had his best season as a pro where he delivered on a far more consistent basis then he’s more recognizable partner in crime. His return of 40 quarterback disruptions was extremely healthy, while his work setting the edge was really what set him apart from the crowd.

Best Performance: Week 10 versus Philadelphia, +4.8

Key Stat: His 41 stops in the run game were 11 more than the next best 3-4 outside linebacker.

62. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys (Unranked)
While there was a sentiment that Witten benefited from simply been throw to a lot (146 times to be precise), there’s no denying he turned many of those catches into significant plays for the Cowboys. What’s more, Witten backed up his receiving with some fine blocking, even after overcoming an injury that most felt would see him miss considerable time.

Best Performance: Week 8 versus New York Giants, +7.0

Key Stat: His 56 combined first-down and touchdown receptions were the 14th-most of any offensive player.

Phoenix · May 1, 2013

....60 to 51... no Cowboys

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/05/01/pffs-top-101-of-2012-60-to-51/

Phoenix · May 1, 2013

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/05/01/pffs-top-101-of-2012-50-to-41/

50 to 41: No Cowboys

Interesting to see A.J. Green up at 41 though...

RastaRocket · May 1, 2013

lol Dez is only 96??????

Good to see Hatcher up there, that's quite a surprise.

Califan007 · May 2, 2013

Commanders at #38 and #31

Phoenix · May 2, 2013

Califan007;5075114 said:
Commanders at #38 and #31

*ahem* Continuing on with the countdown...

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/05/02/pffs-top-101-of-2012-40-to-31/

yes, there are those skins there. Al Morris at 38 might actually be too low?

No Cowboys in this group

Phoenix · May 2, 2013

So on to 30 to 21 we go...

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/05/02/pffs-top-101-of-2012-30-to-21/

AGAIN no Cowboys. However! A preview of where our new C will be at next year!

26. John Sullivan, C, Minnesota Vikings (75th)

Our top-ranked center on the year, the Vikings’ running game wasn’t just about Adrian Peterson. No, center Sullivan deserves a lot of credit for building on his breakout 2011 to have an even better year where his ability to get defenders going where he wanted rightfully gets him inside the Top 30.
Best Performance: Week 16 at Houston, +6.3
Key Stat: Flagged for just two penalties all year.

Phoenix · May 3, 2013

So on to 20 to 11...where we once again find no Cowboys. Will there be any more Cowboys at all in the top 10? Hellooooo, PFF, L.P......

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/05/03/pffs-top-101-of-2012-20-to-11/

20. McCoy, DT, TB
19. Tillman, CB, Chi
18. Spiller, RB, Buf
17. Ryan, QB, ATL
16. Staley, LT, SF
15. Weddle, S, SD
14. Wilkerson, DL, NYJ
13. Brown, LT, HOU
12. Megatron, WR, DET
11. Rodgers, QB, GB

Phoenix · May 3, 2013

And now for the final group - the Top Ten.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/05/03/pffs-top-101-of-2012-the-top-10/

We’ve made it! Finally, the Top 10 players of the Pro Football Focus Top 101 of 2012. You’ve no doubt read along with each installment this week, but in case you’re in the market for a refresher, here’s the previous 91:

101-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11

As ever, it’s important to remember the criteria that went into selecting this list:
- This is based solely on 2012 play. Nothing that happened in years prior was accounted for.
- This is created with an “all positions created equal” mantra, so it asks for a leap of faith that you assume a guard is as important as a quarterback (though there are some exceptions here with more situational roles not quite as equal).

Now let’s get to the ranking!
(Last year’s ranking in parentheses)

10. Patrick Willis, LB, SF
9. Andre Johnson, WR, HOU
8. Cameron Wake, DE, MIA
7. Peyton Manning, QB, DEN
6. Evan Mathis, LG, PHI
5. Richard Sherman, CB, SEA
4. Von Miller, OLB, DEN
3. Geno Atkins, DT, CIN
2. Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN
1. J. J. Watt, DE, HOU

...so OBVIOUSLY they totally overlooked poor L.P. Ladouceur

Well. Yet again no more Cowboys. Didn't really expect to see any though.

I was curious about the Eagles guard listed there...PFF has him as the best in the league right now (obviously).

6. Evan Mathis, LG, Philadelphia Eagles (18th)

It’s easy to ignore guards, but when you’re looking at an ‘all players created equal’ list, then you simply have to have Mathis this high. The Eagles may have struggled, but the continued brilliance of Mathis was unavoidable. He might not have the same impact blocks as others, but his continued ability to create movement at the point of attack makes Mathis the best guard in the league.

Best Performance: Week 12 versus Carolina, +6.8

Key Stat: Earned a positive grade for his run blocking in all bar one game.

perrykemp · May 3, 2013

Notable that Casey Hayward, a corner the Cowboys could have taken in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft (as opposed to trading away the 2nd round pick as part of the Claiborne trade-up) is ranked ast he 36th best player in the NFL by PFF.

I don't know if that will play out in the future since I feel Mo is a better overall prospect.

Lonestar94 · May 3, 2013

I wish this list was the top 100 players of 2013 show. No BS and everyone rightfully deserves their place on the list.

Tricked · May 3, 2013

Hmm.. Demarcus Ware?

Lonestar94 · May 3, 2013

Tricked;5076764 said:
Hmm.. Demarcus Ware?

Hes probably #102

If this was based on his first few games he would be top 10.

Tricked · May 4, 2013

Lonestar94;5076775 said:
Hes probably #102

If this was based on his first few games he would be top 10.

It's stupid that he's not on the list though, he's such a dominant player.

I don't understand how Jason Witten can be the 4th ranked TE on the list. Granted he had a slow start in the season and had some key drops, he had a pretty significant injury.

62. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys (Unranked)

44. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons (84th)

42. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots (6th)

39. Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers (Unranked)

Vernon Davis the top TE in the NFL per their list?

perrykemp · May 5, 2013

Tricked;5077549 said:
It's stupid that he's not on the list though, he's such a dominant player.

I don't understand how Jason Witten can be the 4th ranked TE on the list. Granted he had a slow start in the season and had some key drops, he had a pretty significant injury.

62. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys (Unranked)

44. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons (84th)

42. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots (6th)

39. Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers (Unranked)

Vernon Davis the top TE in the NFL per their list?

It's reflective of the fact that Witten has become something of a check down / safety valve type of TE. He has the lowest yards per reception of any of the top 20 TEs at only 9.4. Witten also doesn't score much.

Vernon Davis average per reception is 13.4 -- a full 4 yards more than Witten. Davis also has more TDs than Witten.

Rob Gronkowski's average per reception is 14.4 -- a full 5 yards more than Witten. Gronkowki also had nearly 4x the TDs than Witten.

A lot of this has to do with the general disarray of the Cowboys offense early last season where Romo had no choice but to go to Witten constantly, however, I can understand PFFs ranking - those two other guys are explosive.

Beats_By_Zeke · May 5, 2013

if this was based solely on 2012 performance. why did Andre Johnson make top 10?
Wasnt he hurt most of the season?

EvilJerry88 · May 5, 2013

Snauty;5078196 said:
if this was based solely on 2012 performance. why did Andre Johnson make top 10?
Wasnt he hurt most of the season?

He made top 10 because he had 1,598 receiving yards last year and didn't miss a single game. You probably could've checked online in less time than it took you to write that comment.

Phoenix · May 6, 2013

Lonestar94;5076775 said:
Hes probably #102

If this was based on his first few games he would be top 10.

I asked them about Ware. Their reply (parens are mine):

"Not far off (from top 100). For most within the next 10-15 picks. Still a prominent pass rusher that's for sure."

PFF: Top 101 players from 2012

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