While the NFL Network is unveiling their Top 100 Players of 2012, the popular football analysis website, Pro Football Focus, has released their own list of the top players in the game as well.
Like the NFL Network's list, PFF.com's rankings focus on the top 101 players based on last season's production. PFF.com analyzes every snap in every game during the season to determine a grade for each player. Their Top 101 Players of 2012 is based on their grades and the level of production a player provided to his team.
The Ravens, Texans, Vikings, Eagles and 49ers were the top teams in terms of roster contributions to the list with six players each. The Tampa Bay Bucs and the Indianapolis Colts were the only teams with no players on their 2011 roster to make the list.
The Falcons had five players from last year's roster show up on the list. One interesting note is that a player that did show up on the list has been added to the roster: Asante Samuel. With the addition of Samuel, every other player on the list is on Atlanta's current roster, giving them a total of six from PFF.com's Top 101 list.
No. 93: Asante Samuel -"He gave up just two penalties and two touchdowns all year while picking up three interceptions and breaking up six passes."
Key Stat: "Gave up just 296 yards all season long."
No. 84: Tony Gonzalez -"The Falcons tight end responded with the kind of season that saw only two players ranked ahead of him in our receiving rankings for tight ends. "
Key Stat: "Finished third in our Drop Rate for tight ends, missing only three of the 113 catchable targets thrown his way."
No. 79: Sean Weatherspoon -"He showed an ability to get to the quarterback (15 QB disruptions on 83 pass rushes) while also coming up to make a number of big stops in the run game."
Key Stat: "Finished third of all 4-3 OLBs in our run stop percentage stat, recording a defensive stop on 10.6% of all running plays."
No. 74: Matt Ryan -"Overall we saw a series of strong performances without him really putting forward one that captured people's attention; this on his way to finishing the regular season with our fourth-highest passing grade."
Key Stat:"His play under pressure regressed this year. He completed just 44.4% of passes, with a 4:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, which earned a -8.9 grade."
No. 62: Brent Grimes -"While only one interception will keep significant media attention off him, by deflecting 12 passes and seeing just 44.6% of passes into his coverage completed, he's proved himself an elite cornerback in our eyes."
Key Stat:"Gave up just 0.58 yards per snap in coverage. The lowest of all cornerbacks in the league."
No. 35: John Abraham -"While he didn't have a sack in nine games, his value goes beyond that given his ability to constantly generate pressure. This helped him finish third in our defensive end rankings."
Key Stat:"Finished sixth in our Pass Rushing Productivity rankings for defensive ends."
