Scouts Inc. Top 50: Rodgers No. 1

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.

MORE ANALYSIS

So far this season, Brees has played at a mostly MVP level once again.

CLOSE ANALYSIS

To see the rest of the Scouts Inc. Midseason Top 50 rankings, including if Michael Vick made the list, you must be an ESPN Insider. Sign up today!

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Matt Williamson

ESPN.com

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• Hosts "Football Today" podcast
• Joined ESPN in 2005
• Was an NFL and college scout for the Cleveland Browns