Three Top 100 Lists: Where Do The Texans Rank?

The Method

PFF: Full List

"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)."

NFL: Full List

The NFL Top 100 is an annual list that features the greatest one hundred players in the National Football League (NFL), as chosen by fellow NFL players. The rankings are based on an off-season poll organized by the NFL, whereby players vote on their peers based on the performance of the previous season and their belief of how the player will perform in the coming season. So far, the #1 ranked player has always been the reigning MVP of the league.

Pete: Full List

"[T]his list isn't one that grades the players just on how they played last year, or their popularity, but on where they rank heading into 2013. So take a look, complain all you want, and just remember it's an opinion based on watching the tape, talking to scouts and general managers and no personal biases."

Duane Brown - LT

PFF: 13

NFL: 48

Pete: 16

PFF and Pete are pretty close on Brown, while NFL players have some catching up to do in recognizing one of the top left tackles in the game. Watching Richie Icognito talk up Brown made me sick, though. "Down in Houston they run that zone scheme to death and he's a great fit for it…. He's a big part of their success."

Antonio Smith - DE

PFF: #72

NFL: ----

Pete: ----

The self-entitled Ninja is still too sneaky to get much national attention as he missed two out of the three lists. PFF says "[h]is 47 combined sacks, hits and hurries was the second most of any 3-4 defensive end."

Arian Foster - RB

PFF: ----

NFL: 8

Pete: 88

Crazy variances here. NFL players clearly like Foster, while Pete is worried about his diminished YPC.

Andre Johnson - WR

PFF: 9

NFL: 14

Pete: 42

It was nice seeing other people talk up Andre on the NFL's video listing him at 14. PFF even ranked our Johnson ahead of Detroit's Calvin Johnson.

J.J. Watt - DE

PFF: 1

NFL: 5

Pete: 2

No surprises here. Even with such different methods of compiling each list, Watt floats to the top 5. The man continues to impress.

PFF said it best:

Apparently Watt was playing hurt, which just makes his remarkable 2012 all the more astonishing. Breaking all sorts of records at his position, Watt is the owner of the highest PFF grade we've ever given out and was that rarest of defender who, no matter what you did, you simply had to account for. A force of nature in the run game and a quarterback's nightmare while rushing the passer, we may never see a season as staggeringly excellent as what Watt produced.

***

So what do you think, readers? Three lists with very different results. If our defense had been healthier we would've seen Brian Cushing and Johnathan Joseph on the list, but I am surprised the Chris Myers fell off all three this year.

Sound off in the comments!