Top 5 NFL Players in 2008: Not Who You Might Expect

The 2008 season has seen a significant changing of the guard with respect to those players consider to be elite in the league. New England quarterback Tom Brady went down with a knee injury in the first quarter of the Patriots' first game of the season, meaning that the NFL had lost its marquee player. Payton Manning and LaDainian Tomlinson have both had subpar seasons, while on the defensive side of the ball, emerging stars Shawne Merriman and Osi Umenyiora have missed the entire seasons with injuries.

Several of the players who have surfaced as the best-of-the-best are not surprising. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has made the Pro Bowl after each of his two seasons as a starter, and though the Cowboys struggled during mid-season, Romo has led the team to an 8-4 record heading into December. Romo's popularity has continued to increase, but other quarterbacks have had better seasons up to this point. Thus, he doesn't make the top five list.

A few older quarterbacks (including one who made the list below) were believed to be closer to retirement than to another trip to the Pro Bowl. One of them has been Arizona's Kurt Warner, who appeared to be in his final season as a backup for former first round pick Matt Leinart. However, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt chose to start Warner, and Warner has rewarded the coach by leading the Cardinals to an 7-5 record and what will likely be an NFC West title.

Other stars who didn't quite crack the top five but who are worth mentioning: New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who has led his team to an 11-1 start; Pittsburgh safety Troy Polomalu, who leads the NFL in interceptions with six; Washington running back Clinton Portis, who is second in the league in rushing; Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who leads the league in sacks; and Atlanta running back Michael Turner, who backed up Tomlinson in San Diego for four years and who now leads the league in touchdown runs as a starter with the Falcons.

That leaves the following five as the top players in the NFL in 2008:

5. Brett Favre, QB, New York Jets

Favre has not set the world on fire with his statistics, but his leadership should be readily apparent. In 2007, he led the Green Bay Packers to a 13-3 record and a berth in the NFC Championship Game. He announced his retirement in March, but then chose during the summer to unretire. The result was a public relations nightmare for both the Packers and for Favre, and Favre was traded to the hapless Jets, who had struggled through a 4-12 season in 2008.

The results now? The Packers have fallen to 5-7, while the Jets lead the AFC East with an 8-4 record. That probably tells a story better than a passer rating or passing yards.

4. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

The Saints have struggled at times in 2008, but Brees has produced huge numbers all season. He has surpassed 300 yards in eight of New Orleans' twelve games, and he is currently on pace to throw for 5,160 yards. This would surpass Dan Marino's 1984 record of 5,084 yards. Brees is also tied for the league lead with 24 touchdowns.

3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota

Peterson has unseated Tomlinson as the best runner in the league. Not since the days of Barry Sanders has the league seen a running back who could turn a short gain into a run to daylight like Peterson can. His 1,311 rushing yards leads the league, as he has very nearly surpassed his total for 2007. With the Vikings playing with journeyman quarterback Gus Frerotte, Peterson is a big reason why the Vikings now lead the NFC North.

2. James Harrison, LB, Pittsburgh

Many would disagree with Harrison showing up at all in this discussion, but the fact is that he has been one of the biggest defensive playmakers in the league thus far. His 14.0 sacks are third in the league and only one away from the league leading 15.0 recorded by Ware. Moreover, Harrison has added a league-leading six forced fumbles as well as an interception. He has also added 80 tackles, which is far more than anyone else who shows up on the top 20 list for sacks. Against the Steelers, Harrison was a monster, recording ten tackles and two sacks, while forcing two fumbles. Thanks in large part to Harrison, the Steelers have the top-ranked defense in the league.

1. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee

Haynesworth's value is not based on statistics, though those aren't bad for a defensive tackle. He has been the most important part of a Titan defense that allowed only 14.6 points per game. Haynesworth was once better known as the player who kicked Dallas center Andre Gurode in the head, but at this point, he should be better known after this season as the best defensive player of the 2008 season. According to this list, he's the best player in the NFL right now.