It’s a popular time of the NFL calendar for player rankings and lists, and FoxSports.com has recently unveiled the first two portions of its "Top 100 players" in the NFL for 2012, covering the first 40 players on the list.

Tight end Aaron Hernandez, who doesn’t look likely to land on the top 100 players of 2012 as voted on by fellow players and presented by NFL Network, checked in at No. 98. Hernandez starred in his second season as a pro in 2011, and looks to be an integral factor in the Patriots’ offense again this season.

Guard Logan Mankins, who continues to recover for offseason surgery to repair a torn ACL, cracked the list at No. 69. Despite the serious injury, Mankins played in all but one game last season, sitting out the season finale against the Buffalo Bills.

Both Hernandez and Mankins are the only players at their respective positions to have been named to the list thus far.