ESPN.com is ranking NFL players and counting them down (follow on Twitter -- @ESPNNFL) from No. 100 to No. 1 on offense and on defense, 10 per day for 10 days. The top 10 on both sides of the ball will be revealed on Friday, Aug. 29.
What is #NFLRank?
#NFLRank is the Twitter hashtag to use if you want to get involved in the discussion or just follow along.
You can also follow along here: @ESPNNFL and on Facebook.
How did we rank the players?
We polled 90 experts to rate each player on a 0-to-10 scale, with 10 being the best regardless of position in the NFL. Ties, as denoted by an asterisk, were broken by determining which player had more ballots with the highest number. (If players were tied, the player with three 10s was ranked higher than the player with two 10s. If the tied players had the same amount of the highest number -- each with two 10s -- we moved to the next number; three 9s beat two 9s).
Here is the full list of voters from ESPN.com, ESPN TV, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Insider (including Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus), ESPN fantasy, ESPN locals and ESPN Stats & Information.
Thomas had 12 touchdown receptions last season, tied for fifth in the NFL. Thomas caught 74 percent of his targets and averaged 5.8 yards after the catch per reception last season, both ranking third among qualified tight ends.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
37
7.50*
Antonio Brown | @AntonioBrown84
Pittsburgh Steelers | WR | Age: 26 | NFL experience: 5th year
2013 #NFLRank: 95
ESPN Fantasy rank: WR9
Brown was second in the NFL last season in both receptions (110) and receiving yards (1,499). Brown led all receivers with 71 first downs.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
36
7.52
Vincent Jackson | @VincentTJackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR | Age: 31 | NFL experience: 10th year
2013 #NFLRank: 45
ESPN Fantasy rank: WR12
In the last three seasons, Jackson has averaged 17.7 yards per reception, ranking second in the NFL (Josh Gordon is No. 1 with 17.9).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
35
7.54
Ryan Clady | @RyanClady
Denver Broncos | LT | Age: 27 | NFL experience: 6th year
2013 #NFLRank: 16
ESPN Fantasy rank: Broncos' projections
Ryan Clady missed 14 games last season with a foot injury. In 2012, Clady and the Broncos' offensive line allowed 21 sacks, the second fewest in the NFL (the Giants were first with 20).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
34
7.56
Jordy Nelson | @JordyRNelson
Green Bay Packers | WR | Age: 29 | NFL experience: 7th year
2013 #NFLRank: 66
ESPN Fantasy rank: WR7
Nelson has been one of the most prolific big-play receivers since his breakout 2011 season. His 31 receptions of 30 or more yards since the start of 2011 ranks second to only Calvin Johnson (32).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
33
7.62
Colin Kaepernick | @Kaepernick7
San Francisco 49ers | QB | Age: 26 | NFL experience: 4th year
2013 #NFLRank: 42
ESPN Fantasy rank: QB9
Since becoming the starting quarterback for the 49ers in Week 11 of 2012, Kaepernick has the third-highest Total QBR in the NFL (70).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
32
7.67
Jason Peters | Team Twitter: @Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles | LT | Age: 32 | NFL experience: 11th year
2013 #NFLRank: 81
ESPN Fantasy rank: Eagles' projections
Peters has appeared in six of the last seven Pro Bowls, and was named First-Team All-Pro in both 2011 and 2013.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
31
7.77
Alshon Jeffery | @TheJefferyShow
Chicago Bears | WR | Age: 24 | NFL experience: 3rd year
2013 #NFLRank: NR
ESPN Fantasy rank: WR8
Jeffery was one of two receivers last season to have two 200-yard games (Josh Gordon was the other). Jeffery was the only receiver to have a 200-yard game on the road (249 yards in Week 13 at the Vikings).