Re: Who are your Top 5 players on Offense and Defense in the NFL?
 

Offense
1) Drew Brees
2) Peyton Manning
3) Steve Hutchinson (Shaun Alexander and the Seahawks haven't been the same after he went to Minnesota and all of a sudden Adrian Peterson does really well)
4) Anquan Boldin (Does Fitz make Boldin or does Boldin make Fitz? Broke his face but still put up better numbers than Fitz per game, Fitz is younger but I'll take Boldin for one season)
5) Brandon Jacobs (rare combination of size and speed, he's a first down back and he averages 5 ypc)

Defense
1) Troy Polamalu (flies around the field making plays, makes interceptions and hits hard)
2) Albert Haynesworth (great stats for a DT and makes everybody better)
3) Nnamdi Asomugha (terrible team but he shuts people down)
4) DeMarcus Ware (double/triple teamed but still makes plays)
5) James Harrison (defensive player of the year, but I think some of it is because he gets favorable match-ups due to a lot of talent around him)

A few comments
It's tough to tell how much the players around people make them what they are so it's anybody's guess.
Ed Reed can't tackle anymore. It's not as evident because the front 7 doesn't let much by them. He's basically a wide receiver playing safety and he profits because the defense treats his interceptions like punt returns and practices those situations.
Adrian Peterson is somewhat a product of his line. Chester Taylor also puts up very solid numbers whenever he plays. The same argument can be said for Jacobs so I would put either of them there at 5. Jacobs is unique for his power and Peterson is unique for his open field athleticism and both the lines allow them to get going to use their power or agility.