Saints Top-5 According to Pro Football Focus

I mean, we're currently sitting at 2-4 with unconvincing wins over the San Diego Chargers and the Carolina Panthers. We've got the Seattle Seahawks next weekend #beatthehawks followed by the woeful San Francisco 49ers #dontlosetosanfran. I think we'll muster a win from these two games. I also think Pootie Tang is a classic, so maybe what the hell do I know?

Through much turmoil, the Saints still have fielded some pretty gnarly players. Let's take a look at the top-5, according to the Pro Football Focus player rankings through 7 weeks (time flies).

5. WR, Michael Thomas (Grade 81.4)

@cantguardmike has been awesome so far this year. He leads all rookies with 36 receptions (on 49 targets) for 437 yards and 3 TDs through 6 games (and a +70% catch to boot). PFF ranks him as the 14th best WR in the NFL - in a three-way tie with Emmanuel Sanders and DeAndre Hopkins. I love this dude. He even evidently has what appears to be an air traffic controller guiding him into the end zone and encouraging his arrival with a double "You da man!"

4. Kenny Vaccaro, SS (Grade 83.4)

The Saints secondary has been anything but stellar thus far, yet Vaccaro is all over the damn field. Vaccaro has tallied 31 combined tackles (including 4 for a loss) and 5 QB hits. He's also defended a pass and forced a fumble. PFF ranks Vaccaro the 14th best safety in the league between Philadelphia's Rodney McLeod and our very (formerly) own Malcolm Jenkins.

3. Cameron Jordan, DE (Grade 83.9)

Cam Jo remains da man. PFF is stingy grading edge defenders (none have surpassed the 90/100 threshold thus far - Von Miller is #1 with an 89.6), yet Jordan is ranked 7th, sandwiched between Carlos Dunlap and Nick Perry. While Jordan only has 2.5 sacks through the first 6 games, he's tied for 3rd in the league in both tackles for loss (6) and QB hits (10). Add a forced fumble and two passes batted and it's no surprise that he remains the best defender on the team.

2. Drew Brees, QB (Grade 85.6)

Breesus isn't #1? WTFrick, dude? Reminder: These grades are brought to you via PFF. Of course Brees is and forever will be the best QB OF ALL TIME. PFF kind of drops the ball here, ranking Brees 7th, between Sam Bradford and Matty Ice. Seriously. Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz are both ranked higher. Well, the immutable power of stats puts Brees firmly within at least the top 4 - #1 in TDs (17), #2 in completions (273), #2 in yards (2,101), #3 in completion % (68.5), and #4 in QB rating (104.4).

1. Zach Strief (Grade 86)

Sure, dude struggled at times last year, but he's been wall-esque this season thus far. PFF ranks him the 8th best tackle in the NFL between David Bakhtiari and Joe Thomas - Including solid (above 80) run and pass block scores. Sure, I disagree with PFF on Brees, but their assessment of Strief is convenient so I choose to accept it.

Honorable Mentions

Nick Fairley (grade 80.2; Rank 19). If I told you Fairley would be tied with Ndamukong Suh in sacks (3.5 - third best) this far into the season, you'd probably tell me to gtfo. He's also tied for 4th in the league in QB hits with 11. Disruptive in a word. I'm excited to see how he melds with Sheldon Rankins upon his impending return.

B.W. Webb (grade 80.1; Rank 26). I opted to give Webb a shout-out because, despite the approximately 98 injuries the Saints have endured this season (primarily within the secondary), the 26 year old former day 2 draft pick has held up very respectably. To date, Webb has 7 passes defended and the interception that finished the game in San Diego.