Mid-Season's Top Positions Players -- Quarterback

This post was written while watching Drew Brees and Matty Ice duke it out. A fitting game to watch before putting our QB list down.

In this post, I'll break down what Chris and I believe are the top 8 players at the QB position through 8 weeks of the NFL Season. RB, TE and WR positions to come in the next few days. So with no further adieu, here are the eight best Quarterbacks from the first half of the season.

#8 -- Kyle Orton -- Denver Broncos
He's not going to be a pro-bowler. He's not lit up the league with his sensational passes. He's not one of "those guys" that every team wants to have. But at the end of the day, Orton's been plain good for the 6-1 Broncos. His stats aren't amazing (13th in Comp%, 14th in Yards), but he's done what he's been asked to do, and is playing in a system that fits his skill-set perfectly. He may not end the season in the top-8, but he's had a great first half.

#7 -- Ben Roethlisberger -- Pittsburgh Steelers
Most NFL fans can't stand the guy, and I understand why. He looks lazy and slow at times, and holds on to the ball way too long. But the dude is a winner. He's sporting a QB Rat. over 100, and has the 3rd most yards in the NFL. On top of that, I'm not sure any team in the NFL would look forward to a matchup against the defending champs at this point. Their mettle will be tested in the next few weeks, with games @ Denver, Vs Cincinnati, and @ Baltimore in the next four weeks.

#6 -- Brett Favre -- Minnesota Vikings
This is the one QB that's liked a little less than Big Ben, but the old man just keeps getting it done. He has the 8th most yards in the NFL, and a deceiving QB Rat of 106.0. He does have a lot of dump-off passes, but everyone knows that Tavaris Jackson wouldn't have thrown that game winner against the 49ers in week 3. He's more than efficient, and time will tell whether or not he will hold up for the entire season. After the midway point, however, he's as good as advertised, and Vikings fans and players are enjoying a QB with intangibles and talent that they've not seen in quite a while.

#5 -- Tom Brady -- New England Patriots
Love 'em or Hate 'em, Tom is money. He proved he was all the way back in a week 6 beat down of Tennessee, where he threw for 5 TDs, in the 2nd quarter! He had 6 overall, and sports a TD/INT ratio of 15/4. He's 5th in the NFL in yards/game, but less than 5 yards/game behind 2nd place Roethlisberger in that category. For those that thought Brady was done, you were sorely mistaken. I don't think it will surprise anyone if the Patriots are back in the AFC Championship game this season.

#4 -- Matt Schaub -- Houston Texans
Schaub is the 2nd biggest surprise on this list, next to Orton of course. But the dude has been electric this season. 3rd in yards/game, Tied for 1st in TDs, a QB Rat. over 100, and the most 20+ yard passes in the NFL, Schaub brings the total package to the table. Sure it helps to have Andre Johnson on your team, but right now Schaub is in the zone. The Texans will be tested in the next few weeks; they have to play the Colts twice in their next 3 games. But after 8 games, the 5-3 Texans hold the 4th best QB in the NFL.

#3 -- Peyton Manning -- Indianapolis Colts
Another season, another stellar first half for the elder of the Manning brothers. Let's run through some stats here. Yards/game - 1st. TDs - T4. QB Rat. - 2nd. Sacks Taken - 1st. The dude can play, and we've almost become mundane to the fact that he's going to put up amazing numbers to the point where we're no longer amazed. We are here to tell you remind you, however, that there is no better play-calling QB in the league. The Colts' next 4 are brutal, though. Houston, NE, @ Houston, @ Baltimore. We'll re-evaluate at the end of the season.

#2 -- Drew Brees -- New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees? Number 2? Who can be number 1?!? Brees has been flat out amazing this season, indeed. He holds the 3rd highest QB Rating, and is tied for the most TD passes in the NFL. He spreads the ball around amazingly and, most importantly, is the captain of the NFC Favorite Saints (7-0). On top of that, they play the Panthers, Rams and Bucs in their next three. Say hello to the 10-0 Saints. The real question now is whether or not the Saints can run the table and go 16-0 in the regular season.

#1 -- Aaron Rodgers -- Green Bay Packers
That's right, Brees is not the best QB in our rankings. Aaron Rodgers has been, in a word, phenomenal. He has the highest QB Rat. in the NFL, the most 40+ yard plays, and the best TD/INT ratio in the NFL (15/2). All of this with that offensive line? He has little time on most plays, but makes the most out of bad situations on most plays. He also leads the NFC in yards, despite being 8th in the NFC in attempts/game. He's a gamer, and he'll have to be more than impressive over the team's 2nd half of the season in order to get the Packers into the playoffs. They'll be tested in the 2nd half, playing big games against Dallas, San Fran, Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Arizona the remainder of the way.