Vikings' Peterson voted best NFL player by peers

Adrian Peterson's run at the single-season rushing record last season, and the fact he led the Vikings to an unexpected playoff season, earned him the league's MVP award.

Now the NFL Network's third annual rating of the league's top 100 players -- a group chosen by NFL players -- has Peterson at No. 1 this season. Denver quarterback Peyton Manning was second.

Peterson is the first non-quarterback to top the ratings. Tom Brady was No. 1 in 2011 and Aaron Rodgers was No. 1 last year. Peterson was third in 2011 and eighth in 2012.

Two other Vikings made the top 100 -- defensive end Jared Allen at 60 and linebacker Chad Greenway at 70. Ex- Vikings receiver Percy Harvin, now with Seattle, is No. 90.

Here is the NFL Network's list of the top 100 players:

1. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings, RB
2. Peyton Manning – Denver Broncos, QB
3. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions, WR
4. Tom Brady – New England Patriots, QB
5. J.J Watt – Houston Texans, DE
6. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers, QB
7. Aldon Smith – San Francisco 49ers, LB
8. Arian Foster – Houston Texans, R
9. Von Miller – Denver Broncos, LB
10. Patrick Willis – San Francisco 49ers, LB

11. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints, QB
12. DeMarcus Ware – Dallas Cowboys, DE
13. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens, RB
14. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans, WR
15. Robert Griffin III – Washington Redskins, QB
16. AJ Green – Cincinnati Bengals, WR
17. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons, QB
18. Ed Reed – Houston Texans/Baltimore Ravens, S
19. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens, QB
20. Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs, RB

31. Clay Matthews – Green Bay Packers, LB
32. Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers, RB
33. Patrick Peterson – Arizona Cardinals, CB/PR
34. Charles Tillman – Chicago Bears, CB
35. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys, WR/PR
36. Geno Atkins – Cincinnati Bengals, DT
37. NaVorro Bowman – San Francisco 49ers, LB
38. Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers, TE
39. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons, WR
40. Ndamukong Suh – Detroit Lions, DT

41. Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys, TE
42. Haloti Ngata – Baltimore Ravens, DT
43. Eli Manning – New York Giants, QB
44. Wes Welker – Denver Broncos/New England Patriots, WR
45. LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles, RB
46. Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers, QB
47. Tony Gonzalez – Atlanta Falcons, TE
48. Duane Brown – Houston Texans, OT
49. Justin Houston – Kansas City Chiefs, LB
50. Richard Sherman – Seattle Seahawks, CB

51. Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks, QB
52. Vincent Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR
53. Champ Bailey – Denver Broncos, CB
54. Julius Peppers – Chicago Bears, DE
55. Jason Pierre-Paul – New York Giants, DE
56. Terrell Suggs – Baltimore Ravens, LB
57. Doug Martin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, RB
58. Victor Cruz – New York Giants, WR
59. Derrick Johnson – Kansas City Chiefs, LB
60. Jared Allen – Minnesota Vikings, DE

61. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers, QB
62. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans, RB
63. Stephen Tulloch – Detroit Lions, LB
64. Alfred Morris – Washington Redskins, RB
65. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs, WR
66. Earl Thomas – Seattle Seahawks, S
67. Darrelle Revis – Tampa Bay Buccaneers/New York Jets, CB
68. Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos, WR
69. Tim Jennings – Chicago Bears, CB
70. Chad Greenway – Minnesota Vikings, LB

71. Trent Richardson – Cleveland Browns, RB
72. Mario Williams – Buffalo Bills, DE
73. Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers, TE
74. Robert Mathis – Indianapolis Colts, LB
75. Brandon Flowers – Kansas City Chiefs, CB
76. Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions, QB
77. Aaron Hernandez – TE
78. Joe Staley – San Francisco 49ers, OT
79. Luke Kuechly – Carolina Panthers, LB
80. Dwight Freeney – San Diego Chargers/Indianapolis Colts, DE