The best players aren't always the most valuable to their teams. However, in the ACC, its top player is also the most essential to his team's success.

1. Sammy Watkins, wide receiver, Clemson: Sammy Watkins did it all last year and took the country by storm. He had 1,219 receiving yards, 231 rushing yards, and 826 yards on kickoff returns. Watkins finished No. 4 nationally in all-purpose yards, averaging 176 yards per game. After injuring his shoulder against Wake Forest, Watkins had to sit out the team’s game at NC State the following week. The result was a 37-13 loss in which Clemson accumulated 337 yards of total offense, 103 yards fewer than the team’s season average. The Tigers have plenty of offensive firepower, but it is a different team without Watkins on the field.

2. Kyle Fuller, cornerback, Virginia Tech: Fuller had 14.5 tackles for loss last year, tops among returning ACC players. That stat illustrates Fuller’s versatility as coaches asked him to play cornerback and some outside linebacker in 2011. This year, he is even more essential to Virginia Tech’s success. The Hokies are shuffling around the secondary, moving Antone Exum from safety to cornerback while moving both Detrick Bonner and Kyshoen Jarrett from cornerback to safety. Couple that with questionable depth at cornerback and it is easy to see how important Fuller is to Virginia Tech.

3. Nikita Whitlock, defensive tackle, Wake Forest: At 5-11, 260 pounds, Whitlock cemented himself as one of the premiere defensive linemen in the ACC in 2011. He led the Demon Deacons with 14 tackles for loss and finished fourth on the team with 64 tackles. What makes Whitlock so valuable to Wake Forest is his ability to pressure the quarterback. Whitlock had 3.5 sacks last year on a defense that managed just 11 sacks all year and got just 4 total sacks from its defensive line.

4. Steve Greer, linebacker, Virginia: Last year’s Chick-fil-A Bowl showed just how important Greer is to Virginia’s defense. Greer missed that game against Auburn with a torn ACL and the Cavaliers allowed season highs of 43 points and 454 yards, including 273 yards on the ground. Greer is a team captain in 2012 and was named to the preseason all-conference team. On a young defense that will be incorporating a number of new faces this year, Virginia will need Greer to stay healthy at middle linebacker.

5. Giovani Bernard, running back, North Carolina: Bernard is the ACC’s leading returning rusher. He had 1,253 rushing yards last year with 13 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 45 passes out of the backfield for 362 yards. Both ranked third on the team. First-year coach Larry Fedora will undoubtedly feature Bernard in his up-tempo offense. Behind Bernard, junior A.J. Blue had 33 carries last year, but at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, he is a much different back than Bernard. The Tar Heels need a big year from Giovani Bernard to reach their potential in 2012.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.