In a poll of 246 NFL players conducted by SI, Wes Welker was voted the most underrated player in the league. Players couldn't vote for teammates, and the poll was completed before Week 2. Welker received 6.9 percent of the vote.
A lot of those guys don't qualify as being underrated. Drew Brees? How is he underrated? He's one of the best QB's in the league and everyone knows it! Same with Andre Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Anquan Boldin, Reggie Wayne, and Brian Westbrook. They are all in the top 10 of their position, so how is that being underrrated? I can understand Welker, Sproles, and Leon Washington, but that's about it.
That list is ridiculous
"If there were no eternal consciousness in a man, if at the bottom of everything there were only a wild ferment, a power that twisting in dark passions produced everything great or inconsequential; if an unfathomable insatiable emptiness lay hid beneath everything, what would life be but despair?"
I know Drew Brees is underrated because of all the conversations I've held with those that are 'casual' fans. Most people name Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brett Favre and Ben Roethlisberger as the best at their position only because each of them hold a Super Bowl Ring and have been highly-endorsed by the media, aka ESPN. This year, less so because of the phenomenal season he had least year, but still, most of the people I hold conversations and have dalliances with don't even know that Brees has thrown for at least 4,000 yards each of the past 3 years.
We, the more in-tuned football observers know these names as highly-regarded because we follow the sport more often, we play fantasy and can spot trends, and we read the publications; but if you were to ask a friend who the best player on the Cardinals is, or even the best receiver, most would undoubtedly respond, "Larry Fitzgerald".
But what people forget is, that when both Fitz and 'Q' play together over a full span of a season, they both have have nearly identical stats, looks, receptions, and comparable yards after the catch; they have basically been the same productive receiver x2 over the span of the last three years.
Also, people are short-sighted, and they don't attribute enough success towards Kurt Warner making that team what it is now, or that people don't know that this year, up until Sunday's game, Steve Breaston leads (led) the team in total receiving yards, even though he missed the first two games.
And I'll elaborate further: Andre Johnson has been totally underrated as well because the dude is extremely quiet and humble, and he plays in a very niche market in Houston. Also, last year was a rare occurrence in that he played relatively healthy (and to an extent, so did Matt Schaub) so people finally took notice of what Johnson's potential as top-flight receiver is. As long as both Andre and Schaub stay upright and injury-free, they have a chance to be this year's best QB-WR tandem. So to that, Matt Schaub is also underrated because he misses so many games in a season (10 games missed over the past 2 years) that no one notices how good of a player he is when he does play.
MJD, plays in a very small market in Jacksonville as well, and has been the backup to Fred Taylor, who is probably underrated as well. Fred has accrued over 10,000 rushing yards in his career, and yet, 2008 was his first time going to the Pro Bowl, and he was just a substitute then, too. I've heard well-known sports-talk radio people say they know MJD is a talented-individual, but they also say they have know idea what he looks like.
I don't see how Slaton, MJD, or Leon Washington even made the list....
We're looking at a list of players who consistently perform well despite being overshadowed by their teammates or other players in their position....and then we have these 3 running backs....
MJD is in his 4th season and has never rushed for more than 1000 yards and only started 4 games prior to this year..... sounds like the dude is probably correctly valued if he's not considered up with the elite running backs.... His production may be good given the amount of time he's played....but backups aren't ever going to be up there with the top every down backs on winning programs. If he puts up some monster numbers this year, now that he's been given the reigns...people may give him the respect that he deserves...but he has to do that first before he can be considered underrated (imo)
Leon Washington?! Underrated?!
He's put up 1,676 yards in his whole fucking career (4 years)....give me a break. Just by being on that list he's overrated.... He has more fumbles this year than touchdowns.... I just do not understand his inclusion on this list at all..... He has NOT performed well. Again, you could make the argument that he hasn't had a chance...but that doesn't make him underrated...it makes him underutilized...
Steve Slaton?
The dude is in his second year....how can you be underrated when you've only played one full season...
He's averaging 3.2 yards a carry and has 4 fumbles and 1 TD this season..... give me a break.
For the other guys on the list...I'm gonna agree with IO...you're perspective is a little different TT because you're a football fan who plays fantasy.... to the average joeblow...they probably don't even know most of the guys on this list at all.
Ask 'em who the best receiver is and they probably say TO, Moss, Fitz....but best believe they aren't saying Andre Johnson (probably the best, if not one of the best, the last couple years...despite playing with shitty QB's) or Boldin (who outperformed Fitz fantasy wise last year before he got hurt) or Smith (who had a helluva year...2 or 3 years ago and was the best statistical receiver..if im not mistaken) or Wes who is a reception monster.
The only one I'll argue may not be underrated is Breese, because a lot of people are taking notice of him now...and while he isn't at the level of the 4 you mentioned, thats rightfully so because he doesn't have a ring...
I completely agree with Wes Welker. I've been watching him since he played with the Dolphins. Obviously the Fins didn't use him properly. Glad to see him winning with the Patriots...even though I hate the Patriots.
Andre Johnson is severely underrated. Everyone is right that he isn't mouthy, etc and that's why he doesn't get the attention that say Chad Johnson gets.
jdog wrote:I completely agree with Wes Welker. I've been watching him since he played with the Dolphins. Obviously the Fins didn't use him properly. Glad to see him winning with the Patriots...even though I hate the Patriots.
Andre Johnson is severely underrated. Everyone is right that he isn't mouthy, etc and that's why he doesn't get the attention that say Chad Johnson gets.
Hate...the...Patriots??? Son I think you better go wash out your keayboard with soap for typing such blasphemy.
The textbook definition of underrated is underestimation...Lets throw statistics out of the window here, that's not what this is about...We're talking about performance, which is only somewhat represented in statistics...So, not that he has a touchdown pass, but how tight he fit the ball into a spot to get that pass...You have to have watched some football to chop it up adequately in this thread...
Now...That said...
I agree w/Welker being number 1...If you were picking a team, I hardly think you'd put Welker on your team...Shit, even I wouldn't to be honest...Wes would be way down my list, I'm picking Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Calvin Johnson, a friggin butload of guys before Wes...That's textbook underrated...Nothing to do with him being productive, I just assume that there are going to be plays that say, an Andre Johnson, would make that Wes wouldn't...
The same thing about Drew (notice that most of the guys are the list are far under prototypical size) Brees...He's definitely a stat monger, but when you say underrated, that means he's making throws you don't think he could make based on angle, speed, distance, etc...I'm a big fan of Quarterbacks, and I've been big on Brees since he was at Purdue, I knew he'd be the real deal in the NFL...If I were picking a team, I'd probably pick him second, I don't think I've seen a better QB than Tom Brady ever...
I also want to chip in another definition of "underrated": when you don't take into account a certain player's latent potential ("homerun" chance), drive, and overall, his playability, then I'd say you are underrating your opponent.
Although I agree with Drew that Steve Slaton (he's still way green) and Leon Washington might not be deserving of this list, I'll add this: Leon Washington is an electric talent that has the 'potential' to take one to the house any time he catches the ball (I still don't know if he should be used as a 'traditional' running back, but he should be served up heaps more screens to just see him boost). Leon Washington's best season was last year, of course, and while he was underutilized then (he's being worked into more touches this year by Rex Ryan), he still made the absolute most of his opportunities. He hasn;t showed consistent efforts over his career, I'll agree, but I'll also say he wasn't utilized to his fullest if they knew what they had on their hands.
The true underrated NFL players are those without names or recognition, those that anchor the lines. I don't know many names along O-Lines or D-Lines, but here is a good underrated 'player' to this vein: The Denver Broncos' Offensive Line is phenomenal.
Denver has produced a consistent 1,000 rusher for as long as I've been watching football as an adult...I know a lot of it is talent, but I think most of that has to be given to the coaches and those that know that system...Especially in Denver...You run the ball in Denver, people will think you are the second coming of Walter Peyton...Remember Terrell Davis..? 1995 or so 6th round pick, man was he a stud for about 6 years...Everyone was thinking, "Oh man, Denver got a steal..!" Then, he goes down and Denver plugs another guy in, Olandis Gary....Who the fuck..? A rookie, comes in rushes for 1K...The very next year, they bring in ANOTHER guy...ANOTHER rookie...Another 1,000 yard rusher....They did the buddy system for a year, and then the next year..? Clinton Portis, their first real stud @ RB, and he gets 1.5K...The rest is history as they say...
I don't think anything is underrated about Denver and their O-line and rushing attack, lol...Not to undercut your point IO, but I doubt that there is a team that can compare to Denver when it comes to running the ball that consistently...I don't know how that will be since Mike Shanahan is gone, but...Yeah...
That's the funny thing about underrating...If you have 6 seconds left on the clock, and you've gotta do a hail mary, you're gonna want that 6'4", 38 inch vertical guy to be in the mix, not the 5'9" scrappy guy...The truth of the matter is that the scrappy guy is probably going to make a play, like he always does...Until you get into a situation where you produce consistently no matter what, there's a chance you'll always be underrated...When it comes a time when its 3 and short, everyone knows you're getting the ball and you still get it, the underrated tag will come off...Wes has the tag right now of "hurt but can't kill" and that's why he's on the list...
A player sees the game differently than us, which is weird that I'm so in agreement with the list...You gotta think about it, if Slaton has 4 fumbles, there is probably a defensive guy that punched the shit out of the ball 40 times, got 40 clean licks on him, and dude didn't fumble the ball not once...Or, several times when they've sniffed a play out, and instead of getting him for a loss, they get him for a 2 yard gain...You're looking at Sproles, and your mind tells you that you're gonna fucking decleat him, but he goes right by you...
jdog wrote:I completely agree with Wes Welker. I've been watching him since he played with the Dolphins. Obviously the Fins didn't use him properly. Glad to see him winning with the Patriots...even though I hate the Patriots.
Andre Johnson is severely underrated. Everyone is right that he isn't mouthy, etc and that's why he doesn't get the attention that say Chad Johnson gets.
Hate...the...Patriots??? Son I think you better go wash out your keayboard with soap for typing such blasphemy.
I don't like the Patriots. I'm just glad to see that Welker isn't on a losing team like the Dolphins. Someone managed to take advantage of his skills.
