When you think of the top-three players at each offensive position on the football field, who comes to mind first?
Terrell Owens? Peyton Manning? Tom Brady?
Sure, those guys are great and deserve to be known by everyone, including your girlfriend, who doesn't even like football.
NFL superstars get the most attention and are usually recognizable to everyone, whether sports fans or not.
But what about the guys who don't get all of the ESPN attention?
The guys with consistent numbers that are critical to their respective teams?
There will always be polarizing figures that rule every sport, and that's okay. But we must not forget about the other guys who may not receive the critical acclaim but are still very good players.
Just because someone gets all of the attention, that doesn't mean that others don't deserve it, and they usually do.
Everyone talks about Stewie on Family Guy, and rightfully so, but what about Peter? We all laugh at Zach Braff on Scrubs, but what about his nemesis, the Janitor? Joey from Friends?
There are always going to be the Matthew Perry's, Zach Braff's, and Donald Faison's of the world, but we must show respect for the Peter's, Sarah Chalke's, and David Schwimmer's of the world that are great, too.
In respect to that, I've compiled a list of the NFL's top 10 offensive players that don't get the press time that LaDainian Tomlinson gets.
10. Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White
Nobody talks about this guy, and I mean NOBODY. His team did finish 4-12 last season, and after the turmoil that was Michael Vick, everyone seemed to turn their heads on this team.
I didn't. Roddy White played very well for a team that saw Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, and Chris Redman at QB. He was basically a security blanket for the underachieving QB corps, hauling in 83 receptions for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns.
In his previous two seasons, he started only 13 out of 32 games. With the run-first offensive regime of Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn, and Jim Mora Jr., Vick seemed to only look for TE Alge Crumpler when he back-pedaled, and the Atlanta receiving team was blamed for his passing woes.
After his 2007 campaign, nobody will blame Roddy White.
9. Detroit Lions WR Roy Williams
In this era of, "what have you done for me lately" in the NFL, Roy Williams followed his huge 2006 season of 82 receptions for 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns with an injury-shortened year, missing four games.
He has now seemed to fall off of the top-WR pedestal and not for good reason. Even though he missed four games last season, his numbers were still good. Williams caught 64 balls for 838 yards and five touchdowns.
The underachieving Lions have a superstar in Roy Williams when healthy, and the combination of Williams and Calvin Johnson will be big for the Lions' passing game. If Kitna can minimize his turnovers, Williams will be back in the top WR talk in a big way.
8. Cincinnati Bengals WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh
When the Cincinnati Bengals are brought up in conversation, the first name to be mentioned is usually Carson Palmer. Next is Chad Johnson. Some will even mention Rudi Johnson's name next. Then comes T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
A man who catches 112 receptions for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns shouldn't go that far down the "mention" list. Chad Johnson is a really good receiver, but T.J. should be mentioned at least in the same sentence as Chad.
- B/R Ticket Guide
No, he isn't boisterous and he doesn't get on the radio, talking nonsense, but Housh is a quality receiver that doesn't get his due. He flew under the radar two seasons ago when he caught 90 passes for 1,081 yards and nine touchdowns. Some will even say he gets that because of the attention Chad gets.
If that's true, then look at Crayton's numbers in Dallas aside Owens, or Joe Jurevicius aside Braylon Edwards. T.J. is just good.
7. New Orleans Saints WR Marques Colston
Who are the NFL's top-five receivers? Does this answer look familiar?
Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald.
That's a great list, and those guys are all deserving, but Marques Colston hardly gets brought up. His numbers of 98 receptions for 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns are really good, and this is just his second season.
I know he's young and has to stay consistent, but he has shown that he has what it takes to be a great receiver in this league. With Drew Brees passing him the ball, another underrated star, he will continue to rip defenses as long as he stays healthy, and maybe he will take the reigns soon as the next top WR.
6. Washington Redskins TE Chris Cooley
This guy finally got a Pro Bowl bid last season, but Cooley has been doing it for a while now and has been as consistent as any other TE in the NFL over the past few years. Clinton Portis and Santana Moss get all of the hype in Washington, but maybe Cooley deserves it.
Last season, he caught 66 passes for 786 yards and eight touchdowns, not far from Santana Moss' 61 for 808 and three touchdowns. This isn't Cooley's first big season, either. In 2006, he caught 57 balls for 734 yards and six touchdowns, and 71 for 774 yards and seven TDs the year before.
In a system that starts Antwaan Randle-El and Santana Moss at receiver, QB Jason Campbell's best option may very well be at the TE position, and Cooley may very well be in the top-three TEs in the league. So why is it that all we hear about is Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, and Jeremy Shockey?
5. Green Bay Packers WRs Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones
We all heard about it time and time again, Brett Favre and his resurgence last season for the Green Bay Packers. He was fun to watch, but where's the love for the receivers he threw the ball to? Donald Driver, James Jones, and Greg Jennings were much better than expected (with the exception of the proven Driver).
From the Monday-night barnburner to the playoffs, this trio was an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses.
Driver caught 82 receptions for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns, while Jennings had 53 catches for 920 yards and 12 TDs. James Jones chipped in with 46 catches for 676 yards and two touches. That's a whopping 161 receptions for 2,644 yards and 16 TDs between them.
Aaron Rodgers is somewhere, praying for similar production this year. He can only hope.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Joey Galloway
Isn't Joey Galloway like 45-years-old?
Okay, honestly, this guy is still ripping up defenses at the tender age of 36, catching 57 receptions for 1,014 yards and six touchdowns. Always synonymous with speed, Joey has shown over his career to be a viable deep threat with hands, while the Bucs have played musical QB.
Whether it was Bruce Gradkowski, Chris Simms, or Jeff Garcia, Galloway has been the same deep-threat receiver and always seems to find a way to burn teams.
In 2006, Galloway caught 62 receptions for 1,057 yards and 7 TDs, and he has been a really good receiver that has never really gotten his due. When's the last time you heard someone bring up Galloway in a fantasy conversation? Every year it seems he may be too old, yet he has another good year.
Better pick him up in 2008.
3. St. Louis Rams WR Torry Holt
What can't you say about Torry Holt?
He is in the top-three wide receivers active today, and his numbers are right there with any receiver you mention, whether it be Moss, Owens, or Harrison.
Relatively small, Holt is a deceptively-quick receiver, who knows just how to beat opposing defenses and has been consistent in every way the last eight years.
He's started at least 14 games the past eight years and has caught over 80 balls for over 1,000 yards every one of those eight seasons. How's that for consistency?
He's won a Super Bowl and remains one of the best in the game after a 93 reception, 1,189 yard, and seven-touchdown season in 2007. Still, he seems to get left behind in many conversations about the best wide receivers of today.
Holt is a sure Hall-of-Famer that doesn't need to be the biggest star.
The numbers talk for him.
2. Seattle Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck started out as a no-name QB, much like the way Brett Favre did.
While Hasselbeck may not be as successful as Favre, he's more than made a name for himself in the NFL. He and RB Shaun Alexander combined to have a stranglehold on the lowly AFC West the past four seasons, and Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to an improbable Super Bowl XL match up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they nearly won that game.
His numbers last year were again at the top of the NFL, with 3,966 yards, 28 TDs, and a 91.4 QB rating. Once again, his Seahawks were in the playoffs, and they defeated the Washington Redskins in the wild-card round. Matt Hasselbeck has been what many QBs that enter the league wish to be:
Consistent, progressively better, and not decimated by injuries.
Not many other QBs, besides Manning "A," Brady, or Favre can say that. As Lil' Wayne said, next time you mention the best, be sure to mention me. Or Matt Hasselbeck.
1. New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees
Remember when Drew Brees tore his labrum, and the San Diego Chargers were fighting to get rid of him? I bet they've questioned that decision many times, and no disrespect to Philip Rivers, but imagine if Brees and L.T were still together, with a receiver like Chris Chambers?
Decisions, decisions.
Brees not only came back, but he returned healthy and greater than before for the Saints. With young players like Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, and Devery Henderson around him, he was still able to lead the Saints to an inspiring season in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina.
After a slow start to 2007, he finished with 4,423 yards off of a record 440 completions, 28 TDs and a 91.4 OB rating. All of this while losing Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush and suffering a sophomore slump. Watch out for Drew this season, as he looks to permanently enter the conversation with the Mannings and Bradys of the roundtable.
Drew Brees is Samuel Bell Jr.'s 2008 preseason winner as the most underrated offensive player in the NFL.
Next time you talk about the best players on offense, don't forget these 10 stars. You won't when they burn your favorite team, unless, of course, they play on it.
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2 months ago
Interesting article.
I definitely have to agree with you when talking about Roddy White and the trio of Green Bay Packers. Brees, however - has already led two teams to the playoffs, won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award, and made the Pro Bowl. Usually, when it comes to the experts, the consensus is he's one of the top 5 QB's in the league at the moment. Not too shabby for an "underrated" guy.
from 2 months ago
Good comment Eric, I partially agree with you, but I call Brees underrated for two reasons:
1. When the Saints faultered last season, QB's like David Garrard and Ben Roethlisberger ascended over Brees in the conversations. It was hardly Brees fault that the Saints were under .500 last season, as the intangibles killed them. Reggie as the #1 back? No way.
2. He's still not mentioned anywhere in the stratosphere of Manning A or Brady. He may not have had the team success they have, but he's also never had the teams they had. The Saints have always been woeful on defense, and Peyton didn't win the chip until his defense performed for him. Brady has always had a good defense in New England, and Brees had a lowly D when he was in San Diego too. Give Brees a good defense, and he's win 11 games a year, too.
I feel that for his statistics and what he has meant for the game, Drew Brees just doesn't get enough respect. Good as Roethlisberger and Garrard are, theyt have more to do to get to Brees. Yes, Big Ben won a chip and that's big, but this is his first season where he's an elite, over 90 rated QB. Top 3 QB's are Manning A, Brady and Brees. Period.
2 months ago
definately great article the one that sticks out to me is chris cooley i might have put him at no 1 but great job
2 months ago
miami dolphins: kicking themselves HARD for taking daunte culpepper over drew brees. like, we just went 1-15 hard
from 2 months ago
I thought about putting Cooley first matthew, but then I remembered how Berry from ESPN is saying that Roethlisberger and Garrard could be taken over Brees. That's disrespectful. Brees is better than that, and he knows it. For what he's done, he is right behind the Manning Brady train. I understand what you're saying though, Cooley could've definitely been first.
Tim: Dolphins fan? Man, you are so right about that!
Culpepper=Currently Unsigned
Brees=Top 3 in the League
from 2 months ago
definitely not a dolphins fan...just empathetic...any team that had to start cleo lemon in any circumstance deserves empathy i think
2 months ago
Don't know if I would consider Brees underrated. Most recognize his ability. Good article however.
from 2 months ago
praise the lord.
2 months ago
I don't think Driver is overrated. We hear a lot about how good he is. When I read the title I imediatly (bad spelling) thought of Joey Galloway.
Nice article.
2 months ago
Not a bad list. Although, I don't think Brees is underrated.
2 months ago
do you ever watch afc football?
2 months ago
1,7, and 8 in my opinon are not underrated by any stretch. Brees won comeback player of the year. TJ and Colston have been top WRs on their team and have garnered considerable attention.
from 2 months ago
I don't think being given some attention on your team is enough for Colston and T.J. Those guys should be brought up in the conversations of top receivers, and they aren't. T.J isn't even considered best on his team. Everyone says Brees won comeback player of the year and that's nice, but his numbers make him deserve to be put third on the list of best QB's and not sub-top 5.
Oh, Todd I do watch AFC football, I just don't think there are a lot of underrated players in that conference. The AFC gets a lot of attention, and the separation looks like this:
Patriots, Colts, Steelers, Jaguars
from 2 months ago
Well after Brees stellar final year with San Diego and the first year with the Saints where they went to the NFC championship game I don't think many people were saying the Saints got that far because of Reggie Bush and their defense. And TJ and Chad are not 1 and 2 on the Bengals depth Chart they are equal. There's a reason why people say Cincy has one of the more talented groups of WRs in the league. TJ and Chad had a combined 20 TDS with TJ having 12. Colston had 410 more yards and 8 more touchdowns than the next guy on the list in receiving stats on his team.
2 months ago
<Rest of the AFC
2 months ago
It's no coincidence that 7/10 of these guys on your list were on losing teams last season. I guess thats why Fred Taylor never made it to the Probowl until finally the Jags got on the map. Thats just the way it is, losing records usually equals no recognition, i hear you though. If you make a defensive article, you have to put Nnamdi Asomough #1 on there.
from 2 months ago
You're right Andres about Asomugha...you read my mind!
2 months ago
as bad as the aftertaste is gonna be when i say this, brandon marshall should be up there.
at least for right now. now hes out of walkers shadow and will be cutlers go-to guy he might not be so underrated/unheard of for much longer
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