NFL's 10 Most Underrated Players: These Guys Deserve More Credit

The NFL is a league that thrives on superstars, and they have plenty of them. With so many superstars and marquee names, many players are fighting for their chance to be mentioned as the best in the game.

This is a list of 10 guys who have been at or near the top in production at their respective positions, but still aren't receiving the recognition that they deserve.

Matt Schaub

Schaub is one of the most underrated players in football at the game's most important position. Schaub has to compete for stardom with players like Brees, Manning, Brady and Favre so it's understandable why he doesn't receive as much attention, but maybe he should.

Schaub led the league in completions and yards last season and was fifth in touchdown passes.

Schaub did attempt more passes than anyone in football last season, but no one can blame the Texans for throwing when they have a combo like Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Expect another big season from Schaub as he continues to move his way towards the top of the quarterback food chain.

Davone Bess

Bess put together a very solid 2009 campaign as he finished the season with 76 catches for 758 yards. His 76 catches ranked 15th amongst all wide receivers last season, and Bess has by far the lowest profile of the top 15.

Bess will have to share the receptions this season after the Dolphins acquired star receiver Brandon Marshall during the offseason. Marshall's presence will no doubt take away some of Bess's targets this year, but he has reportedly won the punt returner job so it is clear the Dolphins want to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.

Bess will likely be the starting slot receiver for the Dolphins this season and will still be one of quarterback Chad Henne's favorite targets.

Jonathan Stewart

Stewart has had to share the workload with DeAngelo Williams throughout his entire career as an NFL running back, but he still managed to finish in the top 10 in rushing last season. Stewart ranked ninth last season in rushing yards with 1,133 yards, rushing touchdowns with 10, and yards per carry at 5.1.

Stewart also tied for third in runs over 20 yards with 11.

Stewart has a great balance of speed and power that make him a dangerous weapon, especially in the red zone where he often takes over for Williams.

Once Stewart gets the chance to be the featured back in Carolina he will be rightfully recognized as one of the top backs in the league.

Jairus Byrd

Byrd was one of the top play-making safeties in football last season as he finished the year tied with three other players for the most interceptions with nine. Darren Sharper was one of the other three players to record nine interceptions last season, and he also won the Super Bowl while Byrd played for the AFC East's worst team.

Individually, Byrd was nearly as productive as Sharper and was more productive than other top safeties like Ed Reed and Nick Collins.

If the Bills are able to improve as a team, then Byrd will receive more recognition, but for now he will remain as the league's top safety on a bad team.

Pierre Thomas

Most of the focus on the Saints' Super Bowl winning team last season was on their passing attack, but Pierre Thomas was also a major contributor. Thomas ran for 793 yards last season, but he did it in only 147 attempts, giving him an average of 5.4 yards per carry.

Thomas also found the end zone six times on the ground and twice through the air. 

Thomas was a valuable receiver out of the backfield for the Saints as he caught 39 passes for 302 yards. Thomas' value for the Saints lies in his versatility and ability to be productive in the running and passing games. 

Thomas doesn't get as many carries as he probably should because he plays in the Saints' high octane offense, but the guy makes plays when he gets his hands on the football.

WIll Smith

Will Smith is one of the best known celebrities in Hollywood. Oh, not that Will Smith?

This Will Smith is one of the top pass rushers in the NFL as he finished last season fifth in sacks with 13. Smith also forced three fumbles and managed to intercept as a pass from his defensive end position.

Smith is one of the most underrated players on the Saints defense which features players like Sharper, Jonathan Vilma and Jabari Greer.

Smith's ability to rush the passer was a big reason why players like Sharper were able to create turnovers last season and get the Saints the Super Bowl victory the city of New Orleans desperately needed.

Wes Welker

Welker is by no means the flashiest receiver in the league, but he is one of the most productive.

Welker led the league last season in receptions with 123, and was second in the league in receiving yards with 1,348. Welker has taken a backseat in New England to more marketable stars like Randy Moss and Tom Brady, but Welker has been as consistent as any Patriot during his three seasons with the team.

Welker is still recovering from the torn ACL that he suffered in Week 17 of last season, but his recovery is going well and he should be ready to go in week one this season.

Patriots fans hope Welker can fully recover and regain his ability as one of the top receivers in the league.

Brandon Flowers

Flowers plays in the same division as star corner backs Nnamdi Asomugha and Champ Bailey, but Flowers will soon be another household name in the division. Flowers put up some impressive stats last season for the Chiefs defense as he intercepted five passes and recorded 58 tackles.

Unlike Asomugha, teams went after Flowers last season, which proved to be a mistake as he was fourth in football with 23 passes defensed. Asomugha defensed only four passes all of last season and had only one interception.

His low numbers were due to the fact that many teams would not throw at him, maybe more teams should quit throwing at Flowers as well.

Flowers will soon be known as one of the top shutdown corners in the game, and, with the addition of Eric Berry, the Chiefs now have one of the top young secondaries in the league.

Brent Celek

Celek had a breakout season at tight end for the Eagles last year, finishing with 76 receptions for 971 yards and eight touchdowns. Celek ranked fourth in receiving yards for all tight ends and sixth in touchdowns.

Celek will look to continue his emergence as one of the league's top tight ends this season while catching passes for new starting quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Celek and Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson give the team a formidable passing attack and the ability to stretch the opposing defense.

London Fletcher

Fletcher is one of the best linebackers in football and has been for the past decade, but he has never received the kind of hype and recognition that Ray Lewis has. Fletcher finished last season tied for second in the league in tackles with 142, and he has had fewer than 128 tackles in a season only once in his last nine seasons.

Fletcher is one of the top tacklers in all of football and also has solid coverage skills for a linebacker.

Fletcher will continue to make plays until the day he retires, but he will finally receive the recognition he deserves once he is elected to Canton.