5 Most Underrated Players in the NFL

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Some guys don't get the notoriety they deserve. 

We know about the laser-like accuracy and quick release of Aaron Rodgers, hear about Drew Brees efficiently operating his offense in New Orleans and have seen Tom Brady carve up defenses on our televisions for over a decade now. 

Running backs like Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew will always get their time in the spotlight, too.  

But who are the NFL players that aren't household names that should be? 

Desmond Bishop, LB Green Bay Packers

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With the Green Bay Packers, you think Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley. 

The defense is an afterthought.

Although there's good reason for that this year, Desmond Bishop has been a steady force on the club for almost two years now. 

He made his name known during last season's Super Bowl campaign recording 103 total tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. 

Bishop is part of the reason why the Packers were fine with letting Nick Barnett move on to Buffalo. 

He's dealt with injuries this season, but he's accumulated 97 tackles with five sacks and is the leader of the Packers' extremely talented front seven. 

Not bad for a former sixth-rounder. 

Lance Moore, WR New Orleans Saints

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When you think Saints, you think Drew Brees, Marques Colston and now Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles. 

Don't forget about 5'10'' Lance Moore. 

Throw out an injury-plagued 2009 and you'll realize that he's easily one of the most unheralded yet routinely productive players in the NFL. 

Yes, playing within New Orleans' pass-happy system helps, but so what? 

Moore has made the best out of the situation he's in. 

In 2008 he had 928 yards with 10 touchdowns. 

Last season, he caught 66 passes for 763 yards with eight more touchdowns. 

This year, he already has reached the eight-touchdown plateau and has 50 grabs. 

A dangerous but consistent possession slot receiver that's deadly in the red zone. 

Steve Breaston, Kansas City Chiefs

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Steve Breaston may not be a No. 1 and some may say he's not even a No. 2 wideout, but No. 3 guys certainly carry their importance in the NFL.

He's emerged as one of the best "secondary" receiving options in football during his career. 

Since 2008, the former Michigan Wolverine playmaker has caught 235 passes and has averaged 792 yards per season. 

His best year came in 2008, when he was in the same receiving corps as Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. 

Breaston caught 77 passes for 1,006 yards and many believed the breakout year was just a product of Kurt Warner and the guys around him.

Without Warner and Boldin last season, he eclipsed the 700-yard mark and caught and averaged over 15 yards per grab.

In 2011, as a part of a much less explosive Kansas City Chiefs offense, he already has 56 grabs and 735 yards.

Not a Wes Welker-type, but a slot guy you can rely on to considerably contribute each year.  

Chris Long, DE St. Louis Rams

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Chris Long doesn't nearly get the love he deserves, well, because he's on the Rams. 

You want a guy to progress each season after he's drafted? 

Look at No. 91. 

Four sacks in 2008, his rookie year, five sacks in 2009, eight-and-a-half in 2010 and 13.5 this season. 

He's actually become one of the premier pass rushers in the NFC, but he's rarely analyzed or shown on TV. 

Long is easily the most underrated defensive end in the NFL. 

Heath Miller, TE Pittsburgh Steelers

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The modern day tight end looks a little different than it did even five years ago. 

Supremely athletic guys like Jermichael Finley, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Jimmy Graham have revolutionized the position. 

However, Pittsburgh Steelers' tight end Heather Miller has withstood the test of time. 

He's not the greatest athlete that's ever played tight end and it's easy to overlook him with the aforementioned superstars making SportsCenter every week. 

But he stays relatively healthy, is reliable and always seems to be open in the game's most pressure-packed moments. 

Miller has never had less than 39 grabs in a season and averages 546 receiving yards a year. 

It's like clockwork for the former Virginia Cavalier. 

A favorite target for Big Ben on third downs. 

He's a guy I want on my roster if I'm quarterback.