Pro Bowl 2015: Breaking Down Full Roster and Top Snubs

The realms of fantasy football and real life blend once again at the 2015 Pro Bowl.

The unconferenced format makes its return this year, and this time, the captains are former wide receivers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin. That means the globe is in for a Team Carter vs. Team Irvin showdown in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 25.

Like any vote-based process, though, there is bound to be controversy.

Even when one takes into account the alternates list, several high-profile snubs are worth a look. Keep in mind that the roster will continue to change in the coming week thanks to various factors, with transactions such as Matthew Stafford replacing Peyton Manning, per Tim Twentyman of the Detroit Lions' official website, and Geno Atkins replacing Ndamukong Suh the highlights so far.

For now, the top snubs are obvious. 

2015 Pro Bowl Player Pool

QB	Tom Brady, NE	Andrew Luck, Ind	Peyton Manning, Den
	Tony Romo, Dal	Ben Roethlisberger, Pit	Aaron Rodgers, GB
RB	Le'Veon Bell, Pit	Jamaal Charles, KC	Arian Foster, Hou
	Marshawn Lynch, Sea	LeSean McCoy, Phi	DeMarco Murray, Dal
FB	John Kuhn, GB	Marcel Reece, Oak
WR	Antonio Brown, Pit	Dez Bryant, Dal	A.J. Green, Cin
	T.Y. Hilton, Ind	Calvin Johnson, Det	Julio Jones, Atl
	Jordy Nelson, GB	Demaryius Thomas, Den
TE	Jimmy Graham, NO	Rob Gronkowski, NE	Julius Thomas, Den
	Greg Olsen, Car
OT	Ryan Clady, Den	Tyron Smith, Dal	Trent Williams, Was
	Joe Thomas, Cle	Joe Staley, SF	Jason Peters, Phi
C	Travis Frederick, Dal	Jason Kelce, Phi	Nick Mangold, NYJ
	Maurkice Pouncey, Pit
OG	Jahri Evans, NO	Mike Iupati, SF	Kyle Long, Chi
	Zack Martin, Dal	Marshal Yanda, Bal	Josh Sitton, GB
DE	Calais Campbell, Ari	Mario Williams, Buf	J.J. Watt, Hou
	DeMarcus Ware, Den	Cameron Wake, Mia	Robert Quinn, STL
DT	Marcell Dareus, Buf	Aaron Donald, STL	Gerald McCoy, TB
	Kyle Williams, Buf	Ndamukong Suh, Det	Dontari Poe, KC
OLB	Connor Barwin, Phi	Elvis Dumervil, Bal	Tamba Hali, KC
	Justin Houston, KC	Clay Matthews, GB	Von Miller, Den
ILB	Luke Kuechly, Car	C.J. Mosley, Bal	Bobby Wagner, Sea
	Lawrence Timmons, Pit
CB	Vontae Davis, Ind	Brent Grimes, Mia	Joe Haden, Cle
	Chris Harris, Den	Aqib Talib, Den	Richard Sherman, Sea
	Darrelle Revis, NE	Patrick Peterson, Ari
S	Kam Chancellor, Sea	Tashaun Gipson, Cle	Eric Weddle, SD
	T.J. Ward, Den	Earl Thomas, Sea	Glover Quin, Det
K	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	Adam Vinatieri, Ind
P	Kevin Huber, Cin	Pat McAfee, Ind
PR	Devin Hester, Atl	Darren Sproles, Phi
ST	Justin Bethel, Ari	Matthew Slater, NE

2015 Pro Bowl Alternates

Arizona	WR Larry Fitzgerald	CB Antonio Cromartie
Baltimore	RB Justin Forsett	OLB Terrell Suggs	P Sam Koch
	FB Kyle Juszczyk	ST Jacoby Jones
Denver	WR Emmanuel Sanders	RB C.J. Anderson
Detroit	WR Golden Tate	LB DeAndre Levy	QB Matthew Stafford
	S James Ihedigbo
Green Bay	OT David Bakhtiari	OG T.J. Lang	RB Eddie Lacy
	LB Julius Peppers	CB Sam Shields	WR Randall Cobb
	CB Tramon Williams
Houston	T Duane Brown	WR DeAndre Hopkins	C Chris Myers
Indianapolis	S Mike Adams	ILB D'Qwell Jackson
Jacksonville	DT Sen'Derrick Marks
New York Giants	WR Odell Beckham Jr.	DE Jason Pierre-Paul
New York Jets	OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson	RB Chris Ivory	DE Sheldon Richardson
	DT Muhammad Wilkerson
Oakland	S Charles Woodson	OLB Khalil Mack
Philadelphia	K Cody Parkey	OG Evan Mathis	S Chris Maragos
	DT Fletcher Cox	WR Jeremy Maclin
San Diego	TE Antonio Gates	ST Darrell Stuckey	QB Philip Rivers
San Francisco	S Antoine Bethea	OG Alex Boone	ILB Chris Borland
	DT Justin Smith	RB Frank Gore
Seattle	DE Michael Bennett	K Steven Hauschka	OT Russell Okung
	QB Russell Wilson	C Max Unger
Tampa Bay	LB Lavonte David
Washington	OLB Ryan Kerrigan	RB Alfred Morris

Top Snubs

Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans

James Kenney/Associated Press

One of the most criminally underrated players in the league, Delanie Walker missing the spectacle in the desert is a true shame.

Buried in a two-win season in Tennessee is the fact that Walker is one of the game's most talented all-around players at the position.

While names such as Jimmy Graham received reputation-based votes, Walker compiled a cool 890 yards and four touchdowns with a ridiculous 14.1 yards-per-catch average—all the while dealing with Jake Locker, Charlie Whitehurst and Zach Mettenberger under center.

Walker's usefulness is not just limited to box scores, either. He ranks as the No. 7 overall tight end in the league this season at Pro Football Focus, but he grades No. 3 overall in the league in terms of run blocking.

Sometimes being the offensive MVP of a two-win team has its drawbacks, but one has to wonder the damage Walker could do in a legitimate offense.

This year, he will watch the festivities from home.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

If voters care all that much about box scores, there is absolutely no reason Chicago Bears back Matt Forte should miss the Pro Bowl.

Yes, Chicago only won five games. A 3.9 per-carry average with 1,038 yards and six touchdowns does not pop off the page, either.

A record-breaking 102 catches for 808 yards and four touchdowns should.

In today's NFL, when three-down production is a must for a player to be a three-down back, Forte, 29, continues to write the handbook. For his part, though, he seems only focused on next season under the guidance of a new coach, not individual accolades, per the Bears on Twitter:

In a year of standout running backs, Forte did not shine enough on a losing team.

That said, the snub is obvious.

Thomas Davis, LB, Carolina Panthers

USA TODAY Sports

It is a horrific time to be an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme.

Just ask Carolina Panthers star Thomas Davis.

Davis, now 31 years old, finally put together a trio of healthy seasons and produced at an elite pitch as a result:

SEASON	TOT TCKL	SACK	FF	INT
2012	105	0.0	2	1
2013	123	4.0	1	2
2014	100	2.5	2	0

Over at PFF, his 2014 performance earned him the No. 5 overall 4-3 outside linebacker slot.

There's one problem: Davis does not do the sexy things, such as rush the quarterback, as do his 3-4 brethren who made it to the spectacle, namely Justin Houston, Elvis Dumervil and Clay Matthews.

Davis is just as important as running mate Luke Kuechly, although the somewhat outdated roles of the event do him no favors.

He is one of the most underrated players in the league.

Andrew Whitworth, OT, Cincinnati Bengals

USA TODAY Sports

Like it or not, offensive linemen are usually a name recognition sort of thing when it comes to the Pro Bowl. 

Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth knows all about this.

Whitworth posted a season for the ages in 2014. He ranks as the No. 2 tackle in the NFL at PFF and only surrendered the following:

• No sacks.
• One quarterback hit.
• Eight quarterback hurries.

There is a reason folks such as Peter King have him atop "underrated" lists:

Remember, this is a tackle who plays in the AFC North. He sees exotic schemes and elite players from Baltimore and Pittsburgh twice a year. He thrived in New England, in New Orleans and against Denver, too.

What Whitworth has to do in order to make the Pro Bowl is tough to figure out. While part of his success stems from Cincinnati favoring a one-read approach to limit Andy Dalton's exposure and decision-making process, allowing no sacks over the course of a full season is still as impressive as it sounds.

Alas, the veteran Whitworth will just have to try again next year. This elite level of play can only go ignored for so long.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus. Roster, game info courtesy of NFL.com as of Jan. 19 at 8 a.m. ET.