The NFL's Most Underrated Players so Far in 2015 Season

It’s one of those subjects similar to picking the out the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Define underrated. What exactly does that mean?

It means different things to different writers, fans and evaluators in any line of work.

Here, we are giving some much-needed attention to a dozen NFL players who we feel have not gotten their due so far in 2015. With help from Pro Football Focus (which actually rates players' performances), we feel these are 12 performers (listed in team alphabetical order) who we are not talking about as much as we could be.

Yes, you could probably point out a lot more players that fall under this category (and we are sure you will), but when you combine a lack of team success (in some instances) with the absence of huge numbers, we think you’ll agree with at least a few of our choices.

DB Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals

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He’s listed on the Arizona Cardinals’ depth chart (courtesy of Ourlads) as the team’s starting free safety.

According to the fine folks at Pro Football Focus, Tyrann Mathieu is a honey of a cornerback.

In any case, while the former LSU standout has garnered his share of attention, perhaps it’s the entire Cardinals defense that has lacked attention given the play of quarterback Carson Palmer and the rest of a potent Arizona offense.

Mathieu ranks second on his team with 52 tackles and leads the club with 12 passes defensed. Add in three interceptions (one touchdown), one sack and a forced fumble, and it’s been a pretty complete year for the third-year defender.

Is Mathieu underrated? Maybe not, but you just don't hear a lot about the kind of impact he has had for his team compared to Palmer and Co. And when it comes to his position in the secondary, perhaps the right term would be "misunderstood."

G Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers

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Only two teams in the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills, are currently ranked ahead of the Carolina Panthers in rushing yards per game this season.

While Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil gets a lot of attention when it comes to Ron Rivera’s offensive line, right guard Trai Turner has started all nine games this season and has been stellar without getting a lot of attention. In just his second NFL campaign, he’s rated as the league’s seventh-best guard these days and one of the better run-blockers in the game at his position.

The 9-0 Panthers are averaging a robust 139.7 yards per game on the ground, and Turner is a major factor when it comes to that number.

ILB Shea McClellin, Chicago Bears

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Slowly but surely, head coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio are making their mark in the Windy City.

You can say the same for Chicago Bears inside linebacker Shea McClellin, as the 2012 first-round pick from Boise State has settled in nicely at a position he’s playing for the first time this year.

In six games this season, McClellin has totaled 41 tackles. After missing three games, the fourth-year pro returned to action on Sunday at St. Louis and totaled eight tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Drafted as a defensive end while also seeing action at outside linebacker in his first three seasons, McClellin was shifted to a new spot this offseason for Fangio’s defense and has responded very well.

A Chicago defense that gave up the third-most yards in the NFL in both 2013 and 2014 ranks eighth in the league in fewest yards allowed this season.

WR Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Perhaps it’s simply the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t enjoyed much success as of late. The franchise hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2007, and dating back to 2011, the team owns a dismal 17-56 record.

But it’s hard to ignore the impact that second-year wideout Allen Hurns is having on quarterback Blake Bortles as well as the rest of the league.

In Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens, the former undrafted free agent scored a touchdown for the seventh consecutive game. For the season, he ranks second on his team in both receptions (41) and receiving yards (697) behind 2014 second-round pick Allen Robinson. Both players are tied for the team lead with seven scores.

Hurns, averaging a stellar 17.0 yards per catch, is starting to earn a little more attention. With a few more wins, the 3-6 Jaguars may be getting ready to do the same.

SS Reshad Jones, Miami Dolphins

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It’s been an uneven year for the Miami Dolphins, but strong safety Reshad Jones has quietly put together a solid season for a team now under the guidance of head coach Dan Campbell.

Jones leads the Dolphins with 83 tackles, totaling two sacks, three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and six passes defensed. While only the Cleveland Browns have allowed more yards per game on the ground this season, don’t blame Jones, who is the league’s top-ranked safety in run support.

At 4-5, the season isn’t over for the Dolphins, and the club is coming off a 20-19 road win at Philadelphia. In any case, Jones has been a reliable performer for one of the league’s more inconsistent teams this season.

C Joe Berger, Minnesota Vikings

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When you are blocking for running back Adrian Peterson, it’s somewhat easy to take a back seat when it comes to attention in favor of the NFL’s current rushing leader.

For 11-year veteran Joe Berger, he’s simply done his job since becoming a member of the Minnesota Vikings back in 2011. During his NFL career, he’s played both left and right guard, but this season he’s the team’s starting center and doing a terrific job.

When it comes to the rankings, only Carolina’s Ryan Kalil and Dallas’ Travis Frederick are ranked ahead of Berger, who’s started all nine games at the pivot for Mike Zimmer’s club this year. Berger is also rated third at his position when it comes to run blocking.

The Vikings are currently riding a five-game winning streak and find themselves in first place in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers coming to town this week. Berger and his teammates may be getting ready to hear their names called more often when it comes to attention.

T Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints

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When you are on a list of offensive tackles and the names Tyron Smith and Joe Thomas are the only ones listed ahead of you based on performance, you know you’re having a pretty good year.

While the New Orleans Saints own a dismal 4-6 record and just parted ways with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, via Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com, left tackle Terron Armstead has been a quiet bright spot for a team that is still capable of scoring plenty of points.

Although he’s missed two games this season, the third-year pro from Arkansas-Pine Bluff has been solid when available. The Saints rank third in the league in both total offense and passing, and Armstead’s run-blocking is second in the NFL behind only Smith.

WR/KR Dwayne Harris, New York Giants

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In his first season with the New York Giants, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and special teams ace Dwayne Harris has made a big impression.

While the receiving numbers for the season are modest (25 catches for 304 yards and four touchdowns), Harris has totaled 11 catches for 120 yards and three scores in the team’s last three games. While he handles both punt and kickoff returns, he ranks second in the league in the latter with a 31.1 yards per return average.

In the team’s 27-20 win over the Cowboys four weeks ago, Harris burned his former teammates with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

And it may surprise some to know that Harris (five) trails only wideout Odell Beckham Jr. (eight) in total touchdowns for the Giants’ team lead.

CB/FS Mike Mitchell, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Over the past few seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t been very good at being stealers.

In other words, forcing turnovers has been an issue when it comes to the defense.

But that’s changed a bit this season under new defensive coordinator Keith Butler and especially over the last two weeks. Mike Tomlin’s club has totaled a combined seven takeaways in wins over the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns.

In his second season with the Steelers, former Oakland and Carolina Panthers safety Mike Mitchell has emerged as one of the leaders on the new-look Pittsburgh defense. He ranks fourth on the team with 48 tackles and leads the club with three interceptions. Add in seven passes defensed, a pair of forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, and the Steelers are looking much better on this side of the football these days.

OLB Aaron Lynch, San Francisco 49ers

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While the San Francisco 49ers have proven to be pesky at times this season, the reality is that this once-talented football team is simply once-talented.

That’s not to say that this club doesn’t have its standout performers. One such player is second-year outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, who has six of the team’s 16 sacks this season. The 2014 fifth-round pick from South Florida has totaled 26 tackles and knocked down two passes as well.

There haven’t been a lot of bright spots when it comes to the 3-6 Niners, who are buried in last place in the NFC West. But Lynch has been doing his share to date.

RB Charles Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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That 42-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans back in Week 1 seems like ages ago for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have split their last eight games and now own twice as many wins as they did when they posted two victories in 2014.

While fourth-year running back Doug Martin is enjoying a nice comeback season after two injury-plagued years, his supposed successor has done his share in many aspects and has made his share of key plays this season.

Second-year pro Charles Sims ranks second on the team with 302 yards rushing on 66 carries, and his 22 catches is the second-best total on the team as well. The 2014 third-round selection from West Virginia University has totaled 251 receiving yards and has scored twice through the air. All told, Sims has amassed a very respectable 553 yards from scrimmage in a reserve role, and he’s proved to be a solid target for rookie quarterback Jameis Winston.

TE Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans

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It seems like any list of underrated players includes Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker. But when you consider the team’s recent lack of success, it’s hard for any player from Nashville (save for rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota) to gain a lot of attention these days.

In his 10th NFL season and third with the Titans, Walker leads the club with 45 catches, good for a team-high 508 yards and three touchdowns. While he missed one game this year, his reception total is 17 more than teammate Kendall Wright (28), who ranks second on the club in this department.

In three seasons with Tennessee, Walker has totaled more receptions with the Titans (168) than he did in seven years with the San Francisco 49ers (123), where he was used in a variety of ways. In 2014, he racked up a career-high 63 catches and may be well on his way to eclipsing that total this season.

All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth-chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus.