NFL Power Rankings: 10 Most Overrated Players in the League Right Now

It is easy for a player to become overrated in the NFL, especially with the popularity of the league and fantasy football.  Any time a player is announced as a team's new starter, they've suddenly got all the potential and talent in the world.

Sometimes, that's just not the case.  Every year, there's a laundry list of players who everyone gets excited for, and the fact is that there's no reason or justification for it. 

Ryan Leaf would have been easily on this list a few years back.  Steve Slaton would have qualified during his sophomore year.  These are just a couple examples from the past.

This season, there's plenty to go around.  These 10 men take overrated status in the league right now.

10. Kevin Kolb: Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals

Kolb has come out firing thus far in Arizona, scoring himself a whopping 110.2 passer rating. 

And I'm calling him overrated?

I've been ripping on Kolb the entire offseason, so for him to fall to tenth on this list as opposed to first is called progress.  Still, I hold to my guns that this will not be the man to lead the Cardinals to the playoffs.

While he has actually come out of the gate very well, it's not going to last.  Kolb's first two games in an Eagles' uniform were incredible, but that clearly never came to fruition either.  The advantage he has right now is Larry Fitzgerald. Other than that, I don't see Kolb as the superstar that Arizona would love to see.

He was inconsistent in Philadelphia.  Eventually, that trait will turn up in Arizona, too.

9. Shonn Greene: Running Back, New York Jets

There was a lot of hype for Greene coming into 2011.  They figured it was time for him to breakout. 

Here's my take:  it's time for the Jets to give up on him. 

Given that statement, he only comes in at No. 9 because he's not nearly as overrated after two weeks as he was on opening weekend.  Still, some still believe his time is coming.

No. No it's not.

Greene has been nothing more than mediocre since joining the Jets in 2009.  So far in 2011, he's carried the ball 26 times for an abysmal 75 yards.

It's time for Rex Ryan to find a new answer.  LT anyone?

8. Rex Grossman: Quarterback, Washington Redskins

The Redskins are a shocking 2-0 behind the leadership of Rex Grossman. 

Unfortunately, I need to tell the 'Skins fans to enjoy the ride while it lasts because it's going to crash very soon.  The fact about Grossman is that this is his ninth year in the league, and he has played in more than eight games only once in the previous eight seasons.

That year was 2006.  Even that year, Grossman totaled 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 16 games.  Though it's better than a 1:1 ratio, there's still not much impressive about those numbers.

Grossman's been effective thus far, no doubt about it.  Unfortunately, he's already shown that he can't make the magic last for an entire season.

7. Sam Bradford: Quarterback, St. Louis Cardinals

Sam Bradford nearly pulled off the impossible last year.  Unfortunately, "Cinderella"—as it were—fell a game short of dancing.

This season, Bradford was expected to have some of the best stats in the league after getting his rookie campaign out of the way.  So far, not so much.

Week 1 against the Eagles was an utter train wreck, as he threw for only 188 yards.  Week 2 on Monday night was better by far.  He threw for over 300 yards but only one touchdown.  That remains his only touchdown through two games and Bradford's passer rating is 77.7.

With the injury to Steven Jackson, Bradford's going to have to step up.  So far, it's not happening.

6. Tim Hightower: Running Back, Washington Redskins

I really hate to beat up on the Redskins this much, but the fact is, a team is not going to be led by Rex Grossman and Tim Hightower.  I'd love to be wrong, but I'd bet a lot to say I'm not.

Hightower was cast off by the Arizona Cardinals after a less than impressive three-year run.  He never ran for more than 736 yards. 

More to the point, Hightower averages 3.7 yards per carry.  He's been just enough to help carry the load, and he's really not been more impressive than Roy Helu.  I'm cheering for the 'Skins, but eventually they will begin playing to their actual level of talent.

5. Frank Gore: Running Back, San Francisco 49ers

In 2006, Frank Gore ran for 1,695 yards.  Since then, he's never topped 1,120 yards.

2011 has not started off better than any other, but it may be the worst he's started.  So far, Gore has carried the ball 42 times for 106 yards.  That's good for 2.5 yards per carry.

Year after year, Gore is among the top 10 backs in the league at the beginning of the year, but somehow never really makes anything special happen.  Like his team, he's become mediocre.

At this rate, Gore is going to run for around 850 yards.  Not nearly a top-10 number.

4. Mark Sanchez: Quarterback, New York Jets

Game one against the Cowboys?  Impressive.  Game two against the Jaguars?  Mark Sanchez-level football.

So far, Sanchez has accumulated 517 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.  Given the team he plays on, Sanchez has been considered one of the better quarterbacks in the league.

This is probably the most untrue thing in football today.  That's saying a lot given all the stories in the NFL, but Sanchez is simply not that good.

If the Jets do make it to the Super Bowl, mark my words, it won't be because of Sanchez's success.

3. Reggie Bush: Running Back, Miami Dolphins

Here's the simple fact about Reggie Bush—he's a great special teamer and nothing more.

People were trying to convince me that given his new environment and starting role, Bush was due to breakout.  Admittedly, I wish we could have seen it. 

Seventeen carries and 56 yards in, we know we won't be seeing that.  Anyone that drafted this guy in your fantasy leagues—big mistake.  It's just not going to get any better for a man who simply can't be an every-down back.

2. Michael Vick: Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles

I am going to get some serious heat for this one. 

I know what Michael Vick did last year, and it was incredible to watch.  In fact, I cheered for the man.

This season, let's bring him down to where he really belongs.  Top-10 quarterback?  For sure.

Even an argument for the best quarterback in football?  Not a chance.  He had a good game in Atlanta this past week, passing for 242 yards.  However, Week 1 was not so impressive against a very average St. Louis defense.

In that game, he only accumulated 187 yards and had a 43.8 completion percentage.  In addition to that performance, he's beginning to go back to his running ways as a Falcon.  That needs to stop before he gets off this list.

For now, ignoring the injury for a moment, let's stop trying to put Vick in the same category as Rodgers and Brady because he doesn't belong there.

1. Cam Newton: Quarterback, Carolina Panthers

This isn't just the most overrated player in the league right now, he's the crown jewel.  How could I say this after consecutive 400-plus-yard games?

The fact is that while he's thrown for so many yards, he's got more interceptions than touchdowns and two losses.  Anyone slinging the ball as many times as Newton—thanks to a poor running game—could accumulate that many yards too.

I admire how hard Newton worked and how hard he continues to work.  It's good to see from a guy like him.  However, he is going to come back to reality soon enough.  The rough 200-yard games and mediocrity of the Panthers' team is going to show up again.

He still shows a lot of the impatience he had at Auburn.  Continuing to try to be the quarterback and running back at the same time is not going to work in this league.