The Drubbing

With the Pro Bowl about to kick off, the volume of NFL content on the site will surely decrease over the next few months. So to help wind down the season, we’ve compiled a list of guys that you didn’t hear enough about during the course of the season, the underrated players.

Week after week you hear commentators say “He’s underrated”, “No he’s underrated”, “This guy is the most underrated player.” Well here they are. This list to end all underrated lists, the Top 15 Most Underrated Players in the NFL.

Here’s the one thing that makes this list different from all of the other underrated lists you’ll see. All of these players have one thing in common. Their position, they’re all fullbacks. Fullbacks are the unsung hero’s of the team, have been referred to as “football’s forgotten position” and easily the most underrated position. They’re all part offensive line, part running back, part wide receiver. And they’re all throwbacks to the days John Madden talks about when the players laced up their leather helmets, lined up their 11 players across from the other team’s 11 players and said “we’re gonna run right over you and there’s nothing you can do to stop us.” It’s that kind of toughness, determination and confidence that makes the fullback such an admirable position. It’s a shame they don’t get more credit for the work they do.

Fullbacks are the heart of the run offense. Quarterbacks get a lot of credit for their passes setting up the run and keeping defenses off-balance. And offensive lines get a lot of credit for creating running lanes and getting out into the flat ahead of the runner. But the fullback is the one guy that is at the point of attack and either clears space and bodies for the runners to get over or through, or allows the defense to take down his runningback.

Take LaDainian Tomlinson for example. For five years he was blessed to be able to run behind one of the all-time great fullbacks, Lorenzo Neal in San Diego from 2003-2007. During that time LT averaged 1,546 yards, 4.76 yards per carry and 18.2 touchdowns per year. In 2008, the first year after Lorenzo went to Baltimore,  LT rushed for 1,110 yards, 3.8 yards per carry and scored only 11 touchdowns. A career low in yards and his rush per carry and touchdown total were second worst, only better than his rookie campaign in 2001. And in case you’re thinking “well maybe it was just a down year for LT,” keep in mind that this year Baltimore ranked 4th in rushing in the NFL with 148.5 yards per game, up from 16th last year when they averaged 112.3 yards per game. They also scored 20 touchdowns in 2008, compared to the 11 they tallied in 2007. The change in their backfield? The additions of fullbacks Lorenzo Neal and Le’Ron McClain.

So with no further ado, here’s our list. And as you might have guessed, claiming the number one spot is none other than Lorenzo Neal. His career is on the down-swing, and his best years are behind him. So this is a bit of a token #1 for Lorenzo, but over his career he’s earned all the praise he received now. Let’s not forget that Lorenzo Neal blocked for Eddie George during his career-best year. And led the way for Corey Dillon’s monster years in 2001 and 2002. And both of those players suffered the same fate as LT once Neal was no longer around.

Claiming the second spot is Madison Hedgecock, who was an absolute beast, paving the way for the New York Football Giants’ three-headed running back monster, Earth, Wind & Fire. Hedgecock and the Giants lead the league in total rushing yards, yards per carry and yards per game.

Heath Evans of New England takes the third spot for being the anchor all year long for the Patriots sixth-ranked rushing offense. The Patriots were decimated at running-back, even starting their fourth string back for three games, the rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis. For the rest of the season the Pats seemed to have a revolving door of starting running backs, but the one constant was the solid work by Heath Evans.

The fourth spot is occupied by Mike Sellers. Not a lot needs to be said about him since he was awarded one of the Pro Bowl fullback spots and helped Clinton Portis have another great year.

In the number fifth spot we have Brad Hoover. Hoover had the distinct pleasure of blocking for Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, and opened holes for the two that lead to a league-leading 30 rushing touchdowns.

In the sixth spot is the Ravens other beast of the backfield, Le’Ron McClain, who lead all NFL fullbacks with 902 rushing yards last year and was the other Pro Bowl selection at fullback this year.

Jason McKie takes the seventh spot by tying B.J. Askew for the most rushing TD by a fullback with two.

The versatile and former linebacker Dan Klecko slides into the eighth spot for leading the potent run-attack for the Philadelphia eagles.

Leonard Weaver takes the 11th spot by racking up the second-most rushing yards for an NFL full-back with 130 total.

B.J. Askew takes the 12th spot for being tied for the most rushing TD by a fullback with two.

The rest of the list in it’s entirety is below. But before we get to that, we need to give a shout to two of the recently retired great ones, Mack Strong, Mike Alstott and even Darryl “Moose” Johnston. Without guys like these that showcase the blocking fullback in it’s purest and most effective form and guys that showcase the offensive versatility of a powerful fullback, we probably would never hear the names Madison Hedgecock and Mike Sellers in print or on the televised broadcasts.

The 15 most underrated players in the NFL

1. Lorenzo Neal
2. Madison Hedgecock
3. Heath Evans
4. Mike Sellers
5. Brad Hoover
6. Le’Ron McClain
7. Jason McKie
8. Dan Klecko
9. Leonard Weaver
10. B.J. Askew
11. Gijon Robinson
12. Jeff Dugan
13. Carey Davis
14. Ahmard Hall
15. Peyton Hillis