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NFL 2016: 10 Best Players You're Not Paying Attention To

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:50 p.m. ET

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Carson Wentz, Jay Ajayi, and Ezekiel Elliott have taken the league by a storm this year, but here are 10 NFL players you need to start paying more attention to

This has been one of the most boring NFL seasons in recent memories, but there are still players who make tuning into the games worth it. Everyone notices when Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, and David Johnson making plays. But how many people check out the No. 3 wide receiver or the No. 2 cornerback?

Whether it’s often recognized or not, there are players deserving of praise for their efforts. These are the players who are overshadowed by star talent on their team, don’t play a marquee position, or haven’t been in the spotlight long enough to garner national attention.

Now more than ever, recognizing unheralded talents is more important. Beyond the fact that it’s nice to acknowledge the players who perform at a high level but don’t get major social media attention, the fact that the actual games are more boring necessitates greater interest in underrated players. Noticing the smaller details in the game can sometimes salvage another Thursday Night Football snooze-fest or something of that sort.

Oct 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay (85) is tackled by Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Alec Ogletree (52) and cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (20) in the second half during the NFL game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

10. Lamarcus Joyner, CB — Los Angeles Rams

On HBO’s “Hard Knocks”, former second-round pick Lamarcus Joyner threatened to quit the Los Angeles Rams over the fact that he felt that he deserved a starting job. According to Pro Football Focus, Joyner leads all Rams cornerbacks with 392 snaps, so he’s getting more playing time than Trumaine Johnson, who earned the “elite” tag from many in 2015.

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Joyner isn’t an elite corner, but he’s one of the most exciting defensive players in the league. Just like in college, Joyner is an undersized defensive back flying around and making plays. He has 41 tackles on the season and he always stands out as a precise open-field tackler.

He isn’t half-bad in coverage either as he’s outplayed Johnson and E.J. Gaines this season. It seems like the “best cornerback on the Rams” distinction changes hands every year and it looks like Joyner (who can also play safety) fits the bill in 2016.

The Rams have plenty of other “fun” players on defense with the likes of Mark Barron, Aaron Donald, T.J. McDonald, Robert Quinn, and Alec Ogeltree. However, Joyner deserves as much attention as any of them (okay, except for Donald).

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

9. Cole Beasley, WR — Dallas Cowboys

The most universally loved players in the NFL are the tough, scrappy slot receivers like Jarvis Landry, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Cole Beasley, and Randall Cobb. All of them are savvy players and all of them are exceptional athletes in certain areas. Beasley has always been quite good, but he’s been by far the best pass-catcher on the Dallas Cowboys this season.

It was clear in the preseason that Beasley and Dak Prescott had a special connection and that’s translated to 33 catches on 39 targets for the 27-year-old. Beasley is in the top 25 in receptions with 33 catches and he leads the league with an 84.6 percent catch rate. At 11.8 yards per reception, that’s an amazing return for a slot guy, especially since players like Randall Cobb and Edelman (who have more receptions) average under 10 yards per catch.

Dez Bryant hasn’t played since Week 3, but the Cowboys haven’t lost since Week 1. Beasley is a big part of that as both he and Terrance Williams have stepped up their games this season.

Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz (87) celebrates his game-tying touchdown score against the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

8. C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE — Houston Texans

First-round rookie Will Fuller has taken the league by a storm, but tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz has been the Houston Texans best pass-catcher in the team’s past two games. Fiedorowicz is riding a streak of four straight games with at least four receptions, and I don’t think the Detroit Lions atrocious pass defense will slow his roll.

After catching just 21 passes in his first two seasons and showing poorly as a blocker, Fiedorowicz looked like a pre-draft favorite who would never amount to his third-round billing. However, it looks like Fiedorowicz is in the midst of a third-year breakout campaign and he currently leads all Texans wide receivers and tight ends in catch rate.

Based on how well he’s played since the Texans have finally started using him in October, Fiedorowicz is a good candidate to remain a big part of the offense. Houston should get Braxton Miller more involved, but Fiedorowicz has been Brock Osweiler’s most consistent target, seeing as how they are struggling to get DeAndre Hopkins involved.

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs past San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

7. Melvin Ingram, OLB — San Diego Chargers

It feels like Melvin Ingram is the most underrated edge rusher in the NFL every year. And just when it seemed like he would finally capture the spotlight, Joey Bosa came in to steal his thunder. Bosa deserves every bit of praise he gets as he has a chance to be one of the best defensive players of this generation. He’s been playing that well.

However, Ingram is a star in his own right and he has four sacks through seven games to back that up. But with Ingram, it’s so much more than just sacks that makes him effective and dangerous. The effort, athleticism, and consistency of pressure jump off the screen all jump off the screen. Moreover, you have to love his ability to capably drop back into coverage, something not all great edge-rushers possess.

Ingram is an important weapon on the Chargers defense and he showed it in the team’s Week 7 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He always comes up big when his team needs it. This may sound crazy, but the Chargers have the best outside linebacker duo in the AFC West whenever Bosa and Ingram line up on the edges.

Oct 16, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants safety Landon Collins (21) breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Kamar Aiken (11) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

6. Landon Collins, SS — New York Giants

As a rookie, Landon Collins was a hot mess. The New York Giants were even weaker at safety, and this forced Collins into so many unfavorable situations in coverage. Collins is not a fast player, and offenses were able to expose these inherent limitations with a high degree of frequency.

We need to re-adjust our evaluation of Collins in 2016, though, because he’s no longer a liability. Oddly enough, he could be the most important player in the Giants secondary right now. He had two interceptions against Case Keenum, including one of the greatest pick-sixes you will ever see. With vision and instincts like that, is speed all that matters?

But Collins’ season goes beyond that. He has 57 tackles, two sacks, and five passes defended. Most importantly, he’s playing like the all-action safety the Giants envisioned when they took him with the 33rd-overall pick last year. Collins can play the run, blitz, and deliver hits—but now he can also cover more than adequately as well.

At this point, only Reshad Jones (injured, sadly), Kam Chancellor, Kenny Vaccaro, and Morgan Burnett look like better run defending safeties than Collins.

Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton (55) before the game against the New England Patriots at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

5. Danny Shelton, NT — Cleveland Browns

So, the Cleveland Browns might have a good defensive player that isn’t named “Joe Haden” or “Christian Kirksey.”

Whereas Cameron Erving has done little to distinguish himself, fellow second-year first-round selection Danny Shelton has been a much-improved player. We saw signs of his growth in the preseason and Shelton has blossomed into one of the league’s best nose tackles.

Shelton plays for a Browns run defense that is, once again, one of the league’s worst. But that’s because the players behind him (linebackers) aren’t doing their jobs. Meanwhile, Shelton is—but with nose tackles, you just never see it on the stat sheet. I mean, Shelton’s stat sheet reads 17 tackles, 13 assists, and one sack. He’s been far more disruptive and dominant than that will ever tell you.

The Browns need all the promising, young pieces on defense they can get and Shelton might be the second-best of them behind Kirksey.

Oct 23, 2016; London, ENG; Wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) of the Los Angeles Rams collects a pass under pressure from cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) of the New York Giants during the third quarter of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

4. Kenny Britt, WR — Los Angeles Rams

Thanks to Case Keenum and Jeff Fisher, the Los Angeles Rams are a boring team. That stinks, because they have some exciting players. And their only real playmaker in the passing game deserves a shoutout for the numbers he’s put together this year.

The questions surrounding Kenny Britt have never been about talent. No, they’ve been more about motivation and the fact that he’s spent his career catching passes from bad quarterbacks. That last fact hasn’t changed, but whenever Keenum shocks us by masquerading as a good passer (peep his games against Arizona and Detroit), it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Britt benefits.

Britt boasts a 16.2 yards per reception average with a 68.8 percent catch rate, which is simply outstanding. Tavon Austin leads the Rams in targets, but there’s no question that Britt is the best wideout on the Rams. I’d go as far as to argue that he has more natural talent than Austin, who hasn’t proven to be more than a useful gadget player.

11.15 yards per target is nothing to sneeze at, and Britt is putting that number up for a quarterback who has averaged 6.8 yards per attempt for his career. Britt averages 76.4 yards per game and he isn’t far behind Todd Gurley for the team lead in yards from scrimmage.

Oct 23, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) throws a pass over Miami Dolphins defensive tNdamukong Suh (93) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins won 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

3. Tyrod Taylor, QB — Buffalo Bills

I am cheating here, because while Tyrod Taylor isn’t one of the “best” players you aren’t paying attention to—he is one of the most important. The Buffalo Bills are 4-3, second in the AFC East and currently in the playoff picture, despite a narrow loss to Jay Ajayi’s Miami Dolphins.

Although the Bills are just 29th in the NFL in net yards per pass attempt, I want to give plenty of credit to Taylor for doing his job. With the way the Bills running game has played, all Taylor needs to do is avoid losing games. With just two interceptions compared to nine touchdown passes, Taylor is achieving this goal. He’s thrown an interception on just one percent of his passes.

The Bills offense is all about the running game and LeSean McCoy is this team’s best player. However, if you take out McCoy, which is what happened in the middle of the loss to Miami, the Bills have nothing around Taylor at the skill positions. Charles Clay and Robert Woods are useful possession receivers, but no pass-catcher on the Bills has played well this season. Potential savior Sammy Watkins is out until Week 12.

Yet Taylor has managed to help keep this ship afloat, even if it means throwing to fringe-roster players like Justin Hunter, Nick O’Leary, and Brandon Tate.

Furthermore, Taylor has been a big part of the NFL’s most efficient running game, and he’s averaging 38.7 rushing yards per game of his own. ESPN’s TQBR factors in rushing ability, and Taylor is 10th in the NFL in ESPN’s metric.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) celebrates his sack of the Green Bay Packers quarterback and a forced fumble in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

2. Danielle Hunter, DE — Minnesota Vikings

Every week, the Minnesota Vikings manage to embarrass a quarterback, no matter how good they are. This causes players like Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, and Carson Wentz to receive negative media attention, but people should really be spending more time praising the NFL’s best defense.

The Vikings have been known for their excellent defensive linemen ever since Mike Zimmer took over, and they have three players with four sacks. Two of them are usual suspects in Brian Robison and Everson Griffen, but the third player is breakout star Danielle Hunter.

Griffen has been one of the best edge rushers in the NFL ever since signing a big-money contract in 2014, but Hunter has looked every bit as good as his counterpart—if not better.

Billed as a raw athletic freak with little college production, Hunter joined the Vikings as a third-round pick in 2015. Seen as Zimmer’s pet project, Hunter showed promise in his first season, recording six sacks.

Now, Hunter is one of the fast-rising 4-3 defensive ends in the league and it’s remarkable how good he has been against the run. Zimmer and the Vikings staff have done a great job of coaching him to contain the run, instead of making sacrifices in the hopes of getting a sack.

Oct 2, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) is hit by Buffalo Bills inside linebacker Zach Brown (53) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

1. Zach Brown, LB — Buffalo Bills

The Los Angeles Rams get two players on this list and so do the Buffalo Bills. Zach Brown had three productive seasons on his rookie contract as a member of the Tennessee Titans, but they had enough talent at inside linebacker with Avery Williamson and Wesley Woodyard starting. The Titans made no real effort to re-sign him and, quite frankly, there wasn’t a line to sign him either.

Looking back, how the Bills managed to sign him to a one-year, $1.2 million deal is a mystery. But at the time, nobody thought twice about the signing. In fact, Brown wasn’t supposed to be a starter in Buffalo, but he won the job after rookie Reggie Ragland went down with an injury.

It’s easy to forget, but Brown is also a former second-round pick. The 27-year-old showed three-down potential all the way through his last year in Tennessee. However, he has put it all together in Buffalo. He and NFL sacks leader Lorenzo Alexander are a testament to Rex Ryan’s coaching chops, and some of you may be inclined to toss some of that credit over to Rob Ryan.

In any case, Brown has been one of the best players in the NFL this season. With 71 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles, Brown has been an important piece at the linebacker position for this Bills defense. He’s been a solution to several of their problems on defense and he is by far their best coverage linebacker.

Landon Collins, who we discussed earlier, is second in the NFL in solo tackles, but you know who is first? Yep—it’s Brown. The future of the linebackers in Buffalo looks bright, seeing as how Jerry Hughes, Zach Brown, Preston Brown, Reggie Ragland, and Shaq Lawson could all be on this roster in 2017.

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