The Flex's Top 5 Most Underrated NFL Players

Yesterday we brought you the top five most overrated in the NFL today. Some of you agreed and some of you couldn't see the light, but nonetheless, top we hit you all with the top five underrated gridiron gladiators that don't get the respect they deserve from talking heads and fans alike. These players need to be given more of the spotlight than they are receiving and could use a little more air time on ESPN if they ever decide to talk about anyone besides Tim Tebow or Joe Flacco. I wont hold my breath on that one. Without further ado, lets count em down.

1. Cam Newton

People might question whether a former number one pick could be considered underrated, but if you think Cam Newton doesn't deserve to be atop this list, than you haven't been paying enough attention to this superstar in the making. Newton is the most dynamic quarterback the league has ever seen and that is simply a fact. He can throw the deep ball as well as anyone and can thread the needle when he needs to. His arm alone would be enough to keep him in the top realm of quarterbacks, but Newton has much more in his skill set than an incredible right arm. Anyone who has seen Newton outrun defensive backs and run over defensive ends on the goal line might confuse him with a top level running back. Cam is a rare talent that is essentially a whole offense wrapped up in one gigantic quarterback. This guy continues to run wild on  defenses and pick them apart through the air and once Carolina can surround him with any sort of talent, the rest of the league will be in serious trouble.

2. Andy Dalton

Some will call me a homer, but look at the facts. In his two years of action Dalton has led the Bengals franchise to the postseason and successfully rinsed the taste of Carson Palmer's abandonment out of the mouths of Bengals fans. With the success of other young quarterbacks like Cam Newton and RG3, Dalton has largely gone unnoticed to the casual NFL fan when he has been getting it done in Cincy since day one. The kid has show veteran tendencies in his young career already and rarely makes the mistakes of a young quarterback we have come to expect. He has poise that even veteran QBs cant muster and looks to still be improving. 2013 will be a big year for Dalton as he is set for a jolt into the national spotlight with his skills still on the rise. With another great year, Dalton could become a household name and finally get the respect he deserves from the NFL community. Don't sleep on the Red Rifle.

3. Steve Smith

Back when the Panthers made their Superbowl run, Steve Smith was a superstar by production and he gained national status. After a few down years in Carolina everyone seemed to forget just how good Smith was, even though his production never dropped off, he just didn't get the attention he deserved. Now with the young star Cam Newton throwing the pigskin his way, people are beginning to take notice once again of the incredible feats Smith pulls off on Sundays. He is an incredible deep threat and can stretch the field as well as any receiver has ever been able to. Now with Newton and his huge arm able to air it out, Smith's skills are finally being utilized to the fullest once again. He has become Cam's main offensive weapon and is showing no signs of slowing down. He may be older than the last time he garnered the attention from the sports pundits, but make no mistake he hasn't lost a step. Quite the contrary, he continues to be the fastest player on the field week after week.

4. Geno Atkins

The leader of the best defensive line in football comes in at number four on our list, and his stock continues to rise every year. Geno Atkins is the best player on a very good, and very underrated Bengals defense led by the impeccable defensive front. Atkins was a pro-bowl defensive tackle last year and is starting to garner the respect he deserves from teams as they start to double team him, and he still finds a way to get in the backfield every Sunday and wreak havoc. After putting up huge sack numbers and striking few into the hearts of quarterbacks the past two years, Atkins seems poised to win a defensive MVP in the near future. The NFL landscape is taking note of this young DT and soon Geno Sacks will be regarded as the best defensive player in the NFL.

5. Stevie Johnson

Stevie got loose. As UK fans will remember, Stevie Johnson has the ability to break free from any defender and he has made his presence known in recent years while developing into the best offensive weapon the Buffalo Bills have to offer. Stevie had a breakout year two years ago and had another fantastic year last year all while having zero talent at the quarterback position throwing to him. Now with E.J. Manuel arriving in Buffalo Stevie may have a dynamic QB in the pocket who can get the ball to him and take full advantage of his talents on the edge and expose the fact that Stevie Johnson is an elite NFL receiver. Remember his name, because before you know it you will be wishing Stevie was dancing in the end zone for your team.

Honorable Mention: Robert Griffin III

Unlike the QB he is always compared against (Andrew Luck), RG3 was asked to do just about everything to create the offense for the Redskins in his rookie year. He aired it out and stretched the field and was asked to be the main rushing option as well, and he proved he was more than capable of doing anything asked of him. Whether burning the Dallas defense with an absolute bomb from the pocket, or outrunning the entire Minnesota defense on a 76-yard touchdown run, RG3 has done it all and he has only been in the league for one year. The number one threat to Cam Newton to overtake him as the next superstar QB is Griffin. He does everything an offensive weapon could and he may even develop into a better pocket passer than Newton. While Andrew Luck was babied with check downs and screen passes, Griffin was handed the keys to offense and he drove it full speed all while throwing for more touchdowns and less interceptions than Luck.