by Jacob Carvalho

Created on: August 18, 2009

In the NFL, we know all about the star players like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, L.T., and Chad Ochocinco. All these players are the best of the best and we all know it. What about those players who are good, but you never hear of them? They are called undervalued or underrated. They are hidden talent in a football franchise. Here are just a few players that are great but not well known.

RB Steve Slaton HOU Steve Slaton is in his second year in the NFL. He rushed for over 1,000 yards last year as a rookie for the Texans. This man is not known much for just playing with the Texans who have not had a good year for their entire lifetime. I expect Steve Slaton to have a breakout year in Houston this year. After last year, he now knows how the offense runs and how to run it; therefore, he should be able to run the ball better.

WR Torry Holt JAC Torry Holt is a future hall of famer but is entering the near end of his football career. He is in his first year of playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars after playing for the St. Louis Rams for his entire career. He is now on a team that needs receivers. St. Louis was not a good enough team for Holt in the past years, so he moved on. With David Garrard now throwing the ball to Holt and the JAguars being a running team, Holt will get more passes and will help balance the Jaguars offense.

WR Jerricho Cotchery NYJ Jerricho Cotchery has been an undervalued player over the past 3 or 4 years. He has been the teams number 2 receiver over that span of 3 or 4 years as well. But now with Laveranues Coles gone to Cincinnati, Cotchery becomes the number wide receiver for the Jets. Whoever is throwing to him, either Mark Sanchez or Kellen Clemens, he should do good thanks to his great hands.

TE Owen Daniels HOU Owen Daniels has a career year last year playing for the Texans. Expect Daniels to have an even better year with Matt Schuab back at the starting position coming off an injury. Schaub is a quarterback who loves to passs the ball out to his tight ends. That is what happened last year. Daniels will be looking for even more yard sthan last year. He is noted by some experts as a better wide receiver than the number 2 receiver that the Texans have now.

These players get little attention but have good enough skills to be seen somewhat. I expect all of these players to have a great year. There are more players who are undervalued but these are just the main players of 2009.

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