NFL players are professional athletes subjected to high expectations.
Not all of the players’ performances on the field meet expectations.
By ranking the top three most overrated players in the NFL, we are not saying these players are bad players.
Rather, we are saying their performances did not meet the expectations.
Here they are.
3. Christian McCaffrey, Running Back, Carolina Panthers
McCaffrey, 24, is a great player.
He is under contract with the Panthers through the 2025 season after signing a 4 year $64 million deal.
His best season was in 2019 when he rushed for 1,387 yards and scored 15 rushing touchdowns and netted 1,005 receiving yards and caught 4 touchdown passes.
That was his Pro Bowl season, and he also earned first-team All Pro honors.
The 5’11” 205 pound fought through injuries during 2019 and continued playing despite being limited in practice with back and knee issues.
2020 was a different story.
McCaffrey suffered a trifecta of injuries to his ankle, shoulder, and thigh that sidelined him from all but 3 games during the season.
He is considered overrated because he is injury-prone.
I know no one has the guts to say it, but as a die hard Panthers fan, I think I speak for all of us when I say we don’t want Christian Mccaffrey here. He is injury prone and is holding this elite team back. I think it serves us best to release McCaffrey immediately. He reeks
— Flight 8 (@LaVineGotNext) October 30, 2020
McCaffrey will jump off this list immediately if he is able to string together consecutive, consistent seasons with 2019 statistics.
2. Le’Veon Bell, Running Back, Free Agent
Bell, 29, has not been the same player since he left Pittsburgh.
Le’Veon Bell was simply better than everyone else on the field when he wore black and gold pic.twitter.com/WGxztEdCSu
— 360°FantasyFootball (@360FFB) April 16, 2021
In his five years with the Steelers, he made the Pro Bowl three times (2014, 2016, and 2017).
He rushed for 5,336 yards and scored 81 touchdowns.
Bell was the go-to guy in a system that showcased his talents with an offensive line that created running holes for him.
However, he decided to sit out the entire 2018 season, refusing to play for the Steelers because of a contract dispute.
In 2019 and 2020, he amassed just 1,100 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Players that flourish in an offensive system tend to struggle on new teams, and his inability to translate his Steelers success elsewhere is why Bell is overrated.
3. Kirk Cousins, Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
The 32-year-old Cousins tops the last of overrated players.
He signed a 2 year $66 million contract that keeps him with the Vikings through the 2022 season.
Over his 9 year career, his teams have a 51-51-2 overall record.
He has thrown 190 touchdowns and 84 interceptions.
Cousins is earning big money, but he would not be the go-to guy for anyone needing a come from behind quarterback to lead a team.
He had one huge playoff win over the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 season; it was a thriller that went to overtime.
Some would even argue that should not have happened given the controversial offensive pass interference call that officials blatantly missed.
The Game Winning TD catch in Saints vs. Vikings
WOW that was CLEARLY offensive Pass Interference by Kyle Rudolph…#MINvsNO #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Q68nYRjx7S
— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) January 5, 2020
To his credit, he made the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2019, but the expectations and his paycheck have far outweighed what he has actually delivered on the football field.
One of the great things about football is that players can go from overrated to underrated in a matter of a few seasons.
Consistency, being free of injuries, and contributing to winning teams are all keys to being removed from the overrated player list.
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