Underrated and overrated is a frequent debate in the NFL. Who is playing to their worth, salary and public perception, and who is falling short of expectations?  These are all important factors to consider when you’re involved in NFL betting.  Let’s take a look at which players fall into the underrated category and are still not receiving the praise they deserve:

Anthony Gonzalez, Wide Receiver – Indianapolis Colts

One player who affects the Colts odds more than you think is wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez. He’s been used mostly in the slot to date, but last year he took on a major role on the outside as Marvin Harrison went from being a Pro Bowl caliber wideout to waiver-wire junk.

Gonzalez now has 94 receptions, 1240 yards and seven touchdowns in his first two seasons, but more importantly is his ability to move the chains. He’s done exactly that 63 of their 94 receptions.

Matt Forte, Running Back – Chicago Bears

Without rookie running back Matt Forte, the Bears odds for this season wouldn’t be as high as they are – even with Jay Cutler at the helm.

Forte rushed for 1238 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season, and that was while receiving no help from the passing game. He actually helped the passing game, setting a franchise rookie record with 63 receptions.

Felix Jones, Running Back – Dallas Cowboys

Although Felix Jones played in only five games last season, it’s pretty clear that he affected the Cowboys odds more than most players on the team. The Cowboys were 4-1 in games that he did play and 5-6 in games that he didn’t play.

The rookie running back was a lacking necessity for the Cowboys. Even though Marion Barber was capable of carrying the load on his own, he wasn’t as effective when he didn’t have a back like Jones to spell him. Jones averaged 8.9 and had three runs of 20+ yards in the five games that he played. Considering that as a team, the Cowboys only had nine other rushes of 20+ yards, it’s pretty clear they need him in the lineup.

Jerod Mayo, Linebacker – New England Patriots

Another rookie, linebacker Jerod Mayo, was one of the key members of a deteriorating Patriots defense. While he didn’t get the acclaim of Richard Seymour or Adalius Thomas, Mayo simply stepped into the lineup from day one and quietly mopped up 128 tackles. He also had a forced fumble and a four passes defense, which indicates that he is versatile and that he is capable of improving the Patriots odds of winning every single week.