The release of Madden NFL 25 is just around the corner, and EA Sports is slowly releasing the ratings of every player in the game. This week, the ratings of every running back and wide receiver in the game hit the public. Let’s take a look and see which NFL players got overhyped and disrespected by the ratings adjustors in this year’s game.
Top 5 Overrated and Underrated Players in Madden NFL 25
Overrated
Stefon Diggs – WR Houston Texans (92 Overall)
Coming off an age-30 season in which he had his lowest receiving total in the last four years, Stefon Diggs comes in ranked as the eighth-best receiver in Madden NFL 25 with a 92 overall.
This is surprising considering Diggs was traded this past offseason from the Buffalo Bills to the Houston Texans and now enters a much more crowded wide receiver room. Earning targets will be a little bit tougher now in this revamped Texans offense. After all, are we even sure Diggs is the best receiver on his new team?
Joe Mixon – RB Houston Texans (91 Overall)
Sticking to the Texans theme here, there is no doubt Houston upgraded this offseason and loaded up on offense. However, Joe Mixon is entering his age-28 season, and as a running back gets closer to 30 years old, the wheels start to fall off. Mixon should still be supremely effective in this high-powered Houston offense, but coming in as the fifth-highest-rated running back in Madden NFL 25 seems a bit high.
Tyler Lockett – WR Seattle Seahawks (88 Overall)
After posting his lowest receiving yards total in the last six seasons, Tyler Lockett comes into Madden NFL 25 boasting an 88 overall rating, ranked ahead of players like Deebo Samuel Sr., Garrett Wilson, and even his own teammate, DK Metcalf. Given this, along with the uncertainty of a new playcaller in Seattle, this rating seems way too high for a player going into their age-32 campaign.
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Tony Pollard – RB Tennessee Titans (86 Overall)
Tony Pollard has always been a player with a lot of talent but hasn’t truly lived up to the hype yet. After signing with the Titans this offseason, Pollard will be one of the main focal points in an offense that is in rebuild mode. Pollard was barely able to crack 1,000 yards rushing after years of playing behind an amazing offensive line in Dallas. The 86 overall in Madden NFL 25 just seems a bit too high for a player with a lot to prove.
Curtis Samuel – WR Buffalo Bills (80 Overall)
Listed on Madden NFL 25 as the Bills’ highest-rated receiver with an 80 overall, Curtis Samuel has never produced a 1,000-yard receiving season in his career. In fact, he’s never even eclipsed 900 yards. There are a lot of question marks surrounding this Bills receiving corps this season; in my opinion, Samuel is more suited for a 75-ish overall rating.
Underrated
Nico Collins – WR Houston Texans (83 Overall)
After giving teammate receiver Stefon Diggs a 92 overall, EA came back and gave Nico Collins nine points less with an 83 overall. Posting nearly 1,300 yards last year and eight touchdowns, Collins has more time and familiarity with C.J. Stroud in the offense than Diggs. Rating them nine points apart seems ridiculous given we are not even sure who will be the alpha receiver in this offense.
Garrett Wilson – WR New York Jets (85 Overall)
The fact that EA listed Wilson as the 25th-highest-rated receiver in Madden NFL 25 is shocking. Back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons with subpar quarterback play and questionable play calling is pretty amazing to accomplish.
MORE: 24 WRs Have a Higher Rating Than Garrett Wilson: Why He’s Underrated
Some receivers listed ahead of Wilson include Lockett, Chris Olave, and even teammate Mike Williams. I expect this to be changed in one of the first roster updates EA puts out when the game releases.
Breece Hall – RB New York Jets (84 Overall)
Speaking of Jets, Wilson’s teammate, Breece Hall, finds himself as the 16th-highest-rated running back in this year’s version of Madden. There is no way in any football world that there are 15 running backs more talented than Hall. The 90 agility and 92 acceleration also seem too low for the star player, as Hall is one of the most explosive players in the NFL.
Puka Nacua – WR Los Angeles Rams (84 Overall)
The 2023 Pro Bowler that broke almost every rookie receiving record there is, Puka Nacua comes in as the 32nd-highest-rated receiver in Madden NFL 25. Basically, that means nearly every team in the league has a receiver better than Nacua, which is simply not true. Nacua dominated the NFL last season in Sean Mcvay’s offense and I highly doubt that ends any time soon.
James Cook – RB Buffalo Bills (81 Overall)
After a season in which Bills running back James Cook was sixth in the NFL with over 1,500 yards from scrimmage, the third-year pro ranks as the 27th-best running back in Madden NFL 25 with an 81 overall. The fact he is rated so low has to be studied as 2023 was a Pro Bowl season for Cook. The Bills will look to utilize him even more this season, so expect the rating to increase quickly once the season starts.