When looking back at the 2025-26 NFL season, there are probably certain players that come to mind first. You might first talk about Matthew Stafford’s MVP campaign, Jaxon Smith-Njigba winning Offensive Player of the Year, or Myles Garrett breaking the NFL’s single-season sack record.
Although those players are certainly deserving of recognition and praise, there are several other underrated names who put together stellar outings in 2025. PFSN’s Impact Scoring metric is designed to put a numerical value on how efficient every NFL player is each year, and the formula can often shine a light on certain players who aren’t getting enough national attention.
Today, we’re going to be doing exactly that. These 12 players are among some of the most underrated players in the NFL, putting together stellar outings last season that perhaps fell under the radar.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Quick: which quarterback led the NFL in PFSN QB Impact Scoring last year? If you somehow guessed Brock Purdy, you’d be correct. When he was healthy, he was incredible in 2025. He placed in the top six in completion percentage, passing yards per game, net YPA, percentage of throws resulting in a touchdown, and lowest sack percentage. Purdy also led the NFL with a 57.1% third-down conversion rate, making him one of only two quarterbacks to reach 50%.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
The talent has never been in question with Christian Watson, who has struggled with injuries but has been quite efficient in the NFL. He missed seven games but still had 35 catches for 611 receiving yards and six touchdowns, earning him 17.5 yards per catch. He ranked No. 6 in the league in PFSN WR Impact Score after placing in at least the top ten in yards per target, yards per catch, and catch rate over expectation.
Tyquan Thornton, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
With Rashee Rice’s medical and legal issues affecting his availability, Tyquan Thornton carved out a niche for himself in 2025 and could do so again in 2026. He averaged an insane 23.1 yards per catch, earning 438 yards on only 19 receptions. The 6’2″ speed demon placed second in the NFL with a 22.1% catch rate over expectation and seventh with 2.38 YAC per catch over expectation, ranking him No. 10 in PFSN WR Impact Scoring.
Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
An advanced analytical darling in 2025, Luther Burden III was an extremely efficient receiver for the Chicago Bears, notably leading all rookie wide receivers and placing No. 11 in the league with an 83.8 PFSN WR Impact Score. He was on a 1,000-yard pace in the final eight games of the year, overcoming a slow start to the season to solidify himself as an impact receiver. He’s an elite YAC threat who was incredibly efficient when targeted.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
When Brenton Strange was targeted in 2025, Trevor Lawrence had a strong passer rating of 117.8. Strange didn’t wow anybody with his receptions or receiving yards numbers last year, but he ranked No. 7 in PFSN TE Impact Scoring with his low 5.9% drop rate, his dominance as a run blocker, and his 60.0% conversion rate on contested catches, providing more value than your typical 50-50 ball.
Ryan Neuzil, C, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan Neuzil had big shoes to fill replacing Drew Dalman in the starting lineup last year. Not only did he succeed, but he led all NFL offensive linemen with his 93.7 PFSN OL Impact Score. The Atlanta Falcons’ center only allowed one sack in 627 pass-blocking reps, and Bijan Robinson averaged 5.6 yards per carry running up the A-gap this past year behind Neuzil.
Colton McKivitz, RT, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers ranked fourth in the NFL in PFSN Offense Impact Scoring, so it’s no surprise to see an anchor of their offense like Colton McKivitz grading well. In particular, Christian McCaffrey averaged 5.0 yards per carry running behind McKivitz in 2025. He only averaged 3.9 yards per carry for the whole season, which speaks to how well McKivitz blocked. He ended up with the second-highest PFSN OL Impact Score among all NFL tackles at 91.4.
Jalen Redmond, DT, Minnesota Vikings
An exclusive rights free agent in 2026, Jalen Redmond’s price tag of just over $1 million this year is a steal for the Minnesota Vikings when you consider how well he played last year. He had 62 tackles and 6.0 sacks in 2025, ranking second among all NFL defensive tackles with 18 splash plays. With an 82.8 PFSN DT Impact Score that ranked No. 12 at his position, Redmond is arguably the most underrated defensive lineman in football.
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Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, Tennessee Titans
In only six games in 2025, Oluwafemi Oladejo’s rookie campaign was strong enough on a limited sample size to earn an 85.3 PFSN EDGE Impact Score that ranked No. 14 in the NFL. He had a 1.4 average depth of tackle against the run, placing him in the top 20 as a rookie. He didn’t miss a single tackle against the run, and though his 225 snaps tied for last among the 123 qualified edge rushers, he finished above average in quarterback hits, solo tackles, and splash plays per snap compared to the opposition.
James Pierre, CB, Minnesota Vikings
James Pierre is the only player on this list to have changed teams this offseason, as he signed with the Vikings in free agency. With the Steelers, though, he put together a quietly stellar 2025 campaign. In particular, he broke up 11 passes in 14 games and only allowed a targeted passer rating of 57.2 in coverage. That level of play saw him finish No. 2 in the entire league in PFSN CB Impact Scoring.
Montaric Brown, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars wisely signed Montaric Brown to a three-year extension worth $31.8 million, which could prove to be a steal if he can build off his strong 2025 campaign. His 85.8 PFSN CB Impact Score ranked No. 11 in the NFL last year, led heavily by his 12 pass deflections, 54.4% allowed completion rate, and 73.3 allowed passer rating. Brown and Travis Hunter might be the NFL’s most underrated CB tandem going into 2026.
Ronnie Hickman Jr., S, Cleveland Browns
There are several impact players on the Cleveland Browns’ defense, but Ronnie Hickman Jr. belongs in those conversations, too. His 84.6 PFSN SAF Impact Score placed No. 10 last season, as he had an impressive 103 tackles and two interceptions with an allowed passer rating of just 65.7 in coverage. Primarily a deep safety with some box versatility, Hickman has grown into a quality starter and a great find as a UDFA for the Browns in 2023.
