Las Vegas Raiders star snubbed from USA Today’s Top 101 players list
Las Vegas Raiders star snubbed from USA Today’s Top 101 players list
Darren Waller left off the list
The glaring omission on the list is tight end Darren Waller. The former Georgia Tech standout had an incredible 2019 season and was ahead of just about every tight end in yards and catches but was snubbed from his first Pro Bowl appearance. The NFL Top 100 ranked him in the 90s but somehow he was left off the USA Today list.
USA Today also listed him as just the 9th best tight end in the league and inexplicably ranked the likes of Dallas Goedert and Austin Hooper ahead of him. No disrespect to either of those players who are excellent in their own ways, but Waller is far more talented and put up much bigger numbers in yards and receptions.
He out-gained them by nearly 600 and 350 yards respectively and reeled in 30 and 15 more catches than them as well. Waller was such a dominant threat that his numbers compare more favorably to top receivers than to tight ends but somehow he is ranked behind players who never came close to matching his production.
We know that these rankings lists are mainly used to stir the pot and get fanbases up in arms but when it comes to leaving off the best players at their respective positions off the list it needs to be called out. Darren Waller may have been disrespected by these rankings but if we know anything about his drive he will simply add this as further fuel to his fire.