Welker received 6.9 percent of the vote from the 246 players, who couldn't vote for teammates.
That's not surprising news for fans of the Patriots who have watched Welker evolve into one of the most reliable targets in the league. Welker led the NFL with 223 receptions from 2007 to 2008, picking up 2,340 yards and 11 touchdowns in that time. What's more surprising is that Welker's numbers in catches and yardage remained nearly identical from 2007, when Tom Brady was throwing him passes, to 2008, when an inexperienced Matt Cassel was calling signals.
This year, Welker already has 26 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown, though the poll was taken before Week 2.
Welker provides a more desirable spot atop an SI players' poll. Former safety Rodney Harrison was twice voted as the league's dirtiest player.
The rest of the voting was as follows: Drew Bress (5.3 percent), Darren Sproles (2.8 percent), Leon Washington (2.8 percent), Andre Johnson (2.8 percent), Steve Slaton (2.4 percent), Maurice Jones-Drew (2 percent), Brian Westbrook (2 percent), Philip Rivers (1.6 percent), Carolina's Steve Smith (1.6 percent), Anquan Boldin (1.6 percent) and Reggie Wayne (1.6 percent).
