Each group has these gamers whose performances outstrip their identify recognition for no matter motive. Perhaps the group itself is so unspectacular, that getting consideration from the nation is a idiot’s errand. Perhaps it’s somebody who was buried on the depth chart till the coaches might actually see the potential. It could possibly be that the participant in query has been under common earlier than, and it takes a second for folks to meet up with the truth that the ligt actually did come on. Or, maybe somebody was disregarded within the draft, and needed to bull his means up the ladder towards all odds.
Regardless, at SB Nation, we like to acknowledge these gamers in our weekly “Secret Superstars” sequence. Each week, we’ll function 4 underrated gamers, utilizing tape, metrics, and quotes from the gamers themselves, in addition to their coaches and teammates, to shine a light-weight on individuals who actually deserve that illumination, and haven’t acquired sufficient of it in step with what they’re doing on the sector.
For Week 2, our 4 Secret Superstars are as follows; earlier week’s honorees may be discovered under. click on the hyperlinks to learn the total profiles.
New Orleans Saints QB Spencer Rattler: Spencer Rattler retains getting higher, however when will the wins come?
Perhaps I used to be early on the Rattler bandwagon, but it surely was my perception that he might finish the Saints’ post-Drew Brees quarterback purgatory ahead of later along with his explosive potential, so long as his coaches might rein in Rattler’s YOLO tendencies. Rattler has met Kellen Moore a minimum of midway as a extra environment friendly and managed thrower of the soccer this season, and the outcomes are beginning to present up in a reputable sense. The concept of this franchise choosing Tyler Shough within the second spherical of the 2025 draft may be a type of “Oh properly, no matter, by no means thoughts” issues if Rattler continues at this tempo.
Thus far this season, Rattler’s success has been much less in regards to the sudden play, and extra about his potential to play inside the construction of Moore’s offense. Per Subsequent Gen Stats, Rattler accomplished 11 of 14 fast passes for 77 yards towards the 49ers, throwing all three of his touchdowns in fewer than 2.5 seconds. He additionally accomplished 14 of 20 passes for 130 yards on passes over 2.5 seconds. so it’s not as if Moore and his workers have turned Rattler into Captain Checkdown — that is actually about Rattler unlocking all the playbook.
Inexperienced Bay Packers CB Keisean Nixon: Keisean Nixon gave Jayden Daniels no hope on Thursday night time
Week 2 towards the Washington Commanders on Thursday night time can be a unique take a look at. This time, Nixon left all of it as much as no person however himself. He was focused 5 instances, and never solely did he not enable a completion, every of his 5 targets grew to become move breakups in Inexperienced Bay’s 27-18 win that was nowhere close to as shut because the rating would point out.
“The ball was simply coming my means,” mentioned Nixon, whose 5 move breakups have been essentially the most by a Packers defender since Jaire Alexander’s 5 vs. the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.
“I often don’t get that many targets in a recreation, however I used to be in my zone. I knew what I can do, and what I’m able to, however y’all simply understanding it now.”
Washington Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the very best Invoice Washington D.C. has seen shortly
The Commanders actually had religion. They traded Robinson to the San Francisco 49ers on August 22, and put Croskey-Merritt behind Ekeler on the depth chart. As Ekeler is extra of a do-it-all again with heavy receiving chops versus a real sustaining piece of the offense — that was Robinson’s gig — issues lined up completely for the 5’11, 208-pound Croskey-Merritt (who obtained his “Invoice” nickname as a child on account of an unlucky haircut) to announce his presence with all types of authority.
Towards the New York Giants in Washington’s 21-6 Week 1 win, Croskey-Merritt did simply that, and he made it look straightforward towards a defensive position that’s among the many league’s most proficient. Total, Croskey-Merritt ran the ball 10 instances for 82 yards and a landing, and as an agent of the Pistol run recreation, he was deadly on snap after snap. All 10 of his runs got here out of some kind of Pistol look, often with blocking tight finish John Bates (the very best at what he does within the NFL) and new addition Deebo Samuel including spice to the rice, Croskey-Merritt confirmed persistence, decisiveness, horizontal quickness, vertical second-level velocity, and the power to run after contact you’d anticipate out of a again with much more skins on the wall, and a a lot greater draft place.
Los Angeles Chargers WR Quentin Johnston: Quentin Johnston redeemed himself on the good time
Amongst receivers chosen within the 2023 draft, Johnson got here into the 2025 season ranked thirteenth in targets (163), 18th in receptions (93), seventeenth in receiving yards (1,142), and tied for third with 10 receiving touchdowns. One statistic that Johnson has had no problem with relating to the league leaders is drops — particularly within the 2024 season, when he had six on 98 targets. Drop tendencies at this degree usually don’t resolve themselves, and coming into Johnston’s third season, the deserved narrative was that this was a man with all of the bodily items on this planet, and little sense of how one can unleash them.
Then got here the Chargers’ 27-21 Week 1 win over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Friday at Corinthians Area in São Paulo, Brazil, and Johnston’s first step in taking a tragic tune and making it higher. Johnston’s stats weren’t of the OMG selection — he caught 5 passes on seven targets for 79 yards — however he did herald two touchdowns, and he was answerable for multiple explosive play.
Maybe most significantly, there wasn’t a single drop on the day. Johnston appeared much more just like the constant weapon the Chargers hoped they’d get once they drafted him. The Chargers had Johnston rolling to the intermediate and deep ranges lots of the time — a pleasant present of religion which Johnston reciprocated along with his efforts.
New York Jets QB Justin Fields: Justin Fields could be the franchise quarterback no person anticipated
Fields was in for an additional profession dip within the Metal Metropolis. He obtained beginning reps early within the season whereas Russell Wilson recovered from harm, after which was summarily dismissed to the position of backup and occasional gadget participant when Wilson returned to the stage.
Then, it was on to the new-look New York Jets beneath head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, previously the Detroit Lions’ pas recreation coordinator beneath Ben Johnson. As everyone studying this is aware of, the Jets haven’t precisely been on an all-time streak in the case of nice offensive minds within the constructing (Nathaniel Hackett? Actually?), however the hope was that Engstrand might take advantage of out of Fields. The Jets have been cautious with the equation; that’s why Fields solely obtained a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million assured that made him one of many lowest-paid beginning quarterbacks within the NFL.
Maybe even the Jets didn’t fully anticipate what they obtained from Fields in his debut. Towards a Steelers protection that ranked eighth in DVOA final season, Fields accomplished 16 of twenty-two passes for 218 yards, one landing, and 4 explosive passes…
…and as a runner (which most individuals would let you know is the place his recreation begins and ends), Fields gained 48 yards and scored two touchdowns on 12 carries.
New England Patriots EDGE Harold Landry: Harold Landry turned up the warmth in his first Patriots efficiency
The 2025 New England Patriots have been a cauldron of change. A brand new head coach in Mike Vrabel, a brand new (properly, previous and new) offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels, a brand new defensive coordinator in Terrell Williams, and all types of recent defensive expertise with free brokers Milton Williams, Robert Spillane, and Carlton Davis. All nice potential additions, however within the Patriots’ 20-13 Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, it was one other defensive addition, and a little bit of an afterthought with all the opposite churn, who outlined his position greater than anyone else on the sector.
That relative afterthought was edge-rusher Harold Landry, the previous Tennessee Titan who signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with $26 million assured so as to add his skills to the equation. At his peak within the 2021 and 2023 seasons, Landry confirmed all of the traits you need in an edge disruptor, however his profession has additionally been interrupted by accidents.
Then got here the season opener towards the Raiders, and what Landry did to poor Las Vegas proper sort out D.J. Glaze, and the remainder of the best aspect of the Raiders’ offensive line. Landry had three sacks and eight complete pressures within the recreation, all from the defensive left aspect, and whether or not he was looping inside to seek out the open hole, or just abusing Glaze outdoors, the Raiders had no solutions for him.
