NFL Playoff Predictions: 8 Studs That Will Shine in First Round

With eight teams playing in the first round of the NFL Playoffs, we've selected one absolute stud from each team that will shine this weekend.

The Cincinnati Bengals travel to Houston to face the Texans on Saturday, followed by a likely shootout in New Orleans with the Saints hosting the upset-minded Detroit Lions.

Sunday's action includes the New York Giants hosting the Atlanta Falcons and the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers traveling to Denver to take on the 8-8 Broncos.

Let's take a look at eight studs who will shine in the first round.

8. AJ Green, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals

The fourth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, rookie AJ Green led the Cincinnati Bengals with 65 receptions for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games.

Green will be matched up with former Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph—one of this year's biggest Pro Bowl snubs.

This game will come down to how the Bengals offensive line handles Houston's excellent pass rush (44 sacks) and whether or not quarterback Andy Dalton can connect with Green on a few deep balls against the third-ranked pass defense (189.7 passing yards per game) in the NFL.

7. Arian Foster, Running Back, Houston Texans

Arian Foster was second in the NFL with 94.2 rushing yards per game to go along with 10 rushing touchdowns and 1,224 yards on the ground.

An excellent receiver out of the backfield, Foster's 141.6 yards from scrimmage per game led the NFL as he completed his second straight season with at least 600 yards receiving.

The Bengals' 10th-ranked rush defense (104.2 yards per game) will certainly have its hands full with Foster this Saturday.

6. Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions

If you looked up the definition of "stud" in the dictionary, I'm assuming a picture of Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson would be the first thing you'd see.

Johnson was the only player in the NFL to average more than 100 receiving yards per game, totaling 1,681 yards on 96 receptions to go along with 16 touchdowns (second in the NFL).

Johnson can also be found in the NFL dictionary as the definition of "matchup nightmare." He should have a monster game in New Orleans, as cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter will be overwhelmed by the size and speed of "Megatron."

The over/under on this game could approach 60 points (currently at 58.5).

5. Jimmy Graham, Tight End, New Orleans Saints

Jimmy Graham racked up 99 receptions for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns this season as an All-Pro tight end for the New Orleans Saints.

His 99 receptions led all NFL tight ends, while he finished second to the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Graham emerged as Drew Brees' favorite target in 2011 and should have a field day against a Lions secondary that was absolutely torched by backup quarterback Matt Flynn in Green Bay last weekend.

4. Roddy White, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White capped off a second consecutive 100-catch season with exactly 100 receptions for 1,296 yards and eight touchdowns this season.  

White ranked second in the NFL in receptions behind Wes Welker (122 catches) and finished eighth overall in receiving yards.

With emerging rookie wide receiver Julio Jones taking some of the pressure off by lining up on the other side of the field, White is seeing more one-on-one coverage than the last few seasons.  

White should put up some serious numbers this weekend facing the 29th-ranked New York Giants pass defense.

3. Victor Cruz, Wide Receiver, New York Giants

Victor Cruz has to be considered the NFL's breakout player of the year after his performance this season.

Cruz ranked third in the NFL in receiving yards (1,536) and yards per catch (18.7) while racking up 82 receptions and nine touchdowns.

An undrafted 25-year-old rookie out of UMass, Cruz finished as the third-best wide receiver in fantasy football leagues after his breakout performance in 2011-12.

Cruz should find himself in a shootout this weekend against the 20th-ranked Falcons pass defense.

2. Mike Wallace, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace finished his second consecutive season with more than 1,000 yards receiving by catching 72 passes for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns.

With another 1,000-yard receiver lined up on the other side of the field in second-year speedster Mike Brown, the Steelers may very well have the top receiving duo in the NFL.

With running back Rashard Mendenhall out for the season, look for Big Ben to target Wallace early and often against an average Broncos pass defense.

1. Von Miller, Linebacker, Denver Broncos

You know your team is offensively challenged and doesn't belong in the playoffs when it doesn't have an offensive player worthy of making this list—with the possible exception of 1,000 yard rusher Willis McGahee.

Rookie linebacker Von Miller led the Denver Broncos with 11.5 sacks in 15 games—good for ninth in the NFL.

Miller should have a huge game on Sunday against a depleted Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line and will have plenty of sack opportunities against a team forced to throw the ball often due to the injury to running back Rashard Mendenhall.