Every NFL Team's Biggest Surprise of 2026 Entering Week 6

The first five weeks of the 2026 NFL season are in the books. Anyone saying things have gone as expected probably isn't being honest.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans got their first wins of the season in Week 5, but three other teams remain winless heading into the weekend. The Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Las Vegas Raiders have three wins apiece, while only the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Minnesota Vikings remain undefeated.

The early season has been filled with unexpected results. Every team has seen individual surprises, too. Let's examine each squad's biggest surprise based on factors like offseason expectations, on-field production, projected upside, and relevant recent buzz.

To be clear, we'll focus on positive surprises here. There's still a lot of the season left, so there's plenty of time to look at what went wrong.

ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS

Arizona Cardinals: LB Jack Gibbens

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

The offseason addition of linebacker Jack Gibbens may have flown under the radar, even for Arizona Cardinals fans. The 2022 undrafted free agent out of Missouri made eight starts for the New England Patriots in 2025 but was not viewed as a marquee signing.

Gibbens joined Arizona on a modest two-year, $7.5 million contract.

However, the 27-year-old has quickly made himself an integral part of Nick Rallis' defense. He has started four of five games and played 91 percent of the defensive snaps—along with 27 percent of special-teams snaps. Gibbens has already recorded 35 tackles, a half-sack, one tackle for loss, and three quarterback pressures.

Cardinals fans should get used to hearing Gibbens' name on game days.

Atlanta Falcons: RB Brian Robinson Jr.

AP Photo/Ella Hall

The Atlanta Falcons have looked like an entirely different team since getting Michael Penix Jr. back into the lineup at quarterback. His ability to stretch the field has really opened up the league's second-ranked rushing attack.

Naturally, Bijan Robinson has been a huge part of Atlanta's offense. He's making an early run at Offensive Player of the Year with 732 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns. However, backup Brian Robinson Jr. is performing surprisingly well in a complementary role.

Signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal, Robinson may have been viewed as pure depth behind Bijan coming into the season. However, he's given the Falcons a legitimate two-pronged backfield, with a punishing running style that perfectly complements Bijan in Atlanta's wide-zone-based offense.

Through five weeks, Brian Robinson has tallied 210 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, and four touchdowns.

Baltimore Ravens: RB Derrick Henry

AP PhotoNick Wass

Unlike many players on this list, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry hasn't surprised because he wasn't an established star. However, he continues to defy what is expected of older running backs in the NFL.

Despite turning 32 in January—which is older for a pro ball-carrier—Henry insisted that retirement isn't even under consideration.

"My mindset is how can I get better, so we can be the best team we can be," Henry said in July, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley.

Henry continues to be one of the league's biggest mismatches at running back. He's tied with Jahmyr Gibbs for the league lead in rushing touchdowns by running backs with seven—Josh Allen leads all players with eight—and has averaged 95.2 rushing yards and 107.6 scrimmage yards per game.

Only four other backs have more rushing yards than Henry this season.

Buffalo Bills: G Alec Anderson

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

The Buffalo Bills' 30th-ranked defense has been an issue in 2026. However, Buffalo is sitting at 4-1 because its offense has been one of the most productive in the league.

Guard Alec Anderson has been a huge part of Buffalo's offensive success, which has likely surprised most fans.

A 2022 undrafted free agent out of UCLA, Anderson has long been a valuable depth piece for the Bills. However, he beat out free-agent addition Austin Corbett for the left-guard role in camp and hasn't looked back.

Austin has started every game and played 100 percent of the offensive snaps through five weeks. He has now also played more offensive snaps in 2026 than his previous career-high in a season.

Carolina Panthers: QB Bryce Young

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young struggled to establish himself as a reliable starter early in his career. However, the 2023 first overall pick did settle in last season, going 8-8 and leading the Panthers to an NFC South title.

While some may have expected Young to make another jump in Year 4, his explosion through the early season has been stunning. The 25-year-old has come out slinging the ball and playing like a viable MVP candidate.

While the Panthers are just 2-2, Young has looked like one of the biggest playmakers in the game. He has already thrown for 1,268 yards—which led the NFL through four full weeks—with nine touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 100.0 QB rating.

Young's previous career-high passer rating was 87.8 last year.

Chicago Bears: WR Kalif Raymond

AP Photo/David Banks

It probably shouldn't be a total shock that Kalif Raymond is off to one of the best starts of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears. The former Detroit Lions role player has long been one of the NFL's most underrated pass-catchers. He's obviously quite familiar with Ben Johnson's offense.

Still, it's surprising to see Raymond emerge as such a critical piece of Chicago's offense at this stage of his career.

The 32-year-old ranks second on the team in receptions (24) and third in receiving yards (266) through five games, ahead of more notable players like Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze. He's currently on pace for 82 catches, 904 yards, and four touchdowns.

Raymond's best statistical season to date was his 47-catch, 616-yard campaign in 2022.

Cincinnati Bengals: WR Dohnte Meyers

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

When discussing Cincinnati Bengals receivers, the conversation is typically centered around headliners Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, the Bengals appear to have some strong receiver depth this season, due in large part to the surprising emergence of Dohnte Meyers.

Meyers hasn't put up eye-popping numbers this season, though his seven catches and 82 yards in Week 4 did stand out. His path to playing time in Cincinnati is the surprising part.

Undrafted out of Delta State in 2023, Meyers eventually made his way to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL, where he played for two seasons. He signed a futures contract with the Bengals in January, shined in the preseason, and has emerged as an important role player.

Meyers has caught 13 passes, returned seven punts, and fielded 16 kickoffs through the first five games of his NFL career.

Cleveland Browns: WR Denzel Boston

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

The Cleveland Browns fell back to earth in Week 5, but their 3-2 record to start the season is still surprising. So has the respectable play of quarterback Deshaun Watson, whose Browns tenure before 2026 was largely a disaster.

Rookie receiver Denzel Boston has played a huge role in the success of both Watson and Cleveland. The second-round pick out of Washington has been unexpectedly productive right out of the gate.

Boston was the seventh receiver drafted in April and wasn't even the first receiver drafted by the Browns—Cleveland used one of its two first-round selections on Texas A&M's K.C. Concepcion. Yet, he currently leads all rookies with 330 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He also leads the NFL with an average of 20.6 yards per catch.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, Boston became the new favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year following Week 5.

Dallas Cowboys: LB Jaishawn Barham

AP Photo/Samantha Show

The Dallas Cowboys added several notable players to their defense this offseason, including trade acquisition Rashan Gary and first-round picks Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence.

By comparison, third-round rookie Jaishawn Barham was probably viewed as more of an afterthought.

However, the Michigan product has quickly become an important piece of Christian Parker's defense. He got a chance at a bigger role when DeMarvion Overshown went down with a hamstring injury. He's run with the opportunity. Through five games, Barham has made four starts and recorded 28 tackles, four tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He's even worn the green dot for Parker.

"I'm very, very pleased with Jaishawn and his development," Parker said, per team reporter Tommy Yarrish.

Barham was graded 31st overall among all linebackers by Pro Football Focus after Week 5.

Denver Broncos: LB Quandarrius Robinson

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

The Denver Broncos' defense seemed to regress early in the season. However, it has started to rebound during the team's 4-2 start.

2025 fourth-round pick Quandarrius "Que" Robinson has been a big part of the unit's return to form. He has also seen a surprising jump in production in his second season.

The Alabama product was largely buried on the depth chart as a rookie and saw limited action in six games last season.

Robinson played just 34 percent of the defensive snaps last season and finished with 12 tackles and a half-sack. He has played 47 percent of the snaps through five games this season and has already recorded 23 tackles, three tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and two sacks.

Detroit Lions: Edge D.J. Wonnum

AP Photo/Scott Kinser

The Detroit Lions have spent several years searching for a dependable pass-rushing complement to star Aidan Hutchinson. They threw a couple of darts at the role this offseason by signing D.J. Wonnum to a one-year, $3 million deal and using a second-round pick on Michigan's Derrick Moore.

While Moore has played just 19 percent of defensive snaps through the first month of 2026, Wonnum has emerged as a significant piece of Kelvin Sheppard's defense.

The 28-year-old has started two of Detroit's five games and has played 56 percent of the defensive snaps. He has already recorded an impressive 10 tackles, a team-high five sacks, eight quarterback pressures, four tackles for loss, and one batted pass.

Despite battling a back injury, Wonnum has still boosted the pass rush and is on pace to surpass his career-high of 8 sacks in a season sooner rather than later.

Green Bay Packers: WR Matthew Golden

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

The fact that 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden has stepped into a more prominent role this season wasn't a surprise. Green Bay drafted him to be a long-term go-to target. They created more opportunities for him during the offseason.

The Packers let Romeo Doubs depart in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks, effectively making Golden the No. 2 perimeter target opposite Christian Watson.

Still, Golden's production through the first month of the season has been a pleasant surprise, given his ineffectiveness as a rookie last season.

Golden was limited by shoulder and wrist injuries last season. However, his 29 catches and 361 yards in 14 games were still viewed as a disappointment. He's been dramatically better this year, though, and has already compiled 24 catches for 397 yards and two touchdowns.

Houston Texans: LB Jake Hansen

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

The Houston Texans have struggled defensively through the first five weeks of the 2026 season, which is a massive negative surprise. However, linebacker Jake Hansen has been a surprise for more positive reasons.

The 2022 undrafted free agent out of Illinois has been with the Texans since entering the NFL. However, he spent the vast majority of his career before this season as a core special-teamer.

Hanson saw his most extensive defensive action as a rookie, when he played 27 percent of the snaps.

Hansen still contributes on special teams, but he's been far more actively involved on defense this season. The 28-year-old has started four of five games and played 80 percent of the snaps. He has recorded 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and one sack while allowing a career-best opposing passer rating of 59.9 in coverage.

Indianapolis Colts: WR Laquon Treadwell

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Wide receivers who are considered a "draft bust" rarely make it to their 11th NFL season. However, that is exactly what Laquon Treadwell has done. He's been surprisingly impactful for the Indianapolis Colts in his latest campaign.

Originally drafted 23rd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, Treadwell never emerged as an offensive force in Minnesota and lasted just four years with the franchise. The Colts represent the sixth team he's played for.

Treadwell has largely been a special-teamer since arriving in Indy in 2024. Through his first two seasons with the Colts, Treadwell played a total of 43 offensive snaps.

Treadwell is contributing on special teams, but he's been heavily involved in the offense, too, due in part to injuries and the offseason trade of Michael Pittman Jr. He has played 72 percent of the offensive snaps and has caught 11 of 19 targets for 157 yards—his highest totals with any team since 2021.

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Josh Cameron

AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

Fans can expect to hear trade chatter involving third-year receiver Brian Thomas Jr. between now and the November 10 trade deadline for a couple of reasons. For one, Parker Washington has firmly established himself as Jacksonville's new No. 1 target.

Secondly, sixth-round rookie Josh Cameron has been surprisingly involved in the offensive game plan.

The Baylor product has caught a modest eight passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. However, he has played 31 percent of the offensive snaps, posted a 137.8 passer rating when targeted, and has quickly earned quarterback Trevor Lawrence's trust.

"Every route, you know he's running it to win," Lawrence told reporters about Cameron. "Every time he has a chance to block someone, he's trying to put them in the ground."

Cameron has more receiving yards and touchdowns than Thomas over the first five weeks.

Kansas City Chiefs: OT Kahlil Benson

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Kansas City Chiefs undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson has been one of the biggest surprises on any NFL roster through the first month of the season. The Colorado product landed in Kansas City as a tryout player in rookie camp. He has since become one of Kansas City's most important players.

Not only did Benson make the active roster, but he also earned the starting job at left tackle to open the season after 2025 first-round pick Josh Simmons was sidelined with a back injury.

Benson has started all four games and has played 100 percent of the offensive snaps thus far. Through four games, he has been flagged twice but has not allowed a sack, according to Pro Football Focus.

The NFL named Benson as its Offensive Rookie of the Month for September.

Las Vegas Raiders: QB Kirk Cousins

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

The Raiders are arguably the biggest surprise in the NFL last season. A franchise that won three games in 2025 has already matched last year's win total and came excruciatingly close to knocking off the Chiefs two weeks ago.

This past week, Las Vegas got its first look at rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. However, Mendoza saw the field because of the score, not because starter Kirk Cousins was playing poorly.

Cousins' play has been nearly as stunning as the Raiders' accelerated turnaround. The 38-year-old has been a Pro Bowler, but he signed a one-year, $11.3 million deal in the offseason and was largely viewed as a pure placeholder at quarterback.

At some point, Las Vegas will turn the keys over to Mendoza on a full-time basis. With the way Cousins is playing, it just might not happen in 2026.

Cousins has thrown for 1,269 yards and ranks second in the NFL (tied) with 12 touchdown passes. He's completing 65.1 percent of his passes. His passer rating of 100.7 is his highest since 2023—a season in which Cousins was on a roll before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear.

Los Angeles Chargers: OT Travis Burke

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

The Los Angeles Chargers haven't had much to feel good about during their 0-5 start, especially offensively. However, they have to be pleased with the rapid development and performance of rookie offensive tackle Travis Burke.

The fourth-round pick out of Memphis was expected to be a purely developmental prospect behind starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. However, he has seen offensive snaps in each of the past two weeks and made his first career start in Week 5.

Slater landed on injured reserve with an ankle sprain, while Alt is dealing with a neck injury.

Burke played 69 percent of the offensive snaps in Week 4, then 100 percent in Week 5. He has handled himself well thus far. Pro Football Focus graded him 36th overall among all qualifying tackles after five weeks.

Los Angeles Rams: WR Konata Mumpfield

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

As a rookie last season, Konata Mumpfield didn't see much action in the Los Angeles Rams' offense. He played just 33 percent of the snaps and finished with 10 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

While Mumpfield's biggest 2026 opportunities came while Puka Nacua was sidelined by hip and groin injuries, the former seventh-round pick out of Pittsburgh was unexpectedly effective in a larger role.

Mumpfield caught four passes for 93 yards and a touchdown in the Week 3 win over the Broncos. He's up to six catches for 112 yards on the season. He has played 40 percent of the offensive snaps through five games.

While Mumpfield figures to be only a part-time player when Nacua and Davante Adams are both healthy, his early-season production should give Los Angeles a lot of confidence in its receiver depth moving forward.

Miami Dolphins: RB Ollie Gordon II

AP Photo/Doug Murray

To be fair, a big bulk of Ollie Gordon II's 2026 production came in the Week 4 loss to the Vikings. However, the 2025 sixth-round pick's ability to keep the Miami Dolphins' ground game afloat after De'Von Achane's injury has been unexpectedly impressive.

Achane was arguably the only proven playmaker the Dolphins' offense retained through the offseason. When he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, it felt like Miami's rushing offense could be hamstrung for the rest of the season. However, Gordon has looked like a viable lead back over the past three weeks.

After recording just 199 rushing yards and three touchdowns as a rookie, Gordon has already surpassed those numbers in 2026. He had 100 yards and a score against Minnesota. He's up to 236 yards and three touchdowns for the season.

For the season, Gordon has averaged a strong 5.0 yards per carry.

Minnesota Vikings: DL Levi Drake Rodriguez

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

The Vikings are one of only three undefeated teams. They've been winning largely with defense to this point. They've gotten rather average play from quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray so far and lost star receiver Justin Jefferson for a couple of games to an ankle injury suffered in Week 3.

However, Minnesota's defense has been good enough to secure a 5-0 record. Defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez has been a surprisingly big part of the unit's success.

A 2024 seventh-round pick out of Texas A&M–Commerce, Rodriguez was a high-end contributor last season but has established himself as a full-time starter this season. He has helped Minnesota maintain a disruptive defensive front even after the team parted ways with Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, and Jonathan Greenard during the offseason.

Rodriguez has started all five games, played 58 percent of the defensive snaps, and has recorded nine tackles, a sack, and five quarterback pressures.

New England Patriots: LB Elijah Ponder

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Things haven't exactly gone according to plan during the Patriots' 3-2 start. Quarterback Drake Maye was one of the biggest disappointments of the early campaign, though he and New England have started to rebound.

Linebacker Elijah Ponder, however, has been a pleasant surprise since the start.

The 2025 undrafted free agent out of California Polytechnic made his way to New England after shining at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He appeared in 15 games as a rookie but played just 24 percent of the defensive snaps. This year, Ponder has grown into a much more prominent role.

Ponder has started four of the Patriots' first five games and has played 73 percent of the defensive snaps. He has already recorded 19 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 QB pressures, six tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown.

New England has a history of uncovering overlooked talent. It seems it has another gem in Ponder.

New Orleans Saints: WR Devaughn Vele

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

The New Orleans Saints acquired wide receiver Devaughn Vele in a 2025 trade with Denver. The 2024 seventh-round pick out of Utah was purely a complementary receiver in his first season with New Orleans, but he's been thrust into a surprisingly large role this season.

In 2025, Vele played 51 percent of the offensive snaps and recorded 25 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. His season was cut short by a shoulder injury.

This season, Vele is healthy and has filled the No. 2 receiver role opposite Chris Olave. Rookie first-round pick Jordyn Tyson was supposed to fill that role but has been sidelined by a hamstring injury. In Tyson's absence, Vele has shown that he's more than capable.

The 28-year-old has played 92 percent of the offensive snaps and has already caught 25 passes for 252 yards and two scores. He has provided a passer rating of 104.8 when targeted. He should allow New Orleans to ease Tyson into a prominent role once the rookie is ready to return.

New York Giants: TE Isaiah Likely

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Longtime Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh took the New York Giants' job early in the offseason. Shortly after free agency opened, former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely joined him in New York.

The 26-year-old pass-catcher has become an unexpected star in New York.

It hasn't been entirely surprising to see Likely perform well for the Giants. He regularly flashed his ability as Baltimore's No. 2 tight end behind Mark Andrews. However, few expected Likely to become one of the league's most dangerous tight ends as the Giants' starter.

Likely has played a career-high 70 percent of the offensive snaps this season. He has already caught 33 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns. After five full weeks, he ranks fourth in receiving yards among tight ends, behind only Sam LaPorta, Brock Bowers, and Trey McBride.

New York Jets: WR Isaiah Williams

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

The New York Jets have been steadily searching for a reliable No. 2 receiver opposite Garrett Wilson. While Isaiah Williams might not be a true second option, he has emerged as a surprisingly effective complementary receiver.

A 2024 undrafted free agent out of Illinois, Williams spent 2024 with the Lions and Bengals before joining the Jets' practice squad last season. He appeared in 15 games and scored two punt-return touchdowns, though his impact was largely limited to special teams.

Williams continues to serve as a dangerous returner, but he's also carved out a more prominent offensive role this season. He has played 75 percent of the offensive snaps through the first five weeks and ranks second among Jets wideouts, behind Wilson, with 151 yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions.

Philadelphia Eagles: WR Dontayvion Wicks

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

The Philadelphia Eagles put multiple resources into their receiving corps before trading No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown to the Patriots this past offseason. They signed Marquise Brown, traded for Dontayvion Wicks, and used a first-round pick on USC's Makai Lemon.

For most fans, Wicks was probably the afterthought of the group. A sporadic role player for the Packers, Wicks was acquired for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. He then signed a modest one-year, $12.5 million extension.

While Wicks was expected to be a complementary receiver in Sean Mannion's offense, he quickly established himself as the No. 2 option opposite DeVonta Smith.

Wicks has started all five games and has filled the No. 1 receiver role in the two games Smith has missed with a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old now leads the Eagles with 260 yards and a touchdown on 17 receptions.

Pittsburgh Steelers: S Robert Spears-Jennings

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Late-round rookies often struggle to make the active rosters of playoff-caliber teams. However, former Oklahoma defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings, who was selected in the seventh round (224th overall), has done more than simply stick with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Spears-Jennings has filled a valuable rotational role over the first five weeks while also serving as a core special-teams player. He has played 25 percent of defensive snaps and 73 percent of special-teams snaps, while earning a reputation as a very physical defender.

"He'll come down, lay wood every single time," linebacker Patrick Queen told reporters about Spears-Jennings (beginning around the 3:10 mark). "So, definitely love him back there."

Spears-Jennings has played over 50 percent of the defensive snaps in each of the last two games and has tallied 16 tackles and an interception on the season.

San Francisco 49ers: TE George Kittle

AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be a surprise to see George Kittle racing up and down the field, delivering crushing blocks and carving up opposing secondaries. However, it's still a bit astonishing to see Kittle back in All-Pro form so soon after suffering a torn Achilles.

The San Francisco 49ers' standout tight end suffered the injury during San Francisco's playoff victory over the Eagles on January 11. Not only was he back on the field for the season opener less than 10 months after the injury, but he's already looking like the best tight end in football again.

Through five weeks, Kittle has caught 21 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns. He has provided a passer rating of 129.2 when targeted.

His rapid recovery and return to form have been remarkable, especially considering that Kittle turned 33 earlier this month.

Seattle Seahawks: QB Drew Lock

AP Photo/Ben VanHouten

Plenty has gone wrong for the Seattle Seahawks during their 3-3 start to the season. Zach Charbonnet remains sidelined by last season's ACL tear, while rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price is injured, which has severely hindered the ground game.

More importantly, though, quarterback Sam Darnold has not looked anything like the Pro Bowl quarterback he was a year ago. He missed time after suffering a glute/hip injury early in Week 1 and has been exceedingly turnover-prone.

Backup Drew Lock, by comparison, was surprisingly effective while leading Seattle to a 2-0 start. While Darnold currently has a QB rating of just 77.4, Lock has an impressive 127.3 passer rating.

In his two appearances this season, Lock completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 422 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, and 13 rushing yards. His play was so surprisingly good that some analysts—including ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio—are now wondering whether Seattle should return to Lock on a more permanent basis.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jalon Daniels

AP Photo/Sam Hodde

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels got his first career win in Week 5 and has been a recent surprise in 2026. However, the undrafted rookie out of Kansas was unexpectedly effective in Tampa's big road win in Dallas.

Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, posting a 110.2 passer rating against the Cowboys, while adding 23 yards on the ground.

Still, Daniels' ascent to the starting role, albeit temporarily, ahead of Week 5 was surprising in its own right. After going undrafted in April, Daniels earned his opportunity with the Buccaneers by beating out Jake Browning for the backup QB job. He then got his first start in Week 4 after Baker Mayfield dislocated his thumb.

An afterthought in April's draft, Daniels just became the first rookie quarterback to win in 2026.

Tennessee Titans: LB Anthony Hill Jr.

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Tennessee Titans fans haven't had a ton to get excited about during the team's 0-5 start to the season. However, they should be pleased with the rapid development of rookies Carnell Tate and Anthony Hill Jr.

Tate leads the Titans' offense with 274 receiving yards, while Hill leads the defense with 47 tackles.

Tate's quick emergence probably isn't a major shocker, though, as Tennessee grabbed him with the fourth overall pick to fill their vacant No. 1 receiver role. Hill, who was taken late in the second round (60th overall), has been a much bigger surprise.

The 21-year-old has played 100 percent of the defensive snaps through four games and is currently on pace for a ridiculous 160 tackles as a rookie.

Washington Commanders: CB Amik Robertson

AP Photo/Alastair Grant

Cornerback Amik Robertson wasn't exactly an unknown commodity before joining the Washington Commanders this past offseason. He developed into a starter with the Las Vegas Raiders. He spent his last two seasons as a part-time starter and significant contributor in Detroit.

However, Robertson wasn't exactly viewed as a marquee addition. The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $15 million contract that he already appears to be outperforming.

Robertson has been one of the brightest spots on Washington's new-look defense. He has started all four games and has played 99 percent of the defensive snaps. He has already recorded 33 tackles and a league-high eight passes defended.

In coverage, Robertson has allowed an opposing passer rating of only 87.0 for the season.

*Contract and cap information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.