Every NFL Team's Biggest Surprise Through 9 Weeks

Things don't always go as expected in the NFL. Every week, there are upsets, unexpected breakout stars and heart-shattering disappointments. 

Over the course of the season, however, is where the surprises really come in. Things almost never go as we expected them to at the beginning of a season.

Now that we're officially at the halfway point of the 2015 NFL season (each team has played at least eight games), we should have a good idea of which surprises are mere aberrations (the short-lived greatness of Josh McCown, anyone?) and which ones are here to stay for the remainder of the season (perhaps Stefon Diggs really is that good).

Last week, we took a look at the biggest disappointments of the 2015 season to date. Today, we'll put a more positive spin on the definition of surprise and look at some players who have unexpectedly burst into the spotlight. Some are rookies who are jumping directly into stardom. Some are longtime veterans, adding surprise highlights to the back end of their careers.

Because of the vast number of players in the NFL, we're going to go ahead and recognize one player from each franchise. Teams are listed in alphabetical order. 

Arizona Cardinals

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Chris Johnson, Running Back

Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson isn't a relative unknown, and this isn't his first foray into the limelight. However, his reemergence as one of the top backs in the league this season has certainly been unexpected.

Johnson spent the 2014 season with the New York Jets. While he wasn't a total disappointment there (he did average 4.3 yards per carry), he was more of a role player than an offensive centerpiece. He finished the season with just 663 yards rushing and a touchdown in 16 appearances. 

The Jets didn't bring Johnson back, and the veteran then suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder in an early-offseason drive-by shooting.

At 30 years of age, injured and coming off the worst season of his career, Johnson naturally garnered little interest on the open market. In fact, the Cardinals didn't even sign Johnson until mid-August. At the time, he was expected to do little more than compete for a backup spot.

NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal wrote the following when Johnson was signed:

"

The reality is that Johnson was never great at making defenders miss in small spaces, and he doesn't fight through tackles between the numbers. With final cutdowns only a few weeks away, Johnson will have to impress coach Bruce Arians quickly to make the team. Johnson is certainly not going to help on special teams, so he has to make the case that he can share the load with [Andre] Ellington.

"

Well, Johnson has done a lot more than share the load in Arizona. He's taken over as the workhorse back and has helped the Cardinals forge one of the most explosive offenses in the entire NFL.

Through eight games, Johnson has rushed for 676 yards with three touchdowns and has averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry.  

Atlanta Falcons

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Devonta Freeman, Running Back

It just might be fair to call 2015 the Year of the Running Back. We have seen several backs emerge during the 2015 NFL season, and you're going to find quite a few of them on today's list.

High on the list of running back surprises is Devonta Freeman of the Atlanta Falcons. The Florida State product showed some flashes as a rookie in 2014, to be sure, but very few saw this emergence coming.

Last season, the Falcons were ranked 24th in rushing offense, with an average of just 93.6 yards per game. Freeman contributed 248 on the season with a rather pedestrian 3.8 yards per carry. 

This year, the Falcons are ranked a more respectable 15th in rushing offense, with 113.9 yards per game on the ground. The real improvement, however, has come from Freeman.

The second-year back currently ranks second in the NFL with 721 yards rushing. He is averaging 4.4 yards per clip, has added 420 yards receiving and has found the end zone 11 total times. He's become a fantasy darling, and if not for the presence of guys such as Adrian Peterson and Todd Gurley, he might just be considered the best runner in the league.

The possibility of being the best all-around back is certainly still there. Freeman is on pace to amass more than 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards in 2015. For a guy who spent his first NFL season as an afterthought in a pass-wacky offense, that's pretty surprising. 

Baltimore Ravens

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Kamar Aiken, Wide Receiver 

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Kamar Aiken bounced around the league for several years before landing with his current team last season. Since arriving in Baltimore, the former Central Florida receiver has been seeing a steadily increasing role.

Aiken appeared in all 16 games for Baltimore but was primarily a mere role player. This season, he has turned into a starter, and with legendary receiver Steve Smith now out for the season with a torn Achilles, he is likely to emerge as the team's top target.

Surprisingly, this might be something that can work. Obviously, Aiken isn't a likely future Hall of Famer, but he's been very productive this season. Through eight games, he has 25 receptions for 333 yards and two scores.

Joseph Juan of NumberFire.com believes that Aiken can be an even bigger part of the offense with more work:

"

On a per-target basis, Aiken has actually helped his team's chances of scoring as much as Smith (albeit on a far lower volume than Smith). And if Aiken can improve on his subpar 56.8% catch rate, he has a chance to approach Smith's level of efficiency on the season. All this should give Baltimore some hope that Aiken can help the Ravens move the ball and put points on the board in the passing game in Smith's absence.

"

There hasn't been a lot for Ravens fans to feel good about this season, but Aiken is coming along surprisingly well and should remain a part of the team's plans for the foreseeable future. 

Buffalo Bills

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Karlos Williams, Running Back

The Buffalo Bills likely spent a fifth-round pick on Florida State running back Karlos Williams in order to fill a backup role for the then-recently acquired LeSean McCoy. Instead of being a backup, however, Williams has been more of a tandem partner and one heck of a surprise. 

The former Seminoles star missed three games because of a concussion but has already racked up 336 yards rushing and six total touchdowns. He's also averaging a stellar 6.6 yards per carry.

This past Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, Williams stepped in for a banged-up McCoy and helped finish off Buffalo's division rivals.

John Kryk of the Toronto Sun wrote the following after the game:

"

Williams was Mr. Second Half. He ran for all but 26 of his 110 yards—and scored two of his three rushing touchdowns—in the second half. The rookie is an exciting, ferocious, bulldozer of a runner who becomes particularly effective late in games, when defenders tire. And he’s far faster than his 6-foot-1, 230-pound frame implies.

"

Williams seems to have the size, speed and playmaking ability to be a future starter in the NFL. For the time being, he appears to be the perfect complement to McCoy in Buffalo's second-ranked rushing attack (141.6 yards per game).

For a fifth-round pick, that's pretty impressive. 

Carolina Panthers

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Josh Norman, Cornerback

The Carolina Panthers are one of three undefeated teams remaining in the NFL. Though the team hasn't always won pretty, the Panthers continue to win because of a grinding, run-based offense and a very dangerous defense.

That defense is headlined by emergent shutdown cornerback Josh Norman.

Now, we have to be a little bit honest here. Norman has been a very good cornerback since last season. In 2014, he defended 11 passes, logged two interceptions and was rated 30th among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus.

Since the 2015 season began, however, it has been apparent that Norman has made a surprisingly fast leap into the realm of elite pass defender. 

He has already defended 13 passes this season and snagged four interceptions, and he is rated second overall among NFL cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus. Opposing quarterbacks are completing just 45.1 percent of passes and have a cumulative passer rating of just 30.5 when targeting Norman.

In fact, Norman might just be the league's best cornerback right now. It's always a bit unexpected when a young player steps up and makes a push to claim such a title. 

Chicago Bears

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Jeremy Langford, Running Back

For the past several years, the Chicago Bears have had one of the NFL's best all-around running backs in Matt Forte. However, Forte is quickly approaching 30 years old and is in the final year of his current deal. There's a good chance that his spectacular run in Chicago is coming to an end. 

Surprisingly, though, the Bears might not be too concerned about losing Forte.

This is because rookie back Jeremy Langford is quickly establishing himself at the future of Chicago's running back position. The fourth-round pick out of Michigan State is only averaging 3.4 yards per carry mostly in a reserve role, but he is proving to be a stellar multidimensional threat.

With Forte out with a knee injury, the Bears are turning to their rookie. 

On Monday night, against the San Diego Chargers, Langford saw the bulk of the backfield work. He finished the game with 70 yards rushing (4.0 yards per carry) and 72 yards receiving. He is currently averaging a whopping 20.2 yards per reception.

The time to turn to Langford may actually be fast approaching.

"The team is clearly confident in Langford," Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com wrote earlier this week. "He is the heir apparent to Forte, who may not return for several weeks and becomes a free agent after the season. Even when Forte does come back, the expectation is for Langford to enjoy an increased role."

In years past, losing Forte for an extended period of time would almost certainly incite panic among the Bears faithful. This doesn't appear to be the case, thanks to the unexpected emergence of Langford. 

Cincinnati Bengals

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Tyler Eifert, Tight End

If you watched Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert during his career at Notre Dame or during his rookie year in Cincinnati, you might not be too surprised to see that he is excelling in 2015.

However, it is a little surprising to see the extent to which Eifert has been dominating the competition. The massive 6'6", 250-pound pass-catcher virtually looks like a clone of Rob Gronkowski out on the playing field.

In fact, the only tight end rated higher than Eifert by Pro Football Focus this season is Gronkowski.

Eifert has racked up 37 receptions, 434 yards and nine touchdowns already this season. More importantly, he is creating mismatches and so much defensive attention that the Bengals offense is becoming nearly impossible to stop. 

The rise of Eifert has been both exciting and surprising because we haven't seen the young phenom since the first week of the 2014 season. He dislocated his elbow after only eight plays in that game and didn't resurface until this year.

The Bengals are certainly glad to have him back in the lineup, and you can bet that he won't be taking any opposing defenses by surprise for the remainder of the season. 

Cleveland Browns

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Gary Barnidge, Tight End

Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge has been one of the more surprising players this season. Not only has he been excellent out on the playing field, but, well, he really hadn't done much in his career before this season.

Barnidge was originally a fifth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers way back in 2008. Over the next six years, the 6'6", 250-pound tight end caught a total of just 44 passes for 603 yards and three touchdowns.

If Barnidge's 2015 campaign doesn't eclipse the first six years of his career by the end of next week, it will be a surprise. He's currently sitting on 42 receptions for 602 yards and six scores. The only tight end with more receiving yards than Barnidge right now is the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski.

Yes, it helps that Barnidge towers over pretty much any pass defender he is going to face. It also helps that he has spent the last six years perfecting his skills as a pro and that he has great chemistry with quarterback Josh McCown (the two were teammates in Carolina in 2008 and 2009). 

Still, it's awfully surprising to see a player have his breakout NFL season in his seventh year and at 30 years of age. This is exactly what Barnidge is doing. 

Dallas Cowboys

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David Irving, Defensive Lineman 

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving began his journey in the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys signed the 6'7", 273-pounder away from the Kansas City practice squad at the end of September and have since helped him develop into a solid situational pass-rusher.

Irving may be raw, but his size and physicality have allowed him to make a difference in his five appearances this season. He nearly helped the Cowboys beat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8 when he blocked a field goal with Dallas holding a 12-10 lead.

“I’m glad to contribute in any way,” Irving said after the game, per Clarence Hill Jr. of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram. “I’m used to being able to do more on the field and have my way a little bit more, but this is a higher level. I have to raise my standards. For me, any little contribution is awesome. It feels great.”

Irving has done more than shine on special teams, though. While he only has seven tackles and has yet to log a sack, his presence on the Dallas defensive line has helped improve an already promising Cowboys pass rush.

Pro Football Focus rated Irving third overall on the Dallas defense in pass rush and credits him with two quarterback hits and five hurries. Considering Irving has only played 83 defensive snaps, this means he is averaging a pressure about once every 12 plays.

This is comparable to the pressure rate of star defensive end Greg Hardy (about once every 12.8 snaps). This isn't to suggest that Irving is going to develop into a player of Hardy's caliber, but he has been a productive and unexpected addition to Dallas' pass rush.

Denver Broncos

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Shaquil Barrett, Linebacker

"Who the heck is Shaq Barrett?"

This is a question you might have found yourself asking if you witnessed a Denver Broncos preseason game this past offseason. Though they may have only been exhibition games, it was hard not to be impressed watching the frightening frequency with which Barrett chased down opposing quarterbacks.

Well, the Broncos were obviously just as impressed with the former undrafted Colorado State product, and the team has regularly unleashed him on opposing quarterbacks in games that count. Though he has mostly played on only a rotational basis, Barrett has already produced 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. 

Oh, but his impact on the field goes far beyond raw statistics.

According to Pro Football Focus, Barrett has also produced three quarterback hits and nine additional pressures in 233 snaps. This means he is pressuring the quarterback about once every 14.5 plays. Pro Football Focus also rates him 33rd among 3-4 outside linebackers in pass-rush ability.

Two of the men above him are teammates DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller. 

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Ware could miss up to a month with a back injury. Don't be surprised to see Barrett step in and take Ware's place, and don't be surprised if the drop-off isn't particularly noticeable.

Detroit Lions

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Theo Riddick, Running Back

Back in April, the Detroit Lions used a second-round draft pick on running back Ameer Abdullah, hoping that the former Nebraska star would be able to finally give the Lions a threatening ground attack.

Unfortunately, Abdullah (3.6 yards per carry, four fumbles) has mostly been a disappointment in his rookie campaign.

One running back who hasn't been a disappointment, however, is third-year pro Theo Riddick. 

Though Riddick doesn't get a ton of work on the ground (just 17 carries this season), he has emerged as one of the NFL's best pass-catching running backs. Through eight games, he has already set career highs in both receptions (42) and receiving yards (348).

Pro Football Focus rates him fourth overall among NFL backs in receiving. 

In fact, Riddick has been one of the very few bright spots in the Detroit offense this season. Most of the big stars have struggled, and the team has already parted ways with offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.

The good news is that while Detroit is likely headed for another franchise overhaul, the team looks to have its third-down back of the future. 

Green Bay Packers

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James Jones, Wide Receiver

Yeah, we know that wideout James Jones has spent the vast majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers. However, he spent last season with the Oakland Raiders, wasn't invited back and then was released by the New York Giants at the beginning of this season.

In other words, it was fair to wonder if the 31-year-old pass-catcher had anything left in the tank.

Well, Jones has shown that he has plenty to offer the Packers. He has amassed 483 yards and six touchdowns in his eight appearances this season. Not only is he helping to fill the void left by the injury to Jordy Nelson, but Jones is on pace for one of the best seasons of his nine-year career.

His veteran savvy and experience with quarterback Aaron Rodgers have apparently served Jones well.

"It's not like I run a 4.3 and past everybody, but I have a good knack on how to use my body and catch the ball with my strong hands," Jones said last month, per Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I pride myself on that. Aaron throws a hard ball, and it comes out extremely fast. I know I have to get my head around earlier."

The Packers have lost two in a row but still appear headed for the postseason. We're pretty sure that Jones will be an asset there as well. By then, of course, his production will be no surprise. 

Houston Texans

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Brian Hoyer, Quarterback 

It's fairly safe to say that the 2015 season has been an overall disappointment for the Houston Texans. The team narrowly missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record in 2014 but has stumbled its way to a 3-5 record thus far this season.

The good news, however, is that the Texans are still very much alive in the AFC South race. The Indianapolis Colts currently lead the division with a 4-5 record.

With a little luck, perhaps quarterback Brian Hoyer can help lead the team to a postseason berth after all.

See, Hoyer was brought in by head coach Bill O'Brien during the offseason to solidify the position. However, O'Brien yanked Hoyer before the first game of the season was over and inserted fellow journeyman Ryan Mallett into the lineup.

A few weeks later, O'Brien re-inserted Hoyer as starter. Surprisingly, Hoyer has performed pretty well since the first game of the season and has gone 2-1 as the starter over the past three games. 

Has he been perfect? Absolutely not. Yet, he is playing competitive football and is giving the Texans enough to win on offense. His current passer rating of 97.1 is the highest he has had in any season in which Hoyer has started a game. He's completing 60.0 percent of his passes and has 13 touchdowns to go with just three interceptions. 

Hoyer is rated a respectable 17th among quarterbacks by Pro Football Focus.

Sure, he hasn't been overwhelming this season, but Hoyer's rebound from the Week 1 benching has been quite unexpected.  

Indianapolis Colts

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Matt Hasselbeck, Quarterback 

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has had the worst season of his career in 2015, because of both inconsistencies and injuries. On top of his on-field struggles, he is going to miss the next two to six weeks with a lacerated kidney, according to Mike Chappell of Indy Sports Central.

The Colts don't need to panic, though. The team can still finish out the season strong behind 40-year-old journeyman Matt Hasselbeck.

Laugh if you want, but the longtime veteran was surprisingly good in his two earlier starts in place of Luck. He has completed 63.2 percent of his passes, has thrown for 495 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions and holds a passer rating of 95.0.

Hasselbeck's record in his two starts? 2-0. Luck's record this season, by the way, is 2-5.

Now we're not going to sit here and suggest that Hasselbeck has the type of raw talent that Luck possesses, especially at this stage in his career. However, he has shown great poise, adequate arm strength and an uncanny determination to win.

His performance against the Houston Texans in Week 5 was particularly impressive. Hasselbeck was in the hospital with a bacterial infection the week leading up to that game and still delivered a victory on Thursday night.

“Was literally on his deathbed Monday and Tuesday and mustered enough to come in on Wednesday and practice,” coach Chuck Pagano said, per Zac Keefer of the Indianapolis Star. “Grittiest performance I have seen in a long, long time.”

Hasselbeck has looked very much like the player he was back when he was regularly leading the Seattle Seahawks to the postseason. If he can keep it up over the next month or so, he might be leading the Colts there, as well. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

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Allen Hurns, Wide Receiver

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns was certainly serviceable as a rookie in 2014. He even had a few shining moments, finishing the season with 51 receptions, 677 yards and six touchdowns.

However, few probably expected to see the former undrafted prospect from Miami explode onto the scene as one of the league's top pass-catchers the way he has this season.

Hurns has already matched his touchdown mark form last season with six and has added 30 other receptions for 635 total yards. This puts him on pace for a 72-catch, 1,270-yard, 12-touchdown season. That's pretty remarkable for a player 32 teams didn't feel was worthy of a draft pick a year ago.

Hurns has beaten many odds to get to where he is in the NFL (and you can read about many of them in an outstanding piece by Bleacher Report NFL analyst Brad Gagnon), so perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising to see him excelling as a pro. 

Yet, we cannot say we ever expect an undrafted player to push himself to the verge of the club of elites in only his second NFL season. This is what Hurns, who is rated 16th overall among all receivers by Pro Football Focus, has done. 

Kansas City Chiefs

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Charcandrick West, Running Back

The 2015 season has seen a number of significant and team-altering injuries, none of which may have had more impact than the loss of Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. 

Charles, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 5, averaged 108.2 combined rushing and receiving yards and a touchdown per game for the Chiefs this season. Obviously, losing him for the year was a major blow.

Fortunately, the Chiefs seem to have found a surprisingly effective replacement in second-year running back Charcandrick West. The former Abilene Christian star has started the past three games and has carried the load in the past two.

In Weeks 6 and 7, West averaged 125.5 combined rushing and receiving yards and one touchdown. He's also averaged 4.9 yards per carry in that span. The 3-5 Chiefs won both of those games.

What might be even more surprising is just how quickly West has endeared himself to his teammates as the starting back. 

"West earned the respect of his teammates in Kansas City long before he stepped on the field four weeks ago," B.J. Kissel of KCChiefs.com wrote earlier this week. "He spent time on the practice squad for the Chiefs last season after signing as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Division II Abilene Christian before training camp."

With Charles out, the starting job belongs to West. He's taking full advantage of his opportunity and is helping to make sure that the Chiefs offense doesn't have to worry about becoming one-dimensional.

When Charles first went down with his injury, it seemed like a near certainty that the Chiefs' season was doomed. West might never become the type of historically good back that Charles is, but he's playing well and ensuring that the season isn't yet over. 

Miami Dolphins

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Rishard Matthews, Wide Receiver 

Wide receiver Richard Matthews isn't a new addition to the Miami Dolphins. He's actually been around for the past three years. However, we'll forgive you if you didn't find him a familiar name until early in the 2015 season.

This is because, while Matthews has been with the team, he hasn't exactly been an integral part of the offense. He came into this season with six career starts and four career touchdowns. He had never amassed more than 448 yards in a season.

Everything changed this year, though, as growing chemistry with quarterback Ryan Tannehill has allowed him to become a true No. 2 receiver in the Miami offense.

Matthews has already set a career high with 554 yards and four touchdowns on 37 catches. He's on pace to top 1,000 yards receiving. He's shown plenty of big-play ability and legitimately looks like an emerging star. 

He's also become quite the trendy fantasy option. 

Matthews is currently rated 32nd overall among all wide receivers by Pro Football Focus. 

The Dolphins traded for wide receiver Kenny Stills in the offseason and used a first-round draft pick on Louisville wideout DeVante Parker. Surprisingly, however, it turns out that this year's breakout receiver was already on the roster. 

Minnesota Vikings

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Stefon Diggs, Wide Receiver

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs didn't even see the field for the first three weeks of the 2015 season, but he's been one of the league's most surprising breakout stars since entering the lineup.

In just five games this season, with four starts, Diggs has amassed 28 receptions, 461 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 16.5 yards per catch and is helping to prevent defenses from zeroing in on running back Adrian Peterson.

He's also a large reason why the Vikings are sitting at 6-2.

Bleacher Report's Ian Wharton recently explained how Diggs can partner with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to make the Vikings a legitimate Super Bowl contender:

"

Diggs has arguably been the best rookie receiver this season, totaling 461 yards in just 262 snaps. His 16.5 yards per reception leads all rookies, and he’s created the second-most yards after the catch with 170. He’s a budding star. Bridgewater and Diggs are a force to reckon with. As Diggs has emerged, he is clearly the team's top receiver. He’s also catching 70 percent of all targets, which is a very respectable number.

"

Fifth-round draft picks don't typically emerge as offensive superstars, so it's a bit surprising to see Diggs doing exactly that with the Vikings. 

New England Patriots

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Dion Lewis, Running Back

New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis might just be the biggest surprise of the entire league this season, not just because of his jaw-dropping ability, but because of the path he has taken to his current role.

The 5'8", 195-pound speedster might just be the shiftiest player in the entire NFL. He makes defenders look silly with his spin moves, and he is a threat both in the running game and in the passing game.

In seven appearances, he has racked up 234 yards rushing, 388 yards receiving and four total touchdowns. He is also a natural fit in New England's always shape-shifting offense.

However, Lewis didn't always look like a New England disciple. In fact, for the past couple of years, he didn't look like he'd be an NFL player again. The last time Lewis touched the ball in a regular-season game was in 2012 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles traded Lewis to the Browns, but Lewis suffered a broken leg during the 2013 preseason. He spent a brief amount of time with the Colts last season but never saw regular-season action. Patriots coach Bill Belichick took a chance on Lewis and, naturally, turned the underdog back into a star.

Unfortunately, Lewis' surprising 2015 season has come to an end. Lewis suffered a torn ACL last week against the Washington Redskins and has been placed on season-ending injured reserve.

We won't be surprised if Lewis comes back as strong as ever next season or if Belichick finds a new unexpected weapon in the meantime. 

New Orleans Saints

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Willie Snead, Wide Receiver

The New Orleans Saints traded away wide receiver Kenny Stills and tight end Jimmy Graham during the offseason in an attempt to rebuild the team in a new image. Obviously, there was some expectation that quarterback Drew Brees would suffer as a result.

However, Brees (69.6 completion percentage, 18 touchdowns and a passer rating of 102.8) has adjusted quite nicely. A big part of the new passing equation has been second-year receiver Willie Snead.

Snead, who entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Browns in 2014, has provided an explosive and consistent pass-catching presence at the receiver position. He has already racked up 626 yards and three touchdowns, and is averaging a solid 15.3 yards per reception.

Snead is rated 47th overall among wide receivers by Pro Football Focus. He currently leads the Saints in terms of receiving yardage.

Now, we've become accustomed to undrafted free agents making their mark on the NFL, and we're also used to seeing the Browns let go of talented offensive players only to have them emerge elsewhere. However, Snead has still been one of the league's better surprises of the 2015 season.

New York Giants

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Trevin Wade, Cornerback 

We'll start off by admitting that Trevin Wade hasn't been an overly impressive player this season. He isn't one of the New York Giants' top defensive playmakers—if there really are any of those at this point. He isn't heading to a Pro Bowl any time soon.

However, the fact that Wade is even regularly in games for the Giants and has been better than some of the alternatives is surprising.

We're talking about a guy who entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick of the Browns. Cleveland didn't want him and released him after a year. Wade had only appeared in two NFL games between his rookie season and this season.

We're also talking about a guy who spends his offseasons as a substitute teacher.

Wade caught on with the Giants after not playing at all in 2014 (he did spend time on Detroit's practice squad) and is now a fairly integral part of the secondary. Pro Football Focus rates him third among Giants cornerbacks in pass coverage, and Wade has been an asset in run support as well.

He is currently ninth on the team with 22 solo tackles. 

It's taken a few years for Wade to find meaningful playing time, but he's gone from developmental prospect to regular contributor rather quickly this season. 

New York Jets

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Ryan Fitzpatrick, Quarterback

Look, New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been around the NFL for a while. He has been a starter before and has performed well. Heck, he was completing 63.1 percent of his passes and had a 95.3 passer rating with the Texans last season before suffering a season-ending broken leg.

Still, Houston didn't want the journeyman quarterback and traded him to the Jets during the offseason. Therefore, there was some reason to be skeptical about his ability as a starter. Had Geno Smith not suffered a broken jaw in the preseason, Fitzpatrick may never have gotten unconditional support as the team's starting quarterback.

However, the Jets have gone with Fitzpatrick whenever he has been healthy, and the bearded bomb-thrower has been surprisingly impressive.

Fitzpatrick is completing 61.8 percent of his passes, has a respectable passer rating of 89.3, has a nearly 2-1 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions and, most importantly, has gone 5-2 as a starter.

According to ESPN's Total QBR rankings, Fitzpatrick even ranks higher than the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.

We're not ready to go out and proclaim Fitzpatrick an elite quarterback or anything here. However, his efficient and effective play has been a welcome surprise, and the Jets are winning ballgames because of it. 

Oakland Raiders

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Michael Crabtree, Wide Receiver

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree entered the NFL as a first-round draft pick and then spent six years languishing in the run-first offense of the San Francisco 49ers. Perhaps we really shouldn't be surprised that he has managed to turn his career around in Oakland.

Still, Crabtree's transformation has been a remarkable one to watch and is a big part of the reason why Oakland's offense is paving a return to relevance for the Raiders.

Through eight games, Crabtree has produced 47 receptions, 591 yards and five touchdowns. This puts him on pace for career highs in receptions (94), yards (1,182) and scores (10). His previous bests came in 2012, when Crabtree caught 85 passes for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. 

He has never produced more than 875 yards or six scores in any single season. He is now rated 11th overall among wide receivers by Pro Football Focus. 

For as impressive as Crabtree has been this season, his real value comes in helping the young building blocks on the team to grow into the future. He is giving second-year quarterback Derek Carr an excellent receiving option and is helping rookie receiver Amari Cooper avoid total defensive focus. 

He's also been setting an example since day one. 

Carr, per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com:

"

Little did I know that he wasn’t even in the country the day before (training camp started). He made a point of being there because like I’ve told y’all, he loves to work. He didn’t care where it had to be, he didn’t care where he had to go. He was going to go. And I think it did send a message. I think it sent a message not only to the young receivers, but to this whole place about what kind of guy he is. And he didn’t do it for that reason, which is awesome. He did it because he wants to win.

"

To see Crabtree go from disappointing former top-10 pick to Raiders team leader has been a little surprising. It's also been a lot of fun to watch. 

Philadelphia Eagles

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Jordan Hicks, Linebacker

Philadelphia Eagles inside linebacker Jordan Hicks went from being a third-round prospect out of Texas to being a budding defensive superstar with a quickness over the first half of the 2015 season. 

Sure, we've seen third-round picks leap into the spotlight plenty of times before, but the relatively undersized Hicks (6'1", 236 lbs) looks to have the makings of something truly special.

Through eight games, Hicks has produced 50 tackles, one sack, three passes defended, two interceptions and a forced fumble. One of those interceptions was returned 67 yards for a touchdown. Hicks has also shown the ability to line up at multiple linebacker spots, though he has played primarily inside.

Pro football Focus rates Hicks seventh overall among all NFL inside linebackers. 

Unfortunately for the Eagles, Hicks suffered a torn pectoral muscle last weekend against the Dallas Cowboys and is done for the season. The loss looks to be a big one.

"I can't believe I'm saying this about a guy who if you asked me about him before the season, I wouldn't have said much,'' one unnamed NFL scout recently said of Hicks, per Mark Eckel of NJ.com. "But that loss could be devastating.''

Hopefully, a new player can step in and surprise Philadelphia over the second half of the year. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Ross Cockrell, Cornerback

Coming into the season, we knew that the Pittsburgh Steelers defense was likely to struggle, and it has—at least against the pass. The team is giving up an average of 273.0 passing yards per game (26th in the NFL) and is rated dead last in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

There is a bright spot in the secondary, however, and it has come from an unlikely place.

Cornerback Ross Cockress was a fourth-round draft pick of the Bills in 2014, but he saw very little playing time as a rookie and was released prior to the start of the 2015 season. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was quick to pounce on him.

"Coach Tomlin had seen him on film and brought him in," defensive coordinator Keith Butler said, per Jacob Klinger of PennLive.com. 

The decision has paid positive dividends. 

Cockrell is rated 23rd overall among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus. He has 27 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defended. Expect the former Duke standout to continue working his way into a permanent role in Pittsburgh. 

San Diego Chargers

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Steve Johnson, Wide Receiver

Do you remember when wide receiver Stevie Johnson was playing with the Bills and looking like one of the league's hottest up-and-coming pass-catchers? It feels like quite some time ago because Johnson floundered with the EJ Manuel-led Bills in 2013 and with the run-first San Francisco 49ers in 2014.

Well, the Stevie Johnson who is now playing with the San Diego Chargers sure looks a lot more like the one who had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons than the last incarnation.

Oh, sorry. Apparently, it's Steve Johnson now. I guess our favorite little seriousness-questioning receiver is all grown up. 

Johnson has certainly been a welcome addition to the Chargers offense. In seven appearances, he has produced 351 yards and two touchdowns on 31 receptions. These are not eye-popping numbers, but at his current pace, Johnson is set to post his best season since 2012. 

Of course, Johnson is also likely to put up much bigger numbers over the second half of the season. San Diego has lost both receivers Keenan Allen and Malcolm Floyd for the season because of injuries. 

Surprisingly, it's time for Johnson to be a No. 1 NFL receiver once again. 

San Francisco 49ers

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NaVorro Bowman, Linebacker 

San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman is another guy on this list who is no stranger to the spotlight. He is a three-time All-Pro defender who racked up more than 140 tackles in three of his first four seasons.

However, Bowman hasn't played since suffering a brutal leg injury in the playoffs following the 2013 season. To see him return and play at such a high level has to be at least a little bit surprising.

Bowman has picked up right where he left off two years ago. Through nine weeks, he has amassed 88 total tackles to go with 2.0 sacks and a batted pass. He is second in the NFL in tackles and is on pace to produce 156 tackles for the season, which would be a career high.

Bowman is rated fourth overall among all inside linebackers in run defense by Pro Football Focus.

What's truly surprising is that Bowman is putting up big numbers despite not being back to 100 percent health. He's thriving because of experience and instinct.

“I’m not back where I was,” Bowman said last month, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. “That’s the goal, every single week to get better. It’s definitely getting better. It’s allowing me to get more comfortable with it."

Plenty of things have gone wrong for the 3-6 49ers this season, but getting Bowman back and playing at a high level is one that has gone right. 

Seattle Seahawks

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Thomas Rawls, Running Back

The Seattle Seahawks offense has been operating with a very familiar formula this year. Seattle is using a grinding, run-first attack led by a bruising power back. 

The difference this year is that Marshawn Lynch isn't the running back leading the charge. The team's best running back right now is undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls. 

OK, so Rawls only has one more rushing yard than Lynch at this point in the season. However, his 376 rushing yards have come on 34 carries fewer than Lynch's 375. Rawls is also leading the team with a yards-per-carry average of 5.4 (quarterback Russell Wilson is second at 5.2).

We'll also admit that Lynch is taking the role back over now that he is healthy and will most likely finish the season ahead of the rookie in several categories. However, it has been both surprising and fun to watch Rawls go from being a relative unknown to a spot starter and regular contributor with the offense. 

Rawls came to the Seahawks out of Central Michigan and showed enough during the offseason that Seattle felt comfortable parting with backups Christine Michael and Robert Turbin. He's likely to remain a part of the franchise moving forward. 

St. Louis Rams

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Rob Havenstein, Offensive Tackle

In many ways, St. Louis Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley has been a surprise this season. He has come back from a serious ACL injury and has immediately established himself as one of the best backs in the NFL. He already has 664 yards despite missing two games.

However, we'd like to give a little credit to one of the men out there blocking for Gurley: rookie offensive tackle Rob Havenstein. We don't want to take away from Gurley's greatness, of course, but Havenstein just feels like the bigger surprise.

Making the transition from college to the pros can be very difficult for offensive linemen, especially when being thrust into a starting role almost immediately. However, the Wisconsin product has handled things extremely well. He is one of the stronger pieces on the Rams offensive line and is fast becoming one of the better young tackles in the NFL.

He is currently rated 19th among all offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus.

Havenstein is tough, physical and savvy at the point of attack, and he is a true weapon on the right side of the line. Watch a long Gurley run that breaks on the right edge, and you'll likely see the rookie lineman manhandling a defender along the way.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Howard Jones, Defensive End 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Howard Jones did not have a speedy path to playing time in the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd (I had to look it up, too) by the Steelers in 2014, was added to the Buccaneers practice squad this season and was called up in early October.

For many small-school players in Jones' situation, the idea of jumping into the NFL world might have seemed a bit daunting. Jones, however, did not seem scared.

He has quickly made an impact as a situational defender in the Buccaneers defense. In his four appearances, he has produced three tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble, and he returned a separate fumble 44 yards for a touchdown. 

Pro Football Focus rates Jones fifth on the team in pass rush. 

"High motor," offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said of Jones, per the team's official website. "That kid’s got a high motor. He gives good effort every day."

If Jones keeps making plays on game day—especially game-changing plays such as sacks and forced fumbles—then he is likely to remain a staple in the Buccaneers defense for the rest of this season and beyond. 

Tennessee Titans

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Antonio Andrews, Running Back

Tennessee Titans running back Antonio Andrews has been a bit of a surprise this season, both because of his own ability and because of his path to the top of the depth chart.

Andrews signed with the Titans as an undrafted rookie out of Western Kentucky in 2014. He spent most of the season on the practice squad but did appear in a handful of regular-season games. He spent the beginning of this season as more of an afterthought but has emerged as the team's top option at running back.

What's probably even more surprising here is how quickly fellow running back Bishop Sankey has fallen in Tennessee. The former Washington back was drafted by the Titans in the second round of the 2014 draft and was the first back taken that year.

However, Sankey has struggled to adapt to the pro game and has seen less and less playing time as the season has worn on. He didn't see a single snap in last week's win over the Saints.

Instead, it has been Andrews who has been leading the charge. He has started the past two games for the Titans and is rated first among all Tennessee backs by Pro Football Focus. 

Since earning a significant role three weeks ago, Andrews has rushed for 209 yards with a 4.6 yards-per-carry average. He has also caught four passes for 41 yards over that span.

So the Titans did get their starting running back out of the 2014 draft class. Surprisingly, though, it wasn't Sankey. 

Washington Redskins

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Jamison Crowder, Wide Receiver

In today's NFL, it isn't exactly uncommon to see a rookie receiver step in and make an immediate impact for his new team. It's a lot less common, however, when that receiver is an undersized fourth-round draft pick out of Duke.

Enter Jamison Crowder, a 5'8", 185-pound wideout who has made his mark in Washington over the first half of the season. The former Duke standout has performed as a punt returner and has hauled in 38 passes for 342 yards. 

"The fourth-round rookie out of Duke has added the coverage-beating skills and versatility from the slot Washington has lacked for far too long," Bleacher Report's James Dudko wrote of Crowder in a very detailed analysis of the rookie receiver. 

Crowder, for the record, currently holds the third-highest rating among Washington offensive players from Pro Football Focus. Only tight end Jordan Reed and Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams are rated higher. 

Crowder's presence helps the Redskins maintain a functional offense, even though the team has largely been without wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The former Eagles star has only appeared in two games this season because of injuries. He has three receptions for 15 yards in all.

Though Crowder isn't likely to go taking Jackson's job any time soon, his emergence in Washington's offense has been a welcome and needed surprise.