When it comes to success in the NFL, superstars may dominate the conversation, but more often than not, it’s the guys you don’t know who make the plays needed. when is They are needed. Such players can be rated low for all reasons. Perhaps they play in a small market, and the media is not properly reporting their exploits. Maybe they’re hidden deep in the chart behind big names that might not do that much. Or, maybe a coach never knew that someone needed height to get the best results for the team.
Whatever the reason, we at SB Nation always love to bring you the most underrated names. Offseason hidden gems and the then-Secret Superstars series. You can also get AFC And NFC Week 2 Secret Superstars.
Here are the NFC Secret Superstars for week three of the 2026 regular season. And if you haven’t already, Download the new SB Nation appSo you can better read our stuff wherever you are!
Marcus Mariota, QB, Washington Chiefs
Very few people expected the Washington Chiefs to light up the Seattle Seahawks’ defense on Sunday. Yes, Seattle was without safeties Julian Love and Tai Okada due to injuries, but through the first two games of the 2026 season, the defending champs are one of five teams since 2010 to hold fewer than 20 points and 4.0 yards per game. They haven’t allowed a single explosive play in the passing game and have produced three interceptions on five opponent attempts of 20 or more yards.
Next came Marcus Mariota, traded for injured quarterback Jayden Daniels. Mariota did the same in the 2025 season, completing 139 of 227 passes for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and an 86.1 passer rating. Not terrible for a backup, but he completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 110.0 passer rating against the defense from Week 1 of the 2025 season through Week 2 of the 2026 season.
Mariota had no problem throwing deep, as he did for a 30-yard touchdown to Terry McLaurin with 10:43 left in the third quarter. All in all, Washington’s 33-31 win in the first quarter was enough of an upset.
“He made an unbelievable play,” Mariota said of McClarin’s touchdown. “Yeah, it kind of changed on the fly. He beat (Seahawks cornerback) Josh (Jobe) pretty good or really bad off the line. It was one of those, he just kind of mailboxed it. I, if it was one-on-one, I’d take the shot with Terry every time, and he did something unbelievable.
It was Mariota’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Traylon Burks with 6:47 left in the first half.
It was something we thought we’d get a chance to do during the week, and Trey did a great job. It’s not an easy road. He has to cross his face with safety, and the way he manages to do that, he waits for the throw, he hangs on it. It was an incredible game by him. Like I said, there were a few of those, we thought about the game, and our coaches have to shoot right. look out”
This is a quarterback who fully understands David Bluff’s offense. The performance of those concepts was more than expected for any backup.
“Marcus is an incredible guy, first and foremost,” McClarin said of the quarterback. I call him the salt of the earth man, who comes to serve in our building every day. When he’s in the backup role and Jayden starts, he does nothing but support Jayden, support us, be friendly on the sidelines.
“Now in our third year together, we’ve developed a really good relationship. He trusts me to make plays and he trusts me to put the ball where he wants, and our relationship is great. It’s just seeing what the defense gives us on the sidelines and when we’re out there and being able to adjust on the fly.”
“As long as Marcus is there, we trust him as much as we trust Jaden.”
Never was that more true than on Sunday.
Brandon Dorlus, DL, Atlanta Falcons
In the year The 2026 Falcons were on the verge of seeing their season come to a symbolic end after a 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 and a 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Yes, it was great to have Michael Penix Jr. back on the field for the first time since last November after recovering from a torn ACL, but Atlanta’s 35-14 win over the Pack was like a defense with the right seasoning under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
In that game, In summer sportsThe Falcons were able to fumble on 16.7% of their plays, but were able to pressure Jordan Love 44.4% of the time. A good ratio if you can get one, and the main reason for all of those interceptions (aside from Green Bay’s broken offensive line) was the efforts of third-year defensive lineman Brandon Doorless.
By the way, who was it? In the year One of my favorite unexpected draft prospects in 2024.
Regardless, Dorless had to wait until the 109th overall pick in the fourth round when his name was called, which was a mistake by every NFL team, Falcons included. We got this last season when the 6’3″, 295-pound Doorless had nine sacks and 26 total pressures on 314 pass-rushes, and it was painfully obvious again in the Packers game.
“Yeah, so he plays the biggest role in our system,” Ulbrich said of Dorless on Sept. 22, two days before Dorless was released. “And that role is defined by his ability to play outside (and) inside. We’re missing a few pieces on the edge, and from that perspective, he gives us great flexibility. Just on game day when we’re light (and) lacking on the edge, he provides that. And then the beauty of Dorles is his ability to cut inside, and at the same time, be very quick.
“So the production is not where I know he wants it to be, but I think he’s playing at a high level, even though he’s not where we all want him to be. When you actually watch the tape, he’s getting a lot of one-on-one wins, a lot of good run defense inside and outside. So he’s playing really well for us right now. It’s just luck that he hasn’t stopped knocking, he’s going to keep pushing, and he’s going to keep playing. I try to be very happy with his version, but I’m excited not only for what he has today, but for him to be here.
Well, chance hit the packers. And Dorless will continue to do so without Jalon Walker (out for the season) and James Pierce Jr. (suspended for the first eight games of the 2026 season) as he continues to show his immense value to the defensive line.
When two key players are short, it always helps to have one guy who can fill each slot.
Javon Holland, safety, New York Giants
The Giants signed former Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland to a three-year, $45.3 million contract with $27.4 million guaranteed before the 2025 season. It didn’t help that Big Blue’s defense was generally weak. It ranks 26th in DVOABut Holland was also a bit of a disappointment, allowing 18 on 31 targets for 263 yards, 83 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, one interception, three pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 93.9.
It is not suitable for a man in 80% of cases waiting for a deep third.
As it turns out, the Giants had to wait a second for everything to come together. New defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s offensive tendencies have helped, and now, Holland sees everything through eyes he never knew before. Holland entered the season with two interceptions in Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, and he put up his best when the team needed it most.
The Giants were up 12-7 with 24 seconds left in the game, but the Titans had the ball at the New York 7-yard line. One touchdown there, and Holland’s team falls to 1-2 on the season.
Which Holland would not allow.
“I saw the quarterback get stripped from the pocket,” head coach John Harbaugh said of the game-clinching pick. I think someone came in from the back line, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t see Jevon. Jevon did a great job. There he was a predatory player. It’s a bit of a freebie. And I think he knows exactly where the roads are. great job”
Holland’s explanation of the play was a bit more…creative.
After the game, Holland elaborated further when asked if he thought quarterback Cam Ward would run the ball on that play.
“Yeah, actually, I’ve seen Lowkey break the pocket, and I’m the free agent, so I’ll hold them up. If he sees me running at him, he’ll stop and try to release the ball, but then I’ll see him step to the sideline and get people. He’ll roll his eyes downfield, and I’ll stay in front of the endzone.”
Holland had a ready answer for why he suddenly became a turnover machine — seven interceptions over the past five seasons and three this season. Not to mention this whole stat line: two catches for 18 yards on four targets, 10 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, those three interceptions and an opponent passer rating of 22.9.
“The ball is coming to me,” he said. “Anyone can tell you, there’s no rhyme or reason. I’m just trying to catch what they’re throwing at me. I’ve been on the jugs every day, maybe if they were, but other than that, they’re coming in bunches. The ball’s just coming my way, and I’m just trying to make sure I’m on my key and my technique, so I’m on point.”
The Giants are facing an uphill battle with injuries to Jackson Dart and Brian Burns, but if Holland continues to find himself in the right spots, that will help immeasurably.
