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 find the AFC and NFC Secret Superstars for the 2026 season. Right here.
Here are our AFC Secret Superstars for Week 5 of the 2026 regular season. And if you haven’t already, Download the new SB Nation appSo read our stuff better and join the conversation wherever you are!
(According to all advanced parameters Next Gen statistics, Pro football focus, Sports information solutionsAnd Summer sports unless otherwise).
Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Things didn’t look good for the Baltimore Ravens at one point on Sunday night. Lamar Jackson was out with a sprained left ankle, and even though Tyler “Snoop” Huntley is considered one of the NFL’s better backups, Huntley was doing his thing with the fifth-lowest EPA allowed per game at -0.01 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons’ defense.
The Atlanta Sharks Week defense generated a 53.8% pass rate on Baltimore’s first nine drives and on those first nine drives, Huntley completed 13 of 21 passes for 121 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, a passer rating of 93.6 and an EPA of -0.39 per game.
Down 23-15 with 2:17 left in regulation and first-and-20 at his own 19-yard line, offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. After the catch penalty, Huntley came out as few expected.
In the drive that tied the game at 23-23 and eventually won the game 30-23 in overtime, Huntley completed 11 passes for 80 yards, another touchdown, no interceptions, a passer rating of 127.3 and an EPA of +0.72 per game. Oh, and he also dashed into the end zone for the winning touchdown with 3:01 left in overtime. All the Ravens had to do then was wait for Tua Tagovailoa to throw a soul-crushing interception. And Tagovailoa complied.
When it was all over, it became Huntley The only player in the history of football with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown to go 10-for-10 or more in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime.
“Snoop’s like one of the best dudes out there,” Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said. He’s always the same, and has a good demeanor about him and (and) maintains composure. That’s what he told me before the game. And he just did his job, and he did it at a high level. I said to the guys last night, ‘There’s no more trustworthy locker room in the NFL than our guys have in Snoop,’ so he’s done a great job. He played really well, he played with more confidence as the game went on and the moments went on, which is great to see.
Defensive lineman Callas Campbell, who has seen it all in his 19-year career, agrees.
“I’m so proud of the (Huntley) guy. We always rally behind him. We know what he can do. When he’s locked in and plays the game, he can beat anybody. He can put points on anybody. We put 30 points on the board tonight against a good defense. He took overtime, but he kept throwing in the critical moments of his surgery. He didn’t return.
“Tyler Huntley, man, any time he’s in the game, I’m confident.”
Finding the right backup quarterback is incredibly valuable, and in Huntley — a seven-year veteran from Utah who won all three games in relief for the Ravens the past two seasons — Baltimore has just such a player.
Everyone in the building agrees, and everyone in the building is right.
Elias Ponder, EDGE, New England Patriots
In five seasons with the Cal Poly Mustangs from 2020-2024, edge rusher Elijah Ponder has done his best to raise his profile, totaling 25 sacks and 151 pressures in his collegiate career. But you know how it is with many small school boys – they are lost in the driver. Apparently, Small schools don’t even exist for Big Brains on College Gameday..
Okay, I’m pissed. Anyway, I wasn’t familiar with Ponder’s game until now. I was talking to various members of the Patriots defense during Super Bowl week.His name was raised. The undrafted free agent had four sacks and 24 pressures on 210 rushing snaps in his rookie season, and he was on the brink.
Well, the milestone has been reached in the 2nd year. The 6’3”, 245-pound Ponder has five sacks and 18 pressures in 125 pass-rush snaps this season, and is coming off a two-sack, five-pressure game against the Las Vegas Raiders – a 45-17 rout of the Patriots.
“Yes, for sure.” Notice he said last week. When asked if his sophomore growth is real (that you can’t see on tape). “As a rookie, you go in not knowing what to expect. You want to be out there, you want to make the team, you want to make sure you learn everything you need to learn and apply it to the best of your ability on the field. I was in my head (as a rookie) a lot.”
Ponder has the tools to remain among the most effective and disruptive edge defenders in the NFL, and now is the time to buy his stock.
Jordan War, safety, Cincinnati Bengals
Through the first three seasons and four games of his NFL career, 2023 third-round Bengals safety Jordan Battle has allowed 901 yards, six touchdowns, seven interceptions, six pass breakups and an opponent passer rating of 62 on 90 targets. Not bad for an Alabama alum, but not exactly 10 among deep safeties. So, in the week leading up to Cincinnati’s Sunday game against the Miami Dolphins, it was interesting to watch Battle go forensics as Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis gave up on the opposing defense.
“He has to tap a little bit before every throw, so I feel like we can use that as a key to breaking the ball,” Battle said. “He likes to hit before he throws the ball or raises his arm, and that read (b) gives him a break. Obviously, he’s a risk to his feet. We know we have to be alert for that. Third-and-longs run the quarterback, and in the passing game, it extends plays. So we’re going to be good pads downfield, and the DBs are going to take chances on that. You just have to be, watch the guys in the lineup.
So Battle had done his homework, and it paid off. In Cincinnati’s 31-24 win over Cincinnati, which went 3-2 on the season, Battle was targeted once, allowing no catches and two interceptions. We can forever debate whether or not Willis was giving anything away — Battle’s first interception was on a pass tipped by Boy Maffei — but whatever Battle does in the film room, he appeared at the right time.
“Just one brutal drill, and he’s looking down the field, and I’m trying to get into the zone — get into position to make a play,” Battle said of his second interception.
The fight wasn’t just about the choices in this game. He also had a close sack (zero-yard gain) of Willis on a deep third down in the first quarter and rushed Willis in the fourth quarter — though Willis’ three-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. with 7:19 left.
Overall, it was a complete game for the fourth-year man.
“Great,” Battle said when asked how he felt. “Obviously, we’re back in the win column. That’s what we wanted to do coming into this week.”
The Bengals’ defense has been top notch this season, and Battle’s informed actions helped a lot on Sunday.
