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 8 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).
Emmett Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs went on to completely overhaul their running game last season. They brought back their offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, signed Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43.05 million contract with $28.7 million guaranteed, and selected Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson with the 151st overall pick in the fifth round.202
Of those moves, Johnson’s pick made the least waves, but if you’ve studied Johnson’s college tape, there might be a little zing there. In the year In 2025, the 5’10”, 202-pound Johnson carried the ball 251 times for 1,450 yards, 12 touchdowns, 68 forced tackles and 36 runs of 10 or more yards.
Johnson was good at combiningBut not in a way that represents his on-field versatility, which is probably one of the reasons why he went down as far as he did. We’re guessing the Chiefs are pretty happy it worked out the way it did, especially Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Kansas City lost that game 28-24 after a Malcolm Roach interception by Patrick Mahomes at the Denver 12-yard line in the final seconds, but Johnson was ejected on that play. He caught five targets for 128 yards and a touchdown on five targets, and one rushing attempt for 15 yards saw him break at least five tackles.
“Obviously the guy is Kenneth, but you want to be able to take carries off of him, so we can have him all season long,” Mahomes said postgame. I thought he did a great job today, and he’s done great every time he’s been here. We’ll continue to use him more as the season goes on, but at the same time we’ll use Kenneth.
So, the running game is ready. The Chiefs desperately need receiver help before the trade deadline, but at least they have a ground attack going for them, which is good.
Brelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
Speaking of surprising backs popping up everywhere, the New York Jets have Braylon Allen. The 6′ 1¼”, 235-pound Allen impressed at Wisconsin as a power big with some swing and explosiveness – 592 carries for 3,482 yards, 25 touchdowns, 143 forced fumbles and 77 runs of 10 or more yards for the Badgers’ 202. 134 fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft. 1st overall pick, which the Jets got.
With Brice Hall as the main man in the Jets’ backfield, it took Allen a while to find his share of the carries. He only had 110 rushing attempts in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but with Hall more than an injury concern this season (he’s missed five straight games with a quadriceps injury), Allen got his shot, and he’s made the most of it — especially recently. His 21-carry, 147-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday in a disappointing 38-33 loss was the latest in a string of great games.
Allen has 20 forced fumbles since Week 5 (only Jahmir Gibbs of the Detroit Lions has more with 26) and no one in the NFL has more runs of 10 or more yards than Allen’s 18 in that span.
“Just moving people up front, being patient and letting the game come to me,” Allen said postgame when asked about the secret to his recent success. “Not trying to force anything. Just going by my reads and really improving. Like I said, the guys up front make it happen.”
So how did it feel to score on your first six drives and still lose the game?
“Every week the goal is to win,” Allen said. “When you can’t do that, it’s hard to do—obviously there’s always positives, and I love our growth as a team and as an offense. There’s definitely ways to go, there’s positives, but like I said, the goal is to win. It’s hard to be happy when you’re not doing that.”
Maybe it would have helped if Allen had three carries (for 26 yards) in the second half? When your defense is busy blowing a 23-14 halftime lead and you’re letting Kirk’s cousins look like Patrick Mahomes in the second half, maybe pulling the trigger and bleeding the clock are better options. The Jets held a 19:17-10:43 advantage in the first half, but by the end of the game, the Raiders had marched back to make it as close as possible – 30:02 to 29:58 in Gang Green’s favor.
Maybe the coach will keep an eye on Allen’s exploits, and the 2-6 Jets can start getting in front in those games. In the meantime, the arrival of Braylon Allen helps.
Jacob Martin, EDGE, Tennessee Titans
After signing Titans tight end Jacob Martin to a two-year, $9 million contract in August, he was questioned about the ideals of his new defensive line, with $4.5 million guaranteed.
“We get in there and get out.” Martin said.. “And the linebackers clean it up. I’m so thankful to be here, thankful for the opportunity. The team is great, the people are great. A lot of young talent in this building, and I’m excited to be a part of this organization. I’m excited to grow, I’m excited to build with these guys. The sky is definitely the limit.”
Martin had already said all this. The Titans traded Jeffrey Simmons.The NFL’s best interior defensive line, went to the Chicago Bears last week for a bevy of draft picks. It’s not encouraging when your new team is in fire sale mode, but Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Martin was tied and determined to make up for Simmons’ absence by any means necessary. Martin is the best player in his career both competitively and early on. But you don’t play for eight teams in nine seasons. If you are one of those guys.
But he was on Sunday. Martin had three sacks, five quarterback hits and two quarterback hurries in a 43-36 overtime loss at Tennessee, while Joe Burrough went for 462 passing yards and six total touchdowns (five passing and one rushing) while safety Amani Hooker intercepted three of Burrough’s passes, Martin harassed Burrow and Orlando Jr. He bothered. Inside moves, outside the arc, bull-rushes — the Bengals couldn’t do anything to stop him.
As Martin put it, it’s important for the rest of the Titans’ defensive line to follow suit and “f***ks***t up.” Sure, he’s doing his part with seven sacks and 29 pressures this season.