Every year, several players blindside us with amazing seasons. Peyton Hillis in 2011, Gary Barnidge in 2015, Terrelle Pryor in 2016 (the Browns have had a lot of one-year wonders)- they all come to mind.
These players, though, are hoping their standout seasons are more than just a shot in the dark. Here is the midseason All-Breakout team.
QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Stroud is already one of the top 10-12 quarterbacks in the league and is on pace for arguably the greatest rookie season in NFL history. He is currently fourth in the NFL in passer rating, tied for fifth in touchdowns (14) and has thrown just one interception. The rookie from Ohio State is on a special trajectory.
RB Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
We’ll stay in the AFC South and go to Indianapolis because what a year Zack Moss is having. The former fourth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills was traded to Indianapolis last season, and has done a more-than-adequate job of filling in for Jonathan Taylor. Moss is second in the NFL in rushing, trailing only Christian McCaffrey. He is also averaging 4.7 yards per attempt along with five touchdowns on the ground.
WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
We are witnessing one of the most special seasons for a rookie in NFL history. Nacua is tied for fifth in the NFL with 64 catches, and well on his way to breaking Jaylen Waddle’s rookie record of 104 catches in a season. Nacua is also fourth in receiving yards with 827. If he duplicates his first half stats in the remainder of the season, he would break the rookie record for receiving yards by a rookie of 1,473 set by Bill Groman in 1960.
WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Collins entered this season coming off a career-high 37 receptions- he has 36 receptions already this season. He has been C.J. Stroud’s top target, and a very reliable option that has feen a large factor in the Texans’ offense being so explosive.
TE Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
The Lions’ draft class is looking like a potential all-timer, and LaPorta is already the No. 2 target in Detroit’s offense. The rookie out of Iowa, where they basically grow tight ends, fifth among everyone at the position in receiving yards and receptions.
EDGE Bryce Huff, New York Jets
The Jets defense is keeping whatever heart the Jets have left beating, and Huff has been an integral part of their pass rush. He is seventh in the NFL in win percentage amongst players with at least 68 pass rush snaps, per PFF. He is also tied for fourth in pressures, and his five sacks already top his total from last season.
DL Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens
Madibuike has been the best player on a Ravens defense that is a top two unit in the NFL. He has 7.5 sacks through nine weeks, and his seven sacks on true passing sets are the third-most in the NFL.
LB: Nate Landman, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are currently an example of offensive malpractice, but their defense has quietly been pretty good, and Landman is having a tremendous sophomore campaign. He is eighth amongst linebackers in solo tackles, and tied for sixth in run stops. The second-year player out of Colorado looks like a very nice piece for the future in the middle of the Falcons defense.
CB Tre Brown, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks defense is one of the most fun units in football, filled with a healthy balance of talented veterans and promising youth. Amongst those young bucks who are showing out is third-year cornerback Tre Brown. He is currently eighth in forced incompletions/target for players who have played at least 84 pass plays. His 57.1 reception percentage is also tied with Paulson Adebo, who is having an amazing year in his own right. Riq Woolen gets the majority of the love in the Seahawks’ secondary, but Tre Brown is quickly becoming the Ringo of the group.
S Geno Stone, Baltimore Ravens
If I would have told you that a Baltimore Ravens safety would lead the league in interceptions, you probably would have said “Hey, good for Kyle Hamilton.” Not so fast, sweetheart, because that’s Geno Stone’s music. Stone has been tremendous this season, and Mike Macdonald has done a lot of really good things with Baltimore’s defense in terms of disguising coverages really well- we saw a really good example of that on Stone’s interception of Geno Smith against the Seahawks. He’s also allowing a passer rating of just 48.6 when he is thrown against.
