Stars tend to dominate conversations about NFL success. Still, games are often shaped by players who get far less attention. Sometimes they’re overlooked because they play in a smaller market; other times, they’re stuck behind more familiar names on the depth chart. And occasionally, a coaching staff takes a while to recognize what a player can bring.
Here are three AFC players who made a strong case for more recognition in Week 9 of the 2026 season.
Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos
A truly explosive running back can change an offense. Not every team has one, though, and a reliable runner who keeps drives moving can be valuable in a different way. Jonah Coleman has started to give Denver exactly that.
The Broncos selected Coleman, a 5-foot-9, 228-pound back from Washington, in the fourth round of the 2026 draft. In his final college season, he carried 157 times for 758 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. He also forced 37 missed tackles and had 20 runs of at least 10 yards. Some pre-draft discussion focused on his lack of top-end burst. Watching him, though, it was hard to miss that he could still produce big plays.
Coleman also caught 31 of 34 targets for 346 yards and two scores in 2025, a useful skill in Sean Payton’s offense, where running backs are expected to contribute as receivers.
An ankle injury sent Coleman to injured reserve in late September and delayed his start in the NFL. Over the past two weeks, however, he has become a meaningful part of Denver’s offense. He totaled 104 yards on 15 touches in the Broncos’ 28-24 win over Kansas City in Week 8. Against Carolina last Sunday, he ran 17 times for 57 yards and a touchdown, forced three missed tackles, and added four catches for 31 yards.
He didn’t have a run longer than 10 yards against the Panthers. That mattered less than the steady gains he produced. Coleman kept Denver on schedule, picked up first downs, and helped set up manageable situations for the offense.
Payton has praised Coleman’s ability in pass protection, noting that the rookie had already shown he could handle complicated assignments and stand up to blitzes. The coach also saw versatility in him during the spring, training camp, and preseason.
Quarterback Bo Nix has noticed that Coleman can handle a varied workload, too. Nix said the rookie has played with confidence and has made a particularly strong impression as a receiver out of the backfield. When he gets the ball, he looks like a natural runner, Nix added.
Coleman may not produce a highlight run every week. But Denver doesn’t need that from him to get value. He’s helping sustain drives, and it seems the team understands what his strengths are.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, Houston Texans
Houston’s 44-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers brought plenty of attention to quarterback C.J. Stroud, who threw for 385 yards and five touchdowns, as well as touchdown catches by Tank Dell and Nico Collins. Kayshon Boutte had a big day of his own, catching two of Stroud’s scoring passes.
Boutte, formerly with the New England Patriots, was traded to Houston on Aug. 24 in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick. Before Sunday, he had 15 catches for 194 yards and no touchdowns this season. Against the Chargers, he caught four of five targets for 125 yards and two scores.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said the team had been working to get Boutte a chance to catch the ball in stride and turn upfield. Many of his earlier receptions had come near the sideline, Ryans explained, while this time Boutte was able to run one in for a touchdown. He also praised Collins and tight end Dalton Schultz for blocking downfield on the play.
Houston is now 3-5 after a difficult start to the season. Boutte’s breakout gives the Texans another option as they try to build momentum.
Ventrell Miller, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has quietly built one of the league’s strongest teams. The Jaguars moved to the top of the overall DVOA rankings for the first time in franchise history, and their defense has been a major part of that rise. Before adding safety Jessie Bates III and defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis in trades, Jacksonville already ranked third in defensive DVOA.
Several players on that defense have outperformed their public profiles, including linebacker Ventrell Miller. The 2023 fourth-round pick from Florida missed his entire rookie season after tearing his Achilles in the preseason, then dealt with further injuries in 2024 and 2025. Now healthy, he has become a consistent presence.
Miller has recorded one sack, eight pressures, 35 solo tackles, 23 stops, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble this season. In coverage, he has allowed 17 completions on 24 targets for 128 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. He has also broken up four passes, and opposing quarterbacks have an 83.3 passer rating when targeting him.
He was especially effective in Jacksonville’s 33-10 win over Baltimore last Thursday, making plays both near the line of scrimmage and farther downfield.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has said Miller brings a physical edge the defense can rely on. He also pointed to Miller’s effort to keep improving and do extra work, something his teammates have noticed.
That dependable, physical play has become a valuable part of a Jaguars defense that continues to improve. Miller, after a difficult start to his NFL career, is emerging as a high-level linebacker at an important moment for Jacksonville.
