While the star players often steal the spotlight in the NFL, it’s frequently the less-recognized athletes who step up when it matters most. These players can fly under the radar for various reasons. Maybe they’re in a smaller market where their achievements don’t get the attention they deserve. Or perhaps they’re buried on the depth chart behind bigger names, leaving their talents unnoticed. Additionally, a coach might not recognize the potential of an underrated player, which hampers team performance.
At SB Nation, we strive to highlight these hidden gems both during the offseason and throughout the season. If you’re interested, we’ve also got info on the AFC and NFC Secret Superstars for the 2026 season.
Now, let’s look at our AFC Secret Superstars for Week 7 of the 2026 regular season.
(All advanced metrics are sourced from Next Gen Stats, Pro Football Focus, Sports Info Solutions, and Sumer Sports unless stated otherwise.)
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans haven’t managed to win back-to-back games since the tenth and eleventh weeks of the 2022 season. Following their recent 27-24 loss to the 2026 Browns, they now share a record with the Cleveland Browns for the longest stretch without two consecutive wins. Nonetheless, there are talented players on the roster. Jeffery Simmons is often touted as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Despite the offense’s struggles—Cam Ward is still, well, figuring things out—running back Tony Pollard is doing his utmost to improve the situation.
In the game against the Browns, Pollard carried the ball 25 times, gaining 129 yards and scoring three touchdowns. That’s impressive against a Cleveland defense that ranks 11th in run defense DVOA. Pollard has accumulated 478 rushing yards this season, meaning he’s on track to continue a streak—he and Derrick Henry were the only NFL running backs to cross the 1,000-yard mark in each season from 2022 to 2025.
Pollard truly showcased his skills against the Browns, forcing five missed tackles and executing four runs of at least ten yards.
“We aimed to be physical from the start, getting in some early runs and relying on our O-line to handle their front,” Pollard said after the game.
Unfortunately for the Titans, it wasn’t enough to change their luck—1-6 is a tough reality, especially following two consecutive 3-14 seasons.
Pollard is in the final year of a three-year, $21.75 million contract that he signed in 2024, and there’s a possibility the Titans may consider trading him for draft picks ahead of the November 10 deadline. If that happens, his latest performance likely increased his value.
Caleb Douglas, WR, Miami Dolphins
Speaking of teams struggling to even glimpse the postseason…
It was pretty clear that the 2026 Miami Dolphins were in a sort of “tank year” to cleanse the roster of past mistakes, and the short-term results haven’t been great. This left first-time GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and rookie head coach Jeff Hafley in a tough position, but their strategy to load up on talent through the draft was their best shot—especially with over $186 million in dead cap making free agency nearly impossible. It’s just a reality they had to face.
Their struggles reflected in their record; heading into Sunday’s game, the Dolphins were 0-5, and only one loss—15-10 to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4—was close. However, after a bye in Week 6, the Dolphins finally secured a win, taking down the New York Jets 28-25.
Beyond the scoreboard, Miami’s 2026 draft class shows promise—it includes players like offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor and cornerback Chris Johnson. Against the Jets, it was Caleb Douglas, the Texas Tech receiver selected 75th overall in the third round, who made a significant impact. An ankle injury had slowed his start, sidelining him since Week 3, but he quickly looked like a seasoned pro, catching his first two NFL touchdowns in just two catches. Had it not been for a miscommunication with quarterback Malik Willis, he could’ve racked up even more than the 70 yards he achieved.
On his first touchdown, Douglas made a brilliant seven-yard slant to shake cornerback Azareye’h Thomas and then flew past much of the Jets defense on his 63-yard score.
“It felt great to help our defense and give them some energy,” Willis commented after the game about Douglas’ performance. “They always bring the juice, and they did today with a couple of turnovers. To drive down the field, we all contributed—running and passing—and to cap it off with a touchdown for my guy after he’d been out for a bit, that was awesome.”
Douglas is just glad to be back in action.
“We need to stay calm and poised. We’ve got a squad, and we just need to refine the little things. We can keep stacking wins, and one has just come our way,” he added.
The road ahead might still be long for the Dolphins to reach full competitiveness, but Sunday marked a promising beginning.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns
When the Browns took Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. with the 67th pick in the 2025 draft, he was seen as part of a new trend—tight ends who are more like big receivers—so the lack of blocking skills didn’t raise eyebrows. In his last college season, he recorded 117 catches for 1,555 yards and ten touchdowns, highlighting his ability to create big plays.
Fannin quickly exceeded expectations during his rookie season, establishing a Browns rookie record with 72 catches and contributing six touchdowns. Despite being part of an offense that was ranked dead last in the NFL in Offensive DVOA, he played a crucial role.
This season, things look brighter for Fannin and the Browns. After a recent win over the Titans, they improved to 5-2 and moved up to 25th in Offensive DVOA.
Even though all of the team’s touchdowns in the Titans game came from rushing plays, Fannin was still a key participant. He caught six passes for 91 yards while showcasing his improved blocking skills, helping create space for running plays, including Watson’s rushing touchdown.
Additionally, his 36-yard catch with just 28 seconds left set up the game-winning field goal—despite a questionable false start by right tackle Dawand Jones on the play. Fannin’s efforts paint a picture of him evolving into a more rounded tight end.
In a league filled with dynamic tight ends, it’s refreshing to see someone like Fannin take on a more versatile role, which garners recognition for his hard work, now reflected in his performance. Following a quiet outing against the Ravens, head coach Todd Monken explained why Fannin’s opportunities might have been limited.
“We aimed to start him off with a screen, but it didn’t pan out, which was unfortunate,” Monken remarked. “From there, sometimes the matchups just aren’t right, especially when you have someone like Kyle Hamilton covering him. It’s a tough environment where the ball doesn’t always find its way to him, but he did well in his blocking assignments and is definitely a weapon we want to utilize.”
There’s optimism surrounding Fannin’s continued progress, and as teams adjust their defensive strategies, he could see even more opportunities to shine.
