Unheralded RBs Rico Dowdle, Ty Johnson supplied large outcomes for his or her groups in Week 15

As any NFL season progresses, there might be extra unheralded gamers who stand up from humble beginnings to turn into components, and guys whose careers have gone sideways who in some way discover the highway again to relevance.

We prefer to have fun these gamers each week in “Secret Superstars.” This week, we have now two undrafted free brokers from the group which will lead the NFL in worth from such gamers, a dual-treat operating again for the Payments, the Buccaneers’ latest key offensive participant, and a defensive lineman who might have gained an important division recreation single-handedly.

Cooper Rush, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Say what you need about Jerry Jones’ attendant weirdness (squirrel brains?), and all of us have. However by no means let or not it’s stated that the Dallas Cowboys are unable to judge expertise underneath the radar. A number of undrafted free brokers have finished some good issues for the group this season, and two of them are on this week’s Secret Superstars. That is extra about vice chairman of participant personnel Will McClay than anyone with the final title “Jones,” and it’s one among many causes McClay ought to be capable to name his shot ought to he ever wish to be a normal supervisor.

Let’s start with quarterback Cooper Rush, now along with his sixth straight recreation as a starter in aid of Dak Prescott, whose 2024 season was minimize brief by a serious hamstring damage. Rush, a 2017 UDFA out of Central Michigan, has been within the group for years. Common at greatest in earlier alternatives, Rush has had a few video games wherein he’s seemed like knowledgeable quarterback. One was Dallas’ 34-26 win over the Washington Commanders, when Rush accomplished 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer score of 117.6 in November, for which he made… Secret Superstars.

Now, Rush is again once more after the Cowboys’ 30-14 Sunday win over the Carolina Panthers. On this recreation, Rush was fairly dynamic when requested to maneuver within the pocket, when he needed to roll out in boot conditions, and when underneath stress. Rush accomplished 18 of 29 passes for 214 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer score of 119.0.

“I feel the constant power and edge that he performs with,” Mike McCarthy stated of his backup. ”I feel the best way that he goes about his work. He clearly has received nice fingers. I feel he’s lots twitchier in his decrease half than individuals give him credit score for. I assumed it was nice for him to have the ability to make two vital performs with these sacks however he’s made a bunch of different performs which have actually finished a terrific job. He’s actually main the best way. It’s his preparation, it’s his work ethic after which he’s been blessed with nice potential. I feel he’s the epitome of a man that has that progress mindset, constantly improves, and constantly impacts and influences constructive change along with his teammates. I’d say these are a few the issues that stand out to me.”

If there’s one factor that would preserve Rush from succeeding at one other stage within the NFL, it’s the butterfingers, and we aren’t speaking concerning the sweet bar. He has 9 fumbles on the season, and there’s a Three Stooges facet to lots of them.

So possibly Rush isn’t the subsequent Kurt Warner, however he provides the Cowboys greater than most backup quarterbacks do.

Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys

One other Cowboys UDFA and current Famous person. Dowdle, the 2020 South Carolina alum who has finished lots to ascertain what had been a non-existent operating recreation earlier than he grew to become the principle man, is now doing his factor at historic ranges. Together with his 25-carry, 149-yard efficiency in opposition to the Panthers on Sunday, Dowdle grew to become the primary undrafted free agent operating again since Arian Foster of the Houston Texans in 2014 to achieve over 100 yards in three straight video games. Since Week 13, Dowdle has the NFL’s most dashing yards with 392, and it’s not shut. (Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons ranks second at 319.)

Maybe Dowdle’s most superb current statistic? Not a kind of 25 carries in opposition to the Panthers grew to become a unfavourable run. He additionally compelled six missed tackles, and had 5 carries of 10 or extra yards.

Clearly, Mike McCarthy is impressed – one would possibly even say grateful, given what the pre-Dowdle run recreation seemed like.

“Simply the mix of his operating type and the run blocking unit,” McCarthy stated after the win. “I feel we’re undoubtedly in sync, and I simply assume, like several good run recreation, you want the makes an attempt. Our guys have gotten into rhythm. We’ve had quite a few line-up adjustments all through the season. Simply once more immediately with the variety of guys that went down. He’s doing a very good job, breaks tackles. He has a violent run type. His programs and his decision-making have been glorious.”

Dowdle is on a one-year, $1,04 million contract with the Cowboys – his fifth with the group. May he be capable to parlay that into one thing larger elsewhere? It’s a dynamite draft class for operating backs, however Dowdle has already confirmed what the incoming prospects haven’t.

Ty Johnson, RB/WR, Buffalo Payments

Talking of operating backs making a reputation for themselves nowadays, there’s Ty Johnson, who has turn into a part of the Payments’ three-headed backfield monster consisting of James Cook dinner, Ray Davis, and Johnson. That’s four-headed if we wish to add Josh Allen as a runner, which we in all probability ought to.

Allen is his personal alien. Cook dinner is the mainstay, Davis is the facility man, and Johnson has turn into a extremely beneficial two-way menace. He can run the ball simply tremendous, however he’s additionally a pressure within the passing recreation, and it’s not simply with easy screens and swing passes. Johnson has a highly-developed route acumen that extends to the intermediate and deep ranges of the sector.

This was significantly true in Buffalo’s 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions. Johnson, the 2019 sixth-round choose of the Lions (ouch) out of Maryland, was the Payments’ best receiver, with 5 catches on 5 targets for 114 yards. He had two catches of 10-19 yards, and two extra of greater than 20 yards. That wouldn’t be dangerous for a high receiver, a lot much less a operating again.

And this has been occurring for some time.

“He’s actually sensible,” Allen stated of Johnson. “I feel he’s the most effective third-down again within the recreation. The way in which that we talk, the best way that he sees protections, it’s quarterback-like. He simply performs the sport the correct method.”

And he performs the sport in a really particular method that advantages the Payments exponentially.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Inexperienced Bay Packers

It’s been a little bit of a rocky season for Doubs, the Packers’ 2022 fourth-round select of Nevada. In early October, he was suspended one recreation for conduct detrimental to the group, lacking the Packers’ Week 5 recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams. Doubs then got here off a two-game inactive stint as a result of concussion points simply in time for Inexperienced Bay’s Sunday evening win over the Seattle Seahawks. In that 30-13 win, Doubs caught three passes on 5 targets for 40 yards. Not a giant stat line, however once you add in his two touchdowns, the truth that each had been of spotlight high quality, and that he was close to a 3rd landing on the day, that’s fairly spectacular.

Apparently sufficient, Doubs has 4 landing catches on the season – the 2 in opposition to Seattle, and the 2 he bagged in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6 as soon as his suspension was up. Perhaps he ought to take extra break day!

“Yeah, how about that catch, that second landing catch?”, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur stated of Doubs after the Seahawks recreation. “That was a big-time play. I like how Rome works. He’s been fairly constant for us when given alternatives. He comes via. So it was cool to have him again on the market. It’s laborious to get all the fellows the quantity of touches you’d prefer to when you may have a room that you just really feel is fairly stacked. You bought lots of guys that you just wish to get entangled, whether or not it’s our operating backs. Definitely [tight end] Tucker Kraft made some big-time performs. However that’s a great downside to have.”

It’s a great downside that has turned the Packers’ passing recreation into one of many NFL’s most harmful. Actually, Inexperienced Bay ranks first within the league in Passing DVOA since Week 10.

Luke Goedeke, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you recognize something concerning the Buccaneers, you recognize that left deal with Tristian Wirfs will be one of many NFL’s most dominant gamers at his place. However probably the most nice surprises about Tampa Bay’s offense in 2024 is what proper deal with Luke Goedeke has turn into in his third NFL season. The 2022 second-rounder from Central Michigan had a little bit of a tough go early on in his skilled profession – final season, he allowed six sacks and 43 complete pressures.

However in 2024? It’s been a unique story. In 411 pass-blocking snaps, Goedeke has allowed one sack and 11 complete pressures. Furthermore, he’s been an actual asset within the run recreation, and this was very true in Tampa Bay’s 40-17 Sunday win over the Los Angeles Chargers’ top-ranked protection. The Bucs ran the ball 39 occasions for 223 yards, and when Baker Mayfield dropped again to cross, finishing 22 of 27 throws for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns, it was usually Goedeke who allowed Mayfield to push the ball downfield the place he wished it to go. Whether or not he was coping with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, or Tuli Tuipulotu, Goedeke allowed no sacks, no quarterback hits, and only one quarterback hurry.

As Bucs head coach Todd Bowles stated Monday, it’s fairly good to have two excellent offensive tackles.

“They’ve been doing a great job the previous couple of weeks, particularly Tristan. Luke’s been doing a terrific job all 12 months. Ever since he’s come again from his damage, he’s been very stout for us on the correct facet of the road. It looks as if Tristan performs higher if he’s not wholesome than he’s when he’s wholesome [laughs]. Not that he’s performed dangerous when he was wholesome, however his focus, his focus, his understanding of what’s on the brink of occur and what he has to do for his job. These two guys have finished a heck of a job for us.”

These two guys are large causes that Tampa Bay’s Liam Coen-led offense has turn into one the remainder of the NFL would fairly not take care of.

Kobie Turner, DI, Los Angeles Rams

As a defensive lineman, it’s nice for those who can rack up a bunch of sacks and pressures. That’s the secret, however not all quarterback disruptions are created equal. Think about the case of the late, nice Corridor of Famer Derrick Thomas, who owns professional soccer’s single-game sack report with seven in a November 11, 1990 recreation in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks that the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs misplaced, 20-19, regardless of Thomas’ complete dominance.

More often than not, you want a couple of man killing enemy quarterbacks to get a win. And there are different occasions when that one man can truly flip the tide of a recreation time and again till it has turn into his. That’s what Rams defensive lineman Kobie Turner did in his group’s 12-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers’ final Thursday evening.

It’s not simply that the 2023 third-rounder from Wake Forest had two sacks and 5 complete pressures on the evening; it’s when these issues occurred, what they did to the 49ers, and what they did for the Rams. Each of Turner’s sacks and two of his pressures got here on third-and-6 or longer to finish drives, and his last stress of the sport with 5:20 left led to Brock Purdy’s deep interception to cornerback Darious Williams.

When you may have that many field-tilting performs in a single recreation, it issues fairly a bit greater than twice the quantity in conditions that enable the opponent to maintain doing its factor. Right here, Turner – who has performed at an All-Professional stage all season – did as a lot or extra to resolve the end result as anyone.

“I feel the constant power and edge that he performs with,” Sean McVay stated Monday, when requested what makes Turner such a disruptive pressure. “I feel the best way that he goes about his work. He clearly has received nice fingers. I feel he’s lots twitchier in his decrease half than individuals give him credit score for. I assumed it was nice for him to have the ability to make two vital performs with these sacks, however he’s made a bunch of different performs which have actually finished a terrific job. He’s actually main the best way. It’s his preparation, it’s his work ethic after which he’s been blessed with nice potential. I feel he’s the epitome of a man that has that progress mindset, constantly improves, and constantly impacts and influences constructive change along with his teammates. I’d say these are a few the issues that stand out to me.”

One factor that stood out to us at Secret Superstars HQ was a defensive lineman who got here into Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and nearly eradicated the 49ers from the postseason, whereas placing the Rams in place to guide the NFC West – which, after the aforementioned Seahawks loss to the Packers, is strictly how issues stand.