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10 unheralded NFL players set to make a major impact in Week 12
Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls has to continue to shine with teammate Marshawn Lynch out with injury. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

10 unheralded NFL players set to make a major impact in Week 12

Last week saw the likes of Thomas Rawls and Brock Osweiler fill in for injured starters while leading their teams to important victories. 

As has been the case during one of the most-surprising seasons in NFL history, this has happened over and over again through the first 11 weeks of the campaign. That is to say, unheralded players stepping up at key times.

This week's action promises to be much of the same. From the aforementioned Seattle Seahawks running back to a quarterback in San Francisco, here are your 10 unheralded players set to make a major impact in Week 12.

1. Thomas Rawls, running back, Seattle Seahawks

With Marshawn Lynch out for at least the next month, Seattle is going to have to rely on Rawls to create balance in an offense that has struggled to an extent through the air this season.

The bad news here is that Rawls is taking on a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that ranks in the top five of the NFL against the run.

The good news here is that this rookie free agent is coming off a Week 11 performance against San Francisco that saw him rack up 250-plus total yards and two scores.

With Seattle likely eyeing to take advantage of a suspect Pittsburgh secondary, having someone control the momentum on the ground could open things up down the field here. We saw that first hand last week against San Francisco.

2. Logan Ryan, cornerback, New England Patriots

Most of the talk around New England's water cooler has surrounded Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler. And rightfully so. Butler has played elite-level football chasing around the other team's top receiver.

Though, Ryan should be the one Pats corner to keep an eye on Sunday night. After missing last week's game against the Chicago Bears, it appears that Emmanuel Sanders will be back this weekend. If so, that's the assignment Ryan will be given.

Through 10 games, the former Rutgers standout has allowed just 44 percent of the passes thrown in his direction to be completed for an incredibly low 59.0 quarterback rating.

Whether it's Sanders or someone else lined up opposite him, Ryan could make Brock Osweiler's night long by forcing the quarterback to target Butler on the other side of the field.

3. Chris Hogan, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills

This former practice squad player in both San Francisco and Miami has quietly had a good run with Buffalo. He tallied 41 receptions and four touchdowns on 61 targets last season.

Boom or bust over the past four games, Hogan has sandwiched two games without a catch with two performances combining for 12 receptions and 151 yards.

Taking on a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has allowed a whopping 150 catches and 14 touchdowns to receivers on the season, Hogan should have himself a heck of a game. He's going to need to show that type of consistency for the Bills to be able to rely on him moving forward this year.

4. J.J. Nelson, wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals

While all the talk this season surrounding young Cards receivers have involved John and Jaron Brown, Nelson quietly stepped up big time in Michael Floyd's stead last week. The rookie fifth-round pick caught four passes for 142 yards and a touchdown against a stout Cincinnati Bengals secondary.

Now going up against a hapless San Francisco team that ranks in the bottom six of the NFL against the pass, the expectation has to be that Nelson will pick up where he left off last week.

That's only magnified by the fact that the 49ers have struggled against the speedier type receivers this season. Look for a big game from the first-year player.

5. Blaine Gabbert, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers

It's pretty hilarious to consider Gabbert an unheralded player. He was a top-10 pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars just a few years back after performing at a high level for Missouri in college.

After struggling through three disastrous seasons in Jacksonville, Gabbert was jettisoned to San Francisco prior to last season to back up Colin Kaepernick.

Now the starter for the 49ers after the team benched Kaepernick, Gabbert is being given a eight-game test run to show the team what he has to offer.

It hasn't been sexy by any stretch of the imagination, but Gabbert has looked darn good in his first two starts with San Francisco. He's completing 63 percent of his passes for 449 yards with three touchdowns and two picks (one of which was a blatant drop by a 49ers receiver). Heck, Gabbert gained 264 yards without an interception on the road against Seattle last week.

Back at the friendly confined of Levi's Stadium against a first-place Cardinals team, Gabbert is going to have to continue performing at a high level for his last-place squad to pull off the upset. Look for another strong outing here, an indication that he might deserve to be in the conversation in San Francisco moving forward.

6. Whitney Mercilus, outside linebacker, Houston Texans

With J.J. Watt dominating at the line of scrimmage, Mercilus has been the benefactor of open pass-rushing lanes throughout the season. In total, this former first-round pick has tallied 19 quarterback hurries and six sacks over the past five games.

Now that the Texans are firmly in playoff contention and tied for first in the AFC South, it's time for this Illinois product to continue playing at a high level.

Playing mostly along the right side over the past several games, Mercilus will likely be lining up against New Orleans Saints left tackle Tarik Armstead, who has allowed a total of just one sack in eight game this year. That's going to be a huge matchup within the overall matchup in this one.

7. Rolando McClain, linebacker, Dallas Cowboys

One of the better cover inside linebackers in the NFL, McClain put up a pick-six last week against the Miami Dolphins. His return from a suspension has been big for the Cowboys defense, something we can expect to continue Thursday.

Dallas takes on a Panthers offense that's as reliant on its tight end as any in the league. If McClain is able to shut down Greg Olsen, it will force Cam Newton to the outside in the passing game — an outside of the field that's been surprisingly good for the Cowboys defense in coverage.

8. Javorius "Buck" Allen, running back, Baltimore Ravens

Now that Justin Forsett is lost for the season with a broken arm, Allen will get a chance to shine before his rookie campaign comes to an end.

A top recruit of USC several years back, a multitude of different issues kept Allen from performing at a high level for the Trojans. Still, the NFL world saw the talent that he possessed  — something that ultimately led to him getting drafted in the fourth round of this year's draft by Baltimore.

Taking over for Forsett mid-game last week, Allen contributed 115 total yards on 27 touches against a darn good St. Louis Rams defensive front. Taking on a Cleveland Browns defense that ranks dead last in the NFL against the run, Allen should have himself a heck of a first start come Monday night.

9. Quandre Diggs, cornerback, Detroit Lions

Diggs, a rookie from Texas, has pretty much been the Lions top corner over the past several weeks. Since seeing substantial playing time back in Week 7, he's helped this unit overcome some horrendous early-season struggles.

In the four games during that span, Diggs has allowed just 12 of the 23 passes thrown in his direction to be completed. He's also yielding less than six yards per target on the season.

Diggs will face a rather interesting test Thursday playing the slot position against Philadelphia. He will find himself lined up against the likes of Jordan Matthews, Darren Sproles and Josh Huff throughout the afternoon.

A solid performance in that role could be the key to a third straight Lions victory while sending Philadelphia to 4-7 on the year.

10. Brock Osweiler, quarterback, Denver Broncos 

Coming off a mistake-free, two-touchdown performance in his first NFL start last week, Osweiler will be thrown on to a national stage for the first time at home Sunday night against the New England Patriots.

It's an absolutely monumental game for Denver. Even more so than attempting to end New England's undefeated season, the Broncos need to keep pace with both the Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals for a first-round playoff bye.

Based on the elite-level defense Denver possesses, the primary key here for this 25-year-old quarterback will be to limit the mistakes that became too common under the injured Peyton Manning. If that happens, the Broncos could end New England's undefeated season while putting themselves in position to earn a first-round bye.

Check out Vincent's other work on eDraft.com and follow him on Twitter @VincentFrankNFL

 

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