10 unheralded NFL players set to make major impacts in Week 15

Last week saw the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Isaiah Crowell put up huge games to help their teams to victory.

It happens every week. A handful of players come out of the blue to perform at exceedingly high levels. While Fitzpatrick had performed well for most of the season, his 263-yard, three-touchdown performance was huge for a Jets team that needed a win.

There are players on contending teams that seem prepared to break out more this week, one of Fitzpatrick's New York Jets teammates included.

Here are 10 such players.

1. Bilal Powell, running back, New York Jets

Since returning from injury back in Week 11, Powell has slowly but surely found himself playing a larger role as a change of pace for starter Chris Ivory.

He followed up a 108 total-yard performance against the New York Giants in Week 13 by putting up 82 total yards on eight touches in a 30-8 win over the Tennessee Titans last week.

What makes Powell such an intriguing player this week is that he's been off-the-charts good in the touches he has seen since returning. The former fourth-round pick is averaging 8.1 yards per touch in the past four four games.

Taking on a Dallas Cowboys defense that is in the middle of the pack against the run, Powell should continue to excel as the lightning to Ivory's thunder.

2. Malcolm Jenkins, defensive back, Philadelphia Eagles

Since moving Jenkins into the slot earlier this month, the Eagles have not lost a game. What could very well be a coincidence is potentially a season-changing turn of events.

You don't need to follow the Eagles on a consistent basis to know that they have struggled defending the pass. Byron Maxwell was brought on to be that shutdown guy. He has responded by allowing a 97.9 quarterback rating.

When the Eagles' top corner, Nolan Carroll, went down with a season-ending injury, the team was forced to move Jenkins from safety back to a part-time slot role. He has responded by allowing just 7 of 14 passes thrown in his direction to be completed for 77 yards with an interception in the two games since.

Now likely finding himself lining up against Larry Fitzgerald, Jenkins is going to have his hands full here. That's only magnified by the fact that an elite Arizona Cardinals passing game may also feature stud second-year receiver John Brown in the slot at times. That's a combined 118 receptions for nearly 2,000 yards on the season.

3. Tyler Lockett, wide receiver, Seattle Seahawks

Pretty much a special teams ace for Seattle during the early part of his rookie season, unfortunate injuries and his own play have forced the defending conference champs to play Lockett more recently. And he hasn't disappointed.

Over the course of his past four games, this Kansas State product has put up 20 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns. The amazing thing here is that he's caught 20 of 22 passes thrown in his direction in those four games and heads into Week 15 with an absurd 80 percent catch rate.

Previously viewed as a slot receiver, Lockett has been lined up to the right of Russell Wilson since he started seeing more action. That's also enabled Doug Baldwin to move inside to the slot over the past several games. It's not a coincidence that Baldwin has racked up a whopping eight touchdowns in the three games since.

4. David Amerson, cornerback, Oakland Raiders

This former draft bust of the Washington Redskins has found himself taking on a large role for the Raiders after they picked him up off the waiver wire earlier in the season. In fact, Amerson has started nine of the 11 games he has appeared in for Oakland.

Heading into Week 15, it's relatively clear that Amerson has been the team's most consistent cornerback. He has allowed just 57 percent of the passes thrown in his direction to be completed and has not yielded a single touchdown thus far.

With D.J. Hayden still following around the opposing team's top receiver, Amerson will likely find himself lined up against a combination of James Jones and Davante Adams on Sunday.

In this, the Raiders seem to have a built-in advantage. The key here will be Hayden and Amerson shutting down the outside — something that has led to myriad issues for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' passing game this season.

5. Rueben Randle, wide receiver, New York Giants

Randle hasn't been all too consistent thus far this season. He is catching the ball at a 65 percent clip and does have five touchdowns on the season. Those are No. 2 wide receiver numbers most teams would take.

However, Randle has put up two catches or less in nearly a third of the Giants' games this season. That's something he will have to change Sunday against the Carolina Panthers with Josh Norman slated to cover Odell Beckham Jr.

The good news here is that Randle should find himself more targeted in this one. There is no reason to believe that Eli Manning will target OBJ double-digit times with a shutdown corner in Norman going up against him. This puts the onus on Randle to have a big game.

6. Markus Golden, linebacker, Arizona Cardinals

With only five sacks in 13 games, some figure that Golden is going through the same rookie struggles that most pass-rushing linebackers have to go through.

That's until we realize he has put up 32 quarterback hurries this season, including 14 over the past three games. That's the 11th highest mark at the outside linebacker position in the NFL today.

Sunday night against Philadelphia, this rookie second-round pick will find himself shedding blocks of right tackle Lane Johnson, who has allowed an alarmingly high number of sacks this season (six).

If Golden is able to put consistent pressure on Sam Bradford, it will sure help a ball-hawking Cardinals secondary force some mistakes.

7. Arik Armstead, defensive line, San Francisco 49ers

Lost in what has been a dreadful season for San Francisco is that some youngsters have really played well when given the opportunity.

This rookie first-round pick has seen an uptick in action over the past five games, more than making the most of his chances. Overall, Armstead has racked up 17 quarterback hurries and a sack during that span. He's also performed at an above-average clip against the run, which is huge in his role as a 3-4 defensive end.

If nothing else, it looks like San Francisco has found a player in this former Oregon standout who was seen as a major project heading into the 2015 draft.

If the 49ers want to pull an upset against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, their defensive line is going to have to do its part. That means shutting down running lanes and finding a way to put pressure on a quarterback in AJ McCarron who is making his first NFL start. It sure looks like Armstead will be more than up for the task.

8. Denard Robinson, running back, Jacksonville Jaguars

With T.J. Yeldon suffering a sprained MCL in his knee last week against Indianapolis, he is officially doubtful to play in an important game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Robinson, a former quarterback at Michigan, will likely get the start. He filled in for Yeldon last week, putting up 87 total yards and a touchdown on 14 touches.

In order for the Jaguars to remain in the AFC South race, they are going to have to get balance on offense come Sunday. Surprisingly, the Falcons' defense has been pretty darn good against the pass, especially corner Desmond Trufant.

On the other hand, Atlanta has been absolutely brutal against running backs this season. This unit has given up over 2,000 total yards and 18 touchdowns to running backs through 13 games. That's absolutely atrocious.

9. Zach Miller, tight end, Chicago Bears

Now that Martellus Bennett is officially out for the season, Miller will be Chicago's primary receiving tight end for the final three games of the year. He was actually able to put up five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown in that role against Washington last week.

Even with Bennett in the fold earlier this year, Miller was able to do damage in two tight end sets. In fact, he has put up five touchdowns over the past six games.

Taking on a Minnesota Vikings defense that has been good covering the middle of the field, it is going to be important for Miller to put up a big game. That's only magnified by the questionable status of Alshon Jeffery on the outside.

10. Mohamed Sanu, wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals

With the excellent play of A.J. Green, Marvin Jones and Tyler Eifert this season, Sanu has been lost in the shuffle. Now that Eifert has officially been ruled out with a concussion, someone has to step up for AJ McCarron in this game.

The good news here is that Sanu will find himself lined up in the slot a vast majority of the time against a San Francisco 49ers defense that has been atrocious covering the middle of the field.

More than that, young quarterbacks tend to push the ball between the hashes rather than on the outside — a clear indication that Sanu will see the necessary targets to make an impact.

Check out Vincent’s other work on eDraft.com and follow him on Twitter. His work can also be seen on MSN, Fox Sports and Forbes.