Most surprising NFL players so far in 2016

After hardly seeing the field in the Miami’s first five games, second-year running back Jay Ajayi erupted for back-to-back 200-plus-yard rushing games in Weeks 6 and 7. The only other players in NFL history to do the same are O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. Ajayi looks well on his way to becoming one of the best rushers in the NFL.

A journeyman linebacker, eight weeks into the season, Lorenzo Alexander leads the NFL in sacks with nine. The Bills linebacker had nine sacks total in 127 career games coming into the 2016 season. The 33-year-old Alexander has been a wonderful surprise on defense for Rex Ryan in Buffalo.

After nearly stepping away from football entirely, Cole Beasley now finds himself as the leading receiver on the 6-1 Dallas Cowboys. Beasley’s precise route running from the slot has made him Dak Prescott’s favorite target, as the 27-year-old leads the Cowboys in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.

Most NFL fans knew Martellus Bennett was a quality tight end coming into the year, but the 29-year-old has proved that he is one of the NFL’s best in his first season with the Patriots. With Rob Gronkowski sidelined for the first few weeks of the season, the Pats didn’t miss a beat with Bennett as their starter. He has caught 31 passes and four touchdowns so far this season in New England and gives Bill Belichick’s squad the best pair of tight ends in pro football with Gronk now back on the field.

Although he is hardly thought of as a true No. 1 wideout, Kenny Britt has played like one. The Rams wide receiver has 33 catches on the season for 535 yards and has given Los Angeles a true vertical threat in the passing game. All of this is made more impressive when you take into account that Rams have been starting Case Keenum behind center.

A rookie out of Akron, Chargers inside linebacker Jatavis Brown has been one of San Diego’s best defenders through the first eight weeks on the season. The fifth-round pick has recorded 53 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles for a Chargers defense that is improving every week.

Now in his fifth NFL season, Bills linebacker Zach Brown has been playing his position at an All-Pro level. Brown leads the league in tackles with 87, has three sacks and forced two fumbles. The inside linebacker has emerged as the clear leader of Buffalo’s defense.

Derek Carr has been fantastic for the Silver and Black in 2016. The third-year quarterback has been tearing up opposing defenses to the tune of 290 yards per game and has a 17:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Most importantly, Carr has led the Raiders to 6-2 record and has Oakland on cusp of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Often criticized for inconsistent play in the secondary, the 2016 campaign has been Cowboys safety Barry Church’s best. Church has been able to step up into the box to defend against the run and has made few mistakes in pass coverage. Unfortunately for Church and the Cowboys, the 28-year-old is now sidelined with a fractured forearm.

The sixth overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, cornerback Morris Claiborne was considered a bust coming into the 2016 season. Finally, however, Claiborne has made good on his lofty draft status, as he has been the one of the NFL’s best cover corners this season. That being said, he suffered a groin injury this past Sunday that will sideline him for an indefinite amount of time. The Cowboys will miss him.

Even though the Falcons already have one the best running backs in the NFL with Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman has proved himself to be too dangerous not to have on the field for Atlanta. The speedy Coleman can line up in the backfield or out wide, where he is a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses. The second-year pro has 564 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns in seven games for Dan Quinn’s team.

After struggling in his rookie season, Giants safety Landon Collins appears primed to make his first Pro Bowl. Collins hardly misses a tackle in the open field, has proved himself to be effective on the blitz and had an amazing interception return for a touchdown in Week 7 against the Rams. The former first-round pick keeps improving week after week.

On a Redskins team that boasts the talents of DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed, it is actually wide receiver Jamison Crowder who leads Washington in receiving yards. Crowder, a second-year player out of Duke, runs his routes to perfection, and his surefire hands has made him Kirk Cousins' most dependable target. Expect Crowder to finish the year in Washington as the Redskins' top receiver.

Although prized offseason acquisition Chandler Jones has played well for the Cardinals, it’s actually second-year pass rusher Markus Golden who leads the team in sacks with six. The 2016 season has been a tumultuous one so far for the Cards, so they’ll need Golden to continue to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks if they hope to turn their season around.

An injury to Jeremy Langford opened the door for rookie Jordan Howard to stake his claim in Chicago’s backfield. A fifth-round pick, Howard has quickly proved he fell way too far in the 2016 NFL Draft, as the Bears running back has rushed for 505 yards on 99 carries. Howard also has 177 receiving yards out the backfield.

With Calvin Johnson retired, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford needed a new No. 1 wide receiver in Detroit. Free agent addition Marvin Jones has filled the role spectacularly. Jones is fifth in the NFL in total receiving yards and has hauled in 36 catches and four touchdowns in first season in Detroit. The 26-year-old is well on his way to making his first Pro Bowl.

With Kevin White injured, Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith has emerged as a dangerous weapon outside the numbers in Chicago. Meredith, a second-year player out of Illinois State, has nabbed 22 receptions for 279 yards in the Bears' last four games.

A former second-round pick, Christine Michael’s NFL career was in peril after three disappointing seasons for the Seahawks and Cowboys. But everything has clicked in Michael’s fourth season, as he has taken control of Seattle’s starting running back position. Michael has gained 538 yards for scrimmage thus far for the Seahawks and has six total touchdowns.

Yannick Ngakoue has been one of the few bright spots on a Jaguars team that always seems to be struggling. The rookie defensive end leads the Jacksonville defense with four sacks, three forced fumbles and has even recorded an interception in first seven games as a pro.

A former first-round pick, Packers linebacker Nick Perry continually disappointed Green Bay fans through his first four seasons in the NFL. 2016 has been a different story, however, as Perry has been the Packers' most effective pass rusher, evident by the fact he leads the team in sacks with 5.5 so far. Moreover, Perry finally looks like a player head coach Mike McCarthy can trust on every down.

Who could have ever predicted that another injury to Tony Romo would actually make the Dallas Cowboys a better football team? Enter fourth-round draft pick Dak Prescott. Prescott’s play as a rookie quarterback has been nothing short of miraculous, as he has led the Cowboys to a 6-1 record. Most impressively, the bright lights of the NFL seem to invigorate the young quarterback rather than intimidate him. Prescott has proved he has what it takes to be an elite NFL quarterback and should be in the conversation for league MVP. He’s been that good.

By switching his position from quarterback to wide receiver, Terrelle Pryor has revitalized his NFL career. Pryor has established himself as the Cleveland Browns' best wideout and has been the lone bright spot on the NFL’s only winless team.

After a couple subpar years, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is back in the conversation of the NFL’s elite signal callers. Ryan leads the NFL is passing yards and has Atlanta on top of the standings in the NFC South.

The second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, most thought Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz would need serious time to develop coming out of North Dakota State. Instead, Wentz has looked like a seasoned veteran through his first seven NFL games. The 23-year-old Wentz has posted a passer rating of 92.5 and has led Philly to 4-3 record. Most impressively, Wentz has played relatively mistake-free football, as he's thrown just three interceptions so far.

The Chargers needed a wide receiver to step up after the team lost Keenan Allen in the first game of the season to a torn ACL. Undrafted second-year wideout Tyrell Williams has been that player. Williams has 32 catches on the year for 530 yards and is quarterback Philip Rivers' most trusted target.