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Every NFL team’s breakout player so far this season

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The fun in sports comes from the unexpected — the surprise story. 

These 32 players might not be surprises to all, but their performances this season are blowing away expectations or reaching lofty goals for the first time in their careers. 

Whether they're an undrafted free agent, a player who has changed positions or a touted young player who is finally at the level so many expected, these guys are break-out years:

 

Brad PennerBrad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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Chicago Bears – Jordan Howard

The fifth-round pick out of Indiana (via UAB) has become the Bears' feature back in his rookie year and could post a 1,000-plus-yard season on roughly 200 attempts. 

He'll be the man in Chicago for a long time. 

Aaron DosterAaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

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Cincinnati Bengals – Josh Shaw

The safety/nickelback is grading out similarly to his rookie season, but his influence in the Bengals defense has increased significantly from year to year. He's a critical cog in Cincinnati now. 

Aaron DosterAaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

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Buffalo Bills – Zach Brown

Brown was a solid player who has turned into a vacuum cleaner in his first year with the Bills. He's third in the NFL in tackles and just as high in bone-crunching hits.

Timothy T. LudwigTimothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

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Denver Broncos – Matt Paradis

The Denver offensive line hasn't been all that good in 2016, but the middle is not a problem. Paradis has evolved into one of the league's best centers.

Ron ChenoyRon Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

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Cleveland Browns – Terrelle Pryor

This is the breakout of all breakouts — Pryor has gone from a novelty (he was a quarterback at Ohio State) to an All-Pro-caliber wide receiver at age 27, despite playing for the worst team in football.

Scott GalvinScott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mike Evans

Breakout might be a stretch, but how else would you characterize a player going from good to the best in the league at his position?

Jonathan DyerJonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

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Arizona Cardinals – Markus Golden

The defensive end had made an impact in limited snaps, but given the opportunity for more playing time this season, he's been rock solid, posting seven sacks. 

Also considered: SS D.J. Swearinger, FS Tony Jefferson

Mark J. RebilasMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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San Diego Chargers – Tyrell Williams

The Chargers really needed a receiver to step up this season and Williams proved to be the man. The second-year player out of Western Oregon, who had two catches going into this season, has 51 catches for 790 yards and five touchdowns in 2016. 

Also considered: LB Korey Toomer

Jake RothJake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

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Kansas City Chiefs – Chris Jones

The 37th-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft has seen more and more snaps as the season has progressed and has proven to be a disruptive force as both a run stuffer but also as a pass rusher — a big improvement for the Kansas City defense.

Denny MedleyDenny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

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Indianapolis Colts – Rashaan Melvin

There’s not a lot to choose from with the Colts this year, but after two years of being one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL, Melvin has made the leap to competency and perhaps is even above-average in 2016. 

Aaron DosterAaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

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Dallas Cowboys – Dak Prescott

Who else could it be? The fourth-round pick and expected rookie backup is an MVP candidate this season

Tim HeitmanTim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

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Miami Dolphins – Jay Ajayi

He was left at home to start the season, but since he’s returned to the Dolphins’ lineup, he’s been spectacular. He’s the top running back in the NFL in yards per attempt and his back-to-back 200-yard games were just the fourth time someone has done that in the NFL’s Super Bowl-era history.

Jasen VinloveJasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

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Philadelphia Eagles – Jordan Hicks

Another case of good turning into borderline great, Hicks has taken a strong rookie season and turned it into a spectacular sophomore campaign. No linebacker in the NFL — not even Luke Kuechly or Jerrell Freeman — grades out as well in coverage as Hicks. 
 
And there's still plenty of room to grow. 

Bill StreicherBill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

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Atlanta Falcons – Taylor Gabriel

Julio Jones is one of the best receivers in the NFL, but he gets plenty of attention, so there are opportunities for other wideouts to get in on the action in Atlanta. 
 
Gabriel, who was a preseason cut by the Browns, has been a top 20 receiver in this league this year, per Pro Football Focus. He has 21 catches on 28 targets, but he’s become a favorite target of Matt Ryan in recent weeks. 
 
Also considered: S Keanu Neal (who was a first-round pick but has been awesome this season.)

James LangJames Lang-USA TODAY Sports

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San Francisco 49ers – Rashard Robinson

There’s not much to choose from in San Francisco either, but Robinson has become a competent cornerback this season.

Kelley L CoxKelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

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New York Giants – Landon Collins

After a woeful rookie year, Collins is thriving in his sophomore campaign. He leads all safeties in the NFL in tackles, has 10 pass deflections (No. 1 for safeties), and five interceptions (No. 1 for safeties).
 
You’re picking up on the trend.

Brad PennerBrad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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Jacksonville Jaguars – Tyson Alualu

He’s not getting a full workload of snaps, but Alualu has been really good when he’s seen the field this year — something not too many other Jaguars can say.

Andrew WeberAndrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

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New York Jets – Quincy Enunwa

Where did this guy come from?
 
Enunwa has become a favorite target of Jets quarterbacks this year — catching 43 passes for 643 yards and four touchdowns and giving New York another big-play threat. 
 
Could you imagine if they had a competent quarterback?

Brad PennerBrad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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Detroit Lions – Travis Swanson

Want to know why Matt Stafford has become an MVP candidate this year? You should look at the man who snaps him the ball. Swanson has gone from a bottom-of-the-league center to one of the best at his position this year. You can see the difference in the Lions’ offensive production. 
 
Also considered: CB Nevin Lawson

Raj MehtaRaj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

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Green Bay Packers – J.C. Tretter

Was named the starting center before the season started and lived up to the new responsibility. He was a top 5 center in the NFL for most of the season, until injury knocked him out of the lineup in Week 8. 
 
Also considered: DE Nick Perry, LB Blake Martinez

Jeff HanischJeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

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Carolina Panthers – James Bradberry

There’s not much to choose from with the Panthers this season – it’s pretty much the same cast as last season — but the rookie out of Samford has been solid in recent weeks and has hinted at a promising future.

Jeremy BrevardJeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

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New England Patriots – Shaq Mason

Mason has posted an excellent bounce-back year in his sophomore campaign. He's the 23rd-ranked guard per Pro Football Focus.

Kyle TeradaKyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

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Oakland Raiders – Perry Riley

The entire team is breaking out, but Riley, who was cut by Washington before finding a home with the Raiders, has found playing time in recent weeks (before injury) and really added some solid run-stopping play to a team that really, really needs it.

Kim KlementKim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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Los Angeles Rams – Maurice Alexander

The safety has bounced back from a wickedly poor rookie season to be a standout two-way defensive back on a really good defense this year.

Aaron DosterAaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

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Baltimore Ravens – C.J. Mosley

Another case of going from good to great. If not for the ageless and incredible Eric Weddle, Mosley would be the best player on the Ravens' defense. He's become one of the best linebackers in the NFL in his third season.

Aaron DosterAaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

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Washington – Su'a Cravens

Anyone who watched the safety/linebacker at USC knew he was going to be good — he was incredible for the Trojans — but perhaps not this good this fast at the NFL level. He's a tweener, so he has room to grow, but it's clear he's going to be a staple of the Washington defense for years to come.

Brett DavisBrett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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New Orleans Saints – Michael Thomas

The second-round pick out of Ohio State has been one of the best receivers in the NFL this year. The numbers are staggering, even when you factor in the fact he plays for the Saints: 65 catches, 789 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Derick E. HingleDerick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

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Seattle Seahawks – Justin Britt

There were questions if Britt would hold his job — his play was that poor his first two years. He did, and he's been one of the best centers in the NFL this year — a critical breakout for one of the worst offensive lines in the league.

Mark J. RebilasMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Pittsburgh Steelers – Jesse James

The tight end doesn't grade out well, but he's a red-zone threat for the Steelers, catching 29 passes on 43 targets with three touchdowns this season.

Charles LeClaireCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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Houston Texans – A.J. Bouye

After three middling seasons, Bouye has made an incredible leap in 2016. He's the third-ranked corner in the NFL this season, per Pro Football Focus.

Also considered: TE C.J. Fiedorowicz

Isaiah J. DowningIsaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

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Tennessee Titans – Kevin Byard

A standout at Middle Tennessee State, Byard was a third-round pick who is getting more and more snaps every week. He’s equally good in coverage as he is in run defense. He’s exceeded expectations in his rookie year but could make an even larger leap next year.
 

Orlando Jorge RamirezOrlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

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Minnesota Vikings – Adam Thielen

Thielen, a local product, made the Vikings out of Division II Minnesota State on a tryout. Now he’s the Vikings’ most reliable receiver. You can’t make this stuff up.

Brace HemmelgarnBrace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

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