The AFC’s Week 8 “Secret Superstars” spotlight shines on three players who slipped under the radar but delivered standout performances on Sunday.
Chiefs find a hidden weapon in Emmett Johnson
Kansas City Chiefs overhauled their rushing attack in the 2026 offseason, bringing back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and signing Kenneth Walker III to a three-year deal worth $43.05 million.
The club added Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson with the 151st overall pick in the fifth round of the draft, a selection that generated little fanfare.
In 2025 Johnson logged 251 carries for 1,450 yards, 12 touchdowns, 68 forced missed tackles and 36 runs of at least ten yards while at Nebraska.
His combine showing was modest, which likely contributed to the low draft slot.
Against the Denver Broncos, Johnson recorded five receptions on five targets for 128 yards and a touchdown, plus a single rush that gained 15 yards and broke five tackles.
“If Emmett can come in and be a change of pace, break tackles and make plays, catch the ball, do all that different type of stuff, defenses can’t relax,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said after the game.
The club still seeks a receiver upgrade before the trade deadline, but the ground game appears solid.
Jets rely on Braelon Allen as Breece Hall sidelined
New York Jets drafted Braelon Allen in the fourth round of the 2024 draft after his productive tenure at Wisconsin, where he amassed 3,482 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns.
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Initially a backup to Breece Hall, Allen saw limited action—110 carries across the 2024 and 2025 seasons—until Hall’s quadriceps injury opened a larger role.
Sunday’s contest with the Las Vegas Raiders saw Allen carry the ball 21 times for 147 yards and one touchdown, though the Jets fell 38-33.
Since Week 5 he has forced 20 missed tackles, second only to Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs.
“Guys up front moving people, just being patient and just letting the game come to me,” Allen explained, emphasizing his reliance on reading blocks.
His emergence gives the Jets a reliable power option, allowing the offense to diversify play-calling and better control the clock when needed. In red-zone situations his power style has proven effective, and his ability to catch passes on swing routes has increased yards after the catch, helping sustain drives despite a struggling receiving corps.
Titans add edge rusher Jacob Martin
Tennessee Titans signed edge rusher Jacob Martin to a two-year, $9 million contract with $4.5 million guaranteed during the offseason.
Martin’s debut came after the Titans moved veteran interior lineman Jeffery Simmons to Chicago, signaling a shift toward younger talent.
In the overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Martin posted three sacks, five quarterback hits and two hurries, pressuring Joe Burrow throughout the game.
He has accumulated seven sacks and 29 pressures this season, highlighting his role as a primary pass-rusher for the team.