The AFC has been full of fireworks this season, but not always from the names we expected. Sure, the stars are shining — but the real heartbeat of the conference has been the surprise contributors. These are the guys stepping up when nobody saw it coming, changing narratives, flipping games, and giving their coaches unexpected weapons. Let’s run through all 16 AFC squads and highlight who’s making noise when it matters most.
AFC North
Coach Mark (Ravens) – Teddye Buchanan, LB
The Ravens’ defense is always strong, but nobody expected rookie Teddye Buchanan to be leading the team in interceptions. With 6 picks, 41 tackles, and a sack, he’s showing all the instincts of a seasoned vet. Coach Mark has unleashed him as a hybrid defender, dropping into coverage one play, blitzing the next. Baltimore already had names like Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton patrolling the field, but it’s Buchanan who’s stealing the spotlight as the defense’s tone-setter.
Coach DK (Steelers) – Desmond Ridder, QB
When Coach DK signed on, most thought Rodgers would take the reins. Instead, he handed the ball to Desmond Ridder, a QB many wrote off. The results? Nearly 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns at midseason with an absurd 76% completion rate. Ridder is managing the offense with poise, stretching defenses with his accuracy, and keeping Pittsburgh in games. He’s turned from journeyman into the unquestioned QB1, and DK looks like a genius for trusting him.
Coach Dot (Browns) – Dylan Sampson, HB
Cleveland’s backfield was supposed to be all about Nick Chubb, but rookie RB Dylan Sampson has rewritten that script. Not with rushing yards — but through the air. With 35 receptions and 420 yards, Sampson is the Browns’ second-leading receiver, bringing versatility and chunk plays on checkdowns and wheel routes. Coach Dot has unlocked a dual-threat weapon, and it’s keeping defenses honest in ways nobody expected.
Coach D-Town (Bengals) – Mike Gesicki, TE
Everyone expected Burrow to light it up with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but the Bengals’ offense has found its unexpected anchor in Mike Gesicki. He leads the team in receiving with 849 yards and 7 TDs, creating mismatches week after week. His size and hands are a nightmare for linebackers and safeties, and Coach D-Town has made him a focal point of the passing attack. For all the star power in Cincinnati, it’s Gesicki’s production that’s been most shocking.
AFC South
Coach Greeny (Colts) – Anthony Richardson Sr., QB
We knew Richardson was athletic. What we didn’t know? He’d be on pace for 1,000 rushing yards as a quarterback. With 604 yards on the ground already, he’s trucking defenders, breaking off explosive runs, and still growing as a passer. Coach Greeny has built the playbook around Richardson’s dual-threat skillset, and it’s paying off. Defenses can’t key in on Jonathan Taylor without worrying about Richardson running wild, and that balance makes Indy one of the most dangerous teams in the conference.
Coach Ke (Jaguars) – Bhayshul Tuten, HB
Travis Etienne was supposed to be the receiving back in Jacksonville, but rookie Bhayshul Tuten has stolen that role and flourished. With 20 catches for 200 yards, he’s emerged as a legitimate threat out of the backfield. Coach Ke has used him to stretch defenses horizontally, setting up bigger plays for Trevor Lawrence and the WR corps. Tuten is quietly becoming a glue piece in this offense, showing that Jacksonville’s depth runs deeper than just its stars.
Coach Doc (Titans) – Chimere Dike, WR
A rookie most thought would only contribute on special teams has turned into a reliable wideout. Chimere Dike is second on the team in receiving with 543 yards, running crisp routes and making contested catches. He’s no longer “just a kick returner.” Coach Doc has worked him into the rotation, and he’s delivered week after week. On a team where defenses gear up for Calvin Ridley, Dike’s emergence has kept Tennessee’s passing game alive.
Coach Casper (Texans) – Calen Bullock, FS
On a defense stacked with secondary talent, rookie Calen Bullock is somehow leading the Texans in interceptions. With 4 picks and nearly 100 return yards, he’s proven he can thrive among veterans like Pitre and Stingley Jr. Coach Casper’s Texans were already considered one of the toughest defenses to throw against, but Bullock’s ball-hawking has elevated them to another level. He’s the definition of “iron sharpens iron.”
AFC East
Coach Jonny (Dolphins) – Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR
On a roster headlined by Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Darren Waller, it’s shocking to see Nick Westbrook-Ikhine producing like he is. With 356 yards and 2 TDs, he’s proving that in Jonny’s spread-it-around system, anyone can shine. Defenses focused on the stars have been burned by Westbrook stepping up in clutch situations. He’s quietly one of the AFC’s most reliable “fourth options.”
Coach Puffy (Patriots) – Kayshon Boutte, WR
Everyone expected Diggs to be the Patriots’ top target, but Kayshon Boutte has flipped that narrative. Leading the team with 488 yards and 3 scores, Boutte has established himself as New England’s WR1. Puffy has put him in motion, schemed him into mismatches, and leaned on his athleticism. In an offense that needed a spark, Boutte has become the face of the passing game.
Coach A-Rod (Jets) – Arian Smith, WR
With Garrett Wilson already commanding attention, rookie Arian Smith has carved out a role as the Jets’ vertical weapon. He’s got 463 yards and a team-high 5 touchdowns, showing blazing speed and big-play ability. Coach A-Rod has weaponized Smith as the perfect complement to Wilson — one stretches defenses, the other works underneath. Together, they’re giving New York a two-headed monster.
Coach JP (Bills) – Christian Benford, CB
Buffalo has stars like Tre’Davious White, but it’s Christian Benford making highlight plays. With 3 interceptions and nearly 200 return yards, he’s been flipping fields and creating momentum. JP has him locked in at CB2, and opponents who think they’re “avoiding the star” end up paying for it. Benford’s growth has been one of the biggest reasons Buffalo’s defense looks elite again.
AFC West
Coach Fallen (Broncos) – A.T. Perry, WR
A.T. Perry has been here before. Back in his Ravens days, he was a household name in PML. Now with Denver, he’s once again proving he can be a true WR1, posting 518 yards and 3 TDs. At 6’5”, he’s a matchup nightmare, and Coach Fallen is using him to full effect. Perry’s return to form has been one of the best comeback stories of the season.
Coach Mike (Chiefs) – Drue Tranquill, LB
The Chiefs’ defense has quietly been anchored by veteran Drue Tranquill. With 63 tackles, 15 TFLs, and 2 interceptions, he’s been everywhere on the field. Coach Mike has him shooting gaps, dropping into coverage, and playing sideline-to-sideline football. In a division loaded with offensive firepower, Tranquill has been Kansas City’s stabilizer.
Coach Beast (Raiders) – Donte Thornton Jr., WR
Rookie WR Donte Thornton Jr. is one of the breakout stars of the AFC. With 414 yards and 4 TDs, he’s averaging nearly 19 yards per catch. His size and speed make him lethal downfield, and Coach Beast has wasted no time making him the focal point of his aerial attack. In Las Vegas, Thornton looks like the future.
Coach Sweat (Chargers) – Daiyan Henley, LB
Linebackers aren’t supposed to rack up picks — but Daiyan Henley has 4 interceptions to go with 60 tackles and 10 TFLs. Coach Sweat has unleashed him as both a run-stopper and coverage linebacker, and it’s working to perfection. Henley’s breakout has turned him from rotational piece to centerpiece, showing that sometimes development beats raw ratings.
Final Word
Sixteen teams. Sixteen stories nobody saw coming.
The AFC has always been the land of quarterbacks and superstars, but this year feels different. What’s making the difference isn’t just Mahomes or Allen or Burrow — it’s the surprise contributors that no one gameplanned for. The rookies making plays, the vets resurrecting careers, and the role players who suddenly matter.
Think about it: who predicted a rookie linebacker like Buchanan would lead the Ravens in picks? Or that Ridder, a QB most saw as washed, would revive the Steelers? Or that Anthony Richardson would realistically be on pace for 1,000 rushing yards as a QB? These aren’t small storylines — they’re reshaping playoff races.
Coaches across the AFC are proving one thing loud and clear: it’s not just about stars, it’s about trust. Trusting a depth piece like Bullock in Houston. Trusting a rookie like Dike in Tennessee. Trusting an old weapon like A.T. Perry to make noise again. Those decisions are what separate contenders from pretenders.
As we move into the back half of the season, these contributors are no longer “surprises.” They’re threats. They’re problems you have to prepare for. And they’re the reason the AFC is as unpredictable, competitive, and entertaining as it’s ever been.
Because in PML? It only takes one unexpected hero to change everything.
