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Every year, we know the big names across the NFL who are going to steal the headlines and put up huge numbers for their respective teams. But there's always a handful of under-the-radar players who end up making a big impact after going through most of the offseason forgotten.
As we head into the 2026 NFL season, here are a handful of underrated players who could emerge as high-impact performers across the league:
WR Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys
Dak Prescott has one of the NFL's best receiver tandems with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, but Flournoy is primed for a breakout campaign as the Cowboys' No. 3 target. Originally a sixth-round pick who finished his winding college football career at Southeastern Missouri State, showed flashes of potential in limited work last season, catching 35 passes for 407 yards and four touchdowns. Lamb and Pickens will continue to get the lion's share of the targets in Dallas' passing game, but while opposing defenses are trying to slow them down, Flournoy should benefit from plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities.
WR Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers
Even with Mike Evans gone, the Bucs have a loaded receiver group with tons of talent, and McMillan is the most underrated member of the group. Chris Godwin Jr. is healthy again, and big things are expected from Emeka Egbuka in Year 2, but McMillan is primed for a breakout season after missing most of last year with a scary neck injury he suffered in the preseason. As a rookie the year before, McMillan caught seven of his eight touchdowns over the final five games of the season, scoring at least once in every game with two multi-TD games. Finally back to full strength, McMillan could make a huge impact even as Tampa Bay's WR3.
RB Rachaad White, Commanders
Seeking a bigger role, White left after four years in Tampa Bay, and he made it clear this offseason how much he wanted to reunite with Jayden Daniels, who was his teammate at Arizona State. That's exactly what happened, and now White brings his well-rounded skill set to a Commanders offense that's desperate for more playmakers. Bill Croskey-Merritt showed promise as a rookie, but his lack of consistency and experience could give way to White, who has the size, smarts, toughness and versatility to establish himself as the top option on the depth chart. His every-down skill set and chemistry with Daniels could make him an invaluable asset in a promising offense.
WR Isaac TeSlaa, Lions
Detroit's offense is loaded with dynamic playmakers, but TeSlaa prove as a rookie last season just how valuable he can be when the ball comes his way. Despite catching just 16 passes all year long, TeSlaa turned six of them into touchdowns, averaging just shy of 15 yards per reception on the year. While the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs will keep getting most of the touches in this offense, TeSlaa's size, athleticism, and knack for making acrobatic catches should still make him a to-go player for Jared Goff in key situations, particularly when he gets 1-on-1 matchups in the red zone.
WR Zachariah Branch, Falcons
Another offense that already has some talented weapons, the Falcons are still searching for a reliable No. 2 receiver in the passing game. That should be Branch, an undersized but explosive playmaker who can turn any touch into a long score. Though he was mostly used on short routes and manufactured/gadget touches at Georgia, Branch has a more well-rounded skill set that should be unleashed in Atlanta's offense, taking full advantage of his straight-line speed as a downfield threat. He can line up just about anywhere, and opposing defenses will always have to account for how quickly he can create big plays.
TE Terrance Ferguson, Rams
After trading out of the first round in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Rams spent their top pick on Ferguson, who showed at Oregon the kind of size, versatility, and athleticism Sean McVay requires of the tight ends in his complex, innovative offense. He only caught 11 passes as a rookie, but Ferguson averaged a whopping 21 yards per reception, hauling in three touchdowns. The Rams still have a couple of veterans in the room (Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee), and they just drafted Max Klare back in the second round of this year's draft. But Ferguson still has the most upside in the group, and McVay finds a way to get multiple tight ends on the field often. Ferguson's physical traits give him a ton of upside, and he's primed to take his game to another level in 2026.
WR Antonio Williams, Commanders
I wasn't lying when I said the Commanders need as many weapons as possible, and that includes a true No. 2 receiver to take pressure off Terry McLaurin as the top option in the passing game. Like many of his Clemson teammates, Williams' production dipped last year, but he's still a sharp route-runner who makes up for his lack of ideal size with quickness and the ability to stretch opposing defenses down the field and after the catch. Without a proven secondary target for Daniels, and with opponents focusing most of their attention on taking away McLaurin, Williams has a chance to earn that WR2 spot and get plenty of targets as a rookie, and he's got the talent to make the most of them.
