Right or wrong—you can put up numbers all you want during the regular season, but when it comes to truly making your star, it is the playoffs that matter most in the NFL.
We see it every year…
A handful of guys launch their legacy, others enhance theirs, while another subset shrinks under the bright lights!
Let’s take a look around the playoff landscape and see if we can tab 10 players who are ready to explode into stardom!
Are these 10 players ready to become stars in the NFL playoffs?
Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Yes, we all know that Sam Darnold has been the talk of the town throughout the 2024 regular season… and with good reason! The former third-overall pick by the New York Jets has had a renaissance that few others can stack up to.
He went from burnt out and cast aside in New York to a reclamation project on wheels to, suddenly, a bonafide franchise quarterback.
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At least, that’s what he has a lot of people thinking about in Land of 1000 Lakes.
But the NFL playoffs are where we are going to find out how real he is! In the postseason, the stakes get higher, the level of competition increases, and Cream truly rises to the top.
And you know what? We think that this is Darnold’s true coming out party. All it will take is one or two big wins and haughty stat lines, and all of a sudden, the unthinkable will happen, and all of the talking heads will debate whether Sam Darnold is elite?!
Never mind if he manages to bring a championship to that dedicated but starving fan base up North!
This playoff run for Sam Darnold, the Vikings, has all of the makings of a new star is born!
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
George Pickens has already started to make waves this season in Pittsburgh—for negative and positive reasons alike, as the dynamic wide receiver has also demonstrated a proclivity for fiery antics on the field and in the media that push the limits of acceptable behavior.
But his burgeoning connection with Russell Wilson has the good people of Pittsburgh excited about what lies in store for the talented, young receiver out of Ohio State.
And you know what? The postseason is the perfect opportunity for him to solidify himself as one of the top physical receivers in the game.
If fans see him make a couple of clutch 50/50 catches—or light up a defensive back on a block, we could see his star properly ignite in rather short order.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels has been nothing short of a revelation in his rookie season with the Washington Commanders. Selected second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Daniels has shattered expectations, leading his team to an 11+ win season and their first playoff berth since 2020.
While it is already clear that the talented, dual-threat quarterback out of LSU is here to stay—there is still a long runway for Daniels’s growth.
Based on what he has demonstrated thus far in 2024, I would not be surprised to see him sprint up that runway and establish himself as a legit top 10 or maybe even top 5 guy by the end of this playoff run.
Daniels has shown that he possesses the rare ability to single-handedly elevate a franchise. Now, he just needs his signature moment in the NFL playoffs to tell the world that he has arrived!
Josh Paschal, DE, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have had one heck of a season, especially considering the firestorm of injuries that they have had to endure as the year has worn on.
The damage has been particularly devastating on the defensive side of the ball, where they lost their top two sack-getters, Defensive Player of the Year candidate, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, and defensive tackle Alim McNeill.
They also managed to lose two of their top cornerbacks, Carlton Davis III to a fractured jaw and Khalil Dorsey to an ankle injury, in the same game against Buffalo that McNeill went down… so, yeah… safe to say that the Lions have the deck stacked against them this postseason.
While this is obviously not an advantageous position to be in, the good news is that they have some guys lower on the depth chart who are hungry for the opportunity and ready. To step up.
Defensive end Josh Paschal is a perfect example—if the Lions are going to make a serious run, they are going to need him to get after the opposing quarterback in a big way.
Detroit has the good fortune of a high-octane offense to carry most of the load too, so if Paschal can notch a few sacks and ignite these Lions pass rush, that could be enough to get Dan Campbell’s crew over the hump.
No time like the present for Josh Paschal to make his name—and a whole lot of money in the process.
Also Read: What Are The Longest Playoff Droughts In NFL History?
James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
James Cook has quietly become a focal point of the Bills offense as the season progressed and provided much-needed balance to what was projected to be a pass-heavy attack coming into the year.
While Josh Allen rightfully gets the spotlight, Cook’s development into a versatile, dynamic playmaker could be the X-factor Buffalo needs to finally get over the hump.
Cook’s explosiveness is undeniable; his ability to break a run for 30+ yards or take a screen pass to the house makes him dangerous every time he touches the ball. But what’s really impressive is how he’s evolved as a between-the-tackles runner. Early in his career, there were questions about whether Cook could handle the workload of a feature back. Not anymore.
Heading into the NFL playoffs, Cook is posting one of his most efficient years to date and has emerged as a legitimate weapon in the red zone to complement Josh Allen’s rushing ability. If the Bills want to avoid the heartbreak that’s plagued them in recent postseason runs, Cook will need to be at the center of it all. Don’t be surprised if he’s the one shredding defenses in January while Allen does his thing through the air—and becomes a household name by the time it is all said and done.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
The Packers offense has been a little bit up and down through this NFL this season, but Jayden Reed has turned into a major stabilizing factor. The young wide receiver out of Michigan State has seamlessly transitioned into the league, providing Jordan Love with a reliable target in crunch time.
Reed’s speed and route-running ability make him a nightmare to cover, but what really sets him apart is his toughness. The guy takes hits over the middle, shrugs them off, and keeps coming back for more. He’s been especially dangerous in the red zone, using his quickness to create separation when it matters most.
Green Bay’s playoff hopes rest heavily on Love’s shoulders, but every quarterback needs that security blanket, and Reed has become that guy. If the Packers make a deep run, Reed could go from a promising prospect to a legit star faster than you can say Lambeau Leap.
Byron Murphy Jr., CB, Minnesota Vikings
It’s not just the offensive side of the ball that could make waves in Minnesota this postseason. Byron Murphy Jr. is quietly building his case as one of the top young cornerbacks in the league. The Vikings’ secondary has been shaky at times, but Murphy has emerged as the glue holding things together.
Murphy’s instincts and ball-hawking skills have made him a playmaker in critical situations. His ability to shadow top receivers and make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks will be essential if the Vikings are going to make any noise in the NFL playoffs.
But here’s the thing—Murphy isn’t just a shutdown corner. He’s physical in run support and has a knack for forcing turnovers at the most opportune times. In a league where the margin for error in the playoffs is razor thin, Murphy’s play could be the difference between a one-and-done exit and a deep postseason run—and he could set himself up for a serious payday in the process!
Bucky Irving Jr., RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Irving’s blend of elusiveness and power has given the Bucs offense a new dimension this season. While Baker Mayfield slings it around, Irving’s ability to not just break off big plays but also chew up the clock and grind out tough yards has been invaluable.
He’s the type of back who gets stronger as the game goes on. That’s exactly the kind of player you need when trying to close out a playoff game.
In a crowded NFC playoff picture, the Bucs need every edge they can get, and Irving might just be their secret weapon. A big postseason performance could cement him as one of the league’s next breakout stars.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens
With all the attention on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ potent ground attack in the NFL playoffs, Isaiah Likely has quietly been developing into a key piece of their offense. The tight end position has long been a staple in Baltimore, and with Mark Andrews eternally battling injury and aging fast, Likely has stepped up in a major way.
Likely’s chemistry with Jackson is obvious, and his ability to create mismatches against linebackers and safeties makes him a red-zone threat every time the Ravens are inside the 20.
The six-foot-four-inch, 24-year-old tight end runs routes like a vet and has the ability to rise up over defensive back to make challenging contested catches.
The optionality that he provides Baltimore’s offense can’t be overstated… He’s not just a complementary piece; he’s a future star in his own right.
As the Ravens look to make a serious run at the Super Bowl, Likely will have a chance to emerge as a true star… not just to the folks in the DMV area, who have already grown quite fond of him, but nationally.
Fans across the country are going to be tuning in, and he will have ample opportunities to demonstrate what Ravens fans—and his fantasy owners—already know well. Isaiah Likely is legit as they come. He’s the type of player who might not generate the headlines, but by the end of the postseason, don’t be surprised if he’s one of the names every analyst is talking about.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
When the Kansas City Chiefs inked a deal with the Bills to move up and select the man they believe to be their next great burner of a wide receiver, Xavier Worthy, they quickly became the talk of the draft.
Not only did they bring in a guy with legit 4.2 speed, but they did so with the help of Buffalo, their vaunted rival.
The chatter was unavoidable, the memes spread like wildfire, and fantasy owners everywhere started slapping Worthy on their draft boards.
Worthy started off the year in emphatic fashion by scoring a touchdown during their season-opener, which obviously only heightened the Bills slander… but he did seem to struggle to really get his footing in the NFL.
There is a lot more that goes into playing wide receiver at the NFL level than simply running fast. He looked great at times, particularly when Kansas City was able to scheme up a play to get him the ball in open space, but it wasn’t until the final few weeks of the regular season that we saw the rookie really start to put it all together.
His routes are beginning to look more crisp, and it is clear that he has a broader understanding of the Chiefs’ offensive system.
Now, Kansas City has locked up the one seed in the NFL playoffs, and they are preparing to take on the best that the AFC has to offer as they seek their third straight Lombardi Trophy—and don’t be shocked if we see Worthy emerge from that process as a legitimate star.
No one knows how to dial up big plays like Andy Reid—and no one can execute them like Patrick Mahomes… And with the stakes as high as they are for KC—this could be the perfect storm for Worthy’s ascension.
Also Read: Why Could The Pittsburgh Steelers Still Be A Dangerous Team In The NFL Playoffs?
