5 NFL stars who’ve had a surprisingly good 2022 season feat. Tyreek Hill

Modified Nov 11, 2022 01:30 GMT

We’re already halfway through the 2022 NFL season. So far, we’ve seen plenty of the league’s star players underperform.

While that may be the case, there have also been as many under-the-radar players who’ve surprised many fans. Many superstars have moved teams and adapted seamlessly to their new franchise.

While we expect the very best from Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, there have been plenty of superstars across the NFL who’ve surprised us in 2022.

NFL stars with surprisingly good 2022 seasons

#5 - Josh Jacobs

Las Vegas Raiders v Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs has been one of the surprise packages of the 2022 NFL season.

Before the year kicked off, the Raiders announced they wouldn’t be picking up Jacobs’ fifth-year option, signaling a lack of faith in him.

He has, however, made that decision look stupid so far this year as he’s clocked up the fourth-most rushing yards in nine weeks with 743.

This total is a little over 100 more than he rushed for in 15 games in 2021, meaning he’s had a surprisingly good season thus far.

#4 - Tua Tagovailoa

Coming into the 2022 season, many Dolphins fans believed it was Tua Tagovailoa's final chance to prove himself as a starting-caliber QB.

He’s definitely silenced critics this year, as he’s passed for 15 touchdowns against just three interceptions, going for 1,980 yards in seven games.

Tagovailoa is 6-1 in his starts this year, and his quarterback rating of 115.9 currently leads the NFL, according to teamrankings.com.

This comes after a poor 2021 campaign, where Tagovailoa only threw 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 12 starts.

NFL stars with surprisingly good 2022 seasons

#3 - Geno Smith

Many believed the Seattle Seahawks were entering a full rebuild as they traded away future Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson and announced journeyman Geno Smith as the starter.

However, Smith has proven everyone wrong and has been one of the stories of the 2022 NFL season.

In nine starts, Smith has won six games, as well as throwing 15 touchdowns and just four picks.

He’s set career highs in completion percentage and quarterback rating in what has been his longest stint as a starter since his New York Jets days back in 2014.

#2 - Tyreek Hill

When the Miami Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs, many called it career suicide as he went from Patrick Mahomes to Tua Tagovailoa.

Hill, however, has been vindicated in his move, as after nine weeks he currently leads the NFL in receiving yards with a monstrous 1,104 already. To put this number into perspective, in 2021 he ended the season with 1,239 yards after 17 games.

The next closest receiver in terms of yards is Justin Jefferson, all the way back on 867.

Hill has adapted seamlessly to his new quarterback and scheme, much better than many expected.

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#1 - Jalen Hurts

The surprise package of 2022 has to be the leaps and bounds Jalen Hurts has come on as opposed to 2021.

A year ago, Hurts started 15 games, going 8-7 and passing for 16 touchdowns and rushing for a further 10.

This year, he’s unbeaten through eight games, having passed for 12 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Hurts is also still a threat on the ground, with six rushing touchdowns already.

His quarterback rating, yards per attempt and completion percentages are all at career highs, and many fans believe he’s worthy of the NFL MVP.