The All-Riser team: 11 breakout players surging in 2024

At the NFL's midseason mark, we identify and applaud key contributors who leveled up in the first half of the schedule. The All-Riser lineup doesn't include rookies or past Pro Bowlers, instead saluting 11 players who toiled in the league before they rocketed to relevance or stardom.

Quarterback: Sam Darnold, Vikings

Losing Kirk Cousins in free agency and rookie J.J. McCarthy to a preseason meniscus tear weakened Minnesota's quarterback room. Darnold silenced worries by blossoming with his fourth team. He ranks in the top 10 in completion percentage (69.5%), passing touchdowns (17 against seven interceptions), and completed air yards (1,187 out of his total of 1,900), signaling he can efficiently propel the ball downfield.

In his first six seasons, Darnold compiled a 59.7% completion rate, 63-56 TD-INT split, and 21-35 record between the Jets, Panthers, and 49ers. He was memeified with the mononucleosis graphic and pigeonholed as a draft bust and second-choice QB. Darnold's dramatic improvement positioned the 6-2 Vikings to compete for first place in the stacked NFC North.

Running back: Jordan Mason, 49ers

Injury breeds opportunity, and Mason compensated for Christian McCaffrey's long absence by shining as the Niners' featured back. He exclusively trails huge names (Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs) on the NFL rushing leaderboard. His 685 yards equate to 85.6 per game and 5.1 per carry, which aren't far off McCaffrey's career highs.

Mason wasn't completely obscure before this season: A 55-yard, win-sealing run against the 2022 Seahawks put him on the map as a rookie undrafted free agent. Three 100-yard, one-touchdown efforts in September showcased his power and vision. He isn't a major receiving threat, and his numbers began to tail off ahead of McCaffrey's anticipated return, but Mason fit in with and complemented Brock Purdy's wide array of playmakers.

Wide receiver: Nico Collins, Texans

Five spectacular showings assured Collins of his place in this lineup before he bowed out of action for the past month with a hamstring problem. He totaled 32 catches for 567 receiving yards and exceeded the century mark in three of the 6-3 Texans' early wins.

Besides Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, no NFL wideout is within 20 yards of Collins' colossal per-game average (113.4). C.J. Stroud found him for a 67-yard breakaway touchdown and a 55-yard twirling grab in double coverage. Eight of his receptions were 20-plus-yard explosive plays, and a whopping 27 moved the chains, suggesting that activating Collins should revive Houston's pass attack following a few quiet weeks.

Tight end: Trey McBride, Cardinals

Kyler Murray's main weapon leads the surging Cardinals in targets (60), catches (45), and receiving yards (481) for a second straight season while Marvin Harrison Jr. flits in and out of the game plan. McBride is an All-Riser because he was already good but now produces like a star at his position.

McBride ranks third among tight ends in receptions. He closely trails George Kittle, Brock Bowers, and Dallas Goedert in yards per game with 60.1, up from 48.5 last year. He's gained 23 first downs without a drop or fumble and offset his surprising lack of a receiving touchdown with a two-yard rushing major, a fumble recovery in the end zone, and nine 15-plus-yard grabs on various Arizona scoring drives.

Offensive lineman: Charles Cross, Seahawks

Seattle's left tackle has given up one lone sack and three quarterback hits in 427 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. That permitted Geno Smith to pace the NFL in pass attempts, completions, and yards through Week 9 and keep the 4-5 Seahawks in certain games despite their anemic rush attack and defensive shortcomings.

Cross fulfills a demanding role. Going off PFF's player grades, no other Seahawks offensive lineman is one of the top 15 performers at his position. Cross' 84.6 grade is the fourth best for a left tackle - he's a smidge ahead of perennial All-Pro Trent Williams - and dwarfs his 67.6 mark from last season when a toe sprain slowed him.

Interior defensive lineman: Grover Stewart, Colts

Stewart's 2023 campaign was derailed by a six-week suspension for violating the NFL's PED policy. The eighth-year Colt jumpstarted his redemption arc with a clutch fumble recovery in a close win over the Bears. As part of his first career multi-sack game, he bowled over Minnesota's center last weekend to strip Darnold and spring Kenny Moore for a 38-yard score.

Stewart plugs gaps in the trenches and has recorded 13 rush stops, defined as tackles that seal a failure for the offense. No interior lineman with at least 10 tackles has a superior average depth of tackle against the run (0.7 yards past scrimmage), per PFF. Handoffs go nowhere when he swallows the ball carrier.

Edge rusher: Will McDonald, Jets

Mundane production in 2023 (three sacks, 12 total QB pressures, 19% defensive snap percentage) earned McDonald a "D" grade in theScore's end-of-season rookie report card. That damning evaluation is a distant memory for the NFL's third-leading sack artist.

Five of McDonald's eight QB takedowns came in quick succession in September as Gang Green topped the Titans and held the Patriots to 139 offensive yards - the second-lowest yield around the league this season. His 34 pressures, two forced fumbles, and red-zone takeaway against the Texans have helped fuel a valiant defensive effort. The 3-6 Jets rank 25th in scoring but are fourth in yards allowed, second in pass yards allowed, and second in sacks.

Linebacker: Zack Baun, Eagles

Baun's padded the stat sheet as the league leader in stops (37) and graced the highlight reel with splash plays. He's one of five linebackers with multiple sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception, which gifted the Eagles a short field last weekend ahead of a pivotal touchdown drive.

The savvy signing of Baun, a four-year backup with the Saints, fortified the middle of Philadelphia's defense. In pass coverage, he's allowed no TDs and the fourth-fewest yards per reception (6.2) among qualified linebackers. He plays every down (96% snap count) alongside Nakobe Dean, whose own acrobatic pick in the end zone Sunday snuffed out the Jaguars' comeback hopes.

Cornerback: Zyon McCollum, Buccaneers

McCollum's glow-up in his third season contrasts the slippage of the Bucs' 30th-ranked defense, the only unit that's surrendered 500 yards twice. In that unsupportive environment, their top cornerback netted his first two NFL interceptions, six pass breakups, and an eye-popping fumble recovery.

His underlying metrics impress. McCollum's played the second-most coverage snaps (380) but faced the 27th-most targets (41) at his position because QBs balk at testing him. While taking only one penalty, he's limited opponents to a 51.2% catch rate, fifth best among the 50 corners with the most snaps. Patrick Mahomes picked on McCollum's teammates in last Monday's overtime thriller but gained a mere 8 yards on throws in his direction, per PFF.

Safety: Kerby Joseph, Lions

Detroit's safeties - Joseph and Brian Branch - slam passing windows shut and have combined to snatch more interceptions (10) than 26 entire teams. Joseph's sixth takeaway and first career pick-6, which widened a halftime lead over the Packers, counterbalanced Branch's targeting ejection in an emphatic divisional win.

Joseph's allowed the second-lowest opponent passer rating (31.6) and fifth-lowest catch rate (47.4%) out of 77 safeties who've faced at least 10 targets, per PFF. He cut his missed tackle rate to 8.7%, down from 14.9% last season, and hasn't been penalized. His picks hand possession to a supercharged offense that recorded more touchdowns than incompletions over the Lions' six-win hot streak, theScore's Dan Wilkins pointed out.

Kicker: Austin Seibert, Commanders

Cut loose by the Jets at the end of training camp, Seibert became Cade York's performance replacement in Washington and promptly climbed to the NFL lead in made field goals with 25. He's perfect from inside 50 yards, scored all 21 Commanders points in his victorious debut, and nailed four key kicks in the Hail Mary defeat of the Bears.

A five-team journeyman, Seibert finally actualized the promise of his 2019 rookie season, which was the last time he played more than six games. His 97 points through eight outings put him on pace to rewrite LaDainian Tomlinson's long-held scoring record of 186 in 2006. He's even closer to David Akers' points record for a kicker: 166 in 2011.

Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.