3 Patriots Players Who Surprised Fans in a Big Way This Season

The New England Patriots have seen Tom Brady struggle to hook up with an ever-changing cast of wide receivers and watched Sony Michel regress. Even with an offense that's been stuck in neutral, their historically dominant defense has led them to a 12-3 record and what should be a first-round bye in the playoffs. The usual suspects might not be having their best seasons, but these three have really stood out and prove how much they are worth in 2019.

3. DT Danny Shelton

Shelton was about to join a long list of busts drafted by the Cleveland Browns before Bill Belichick picked him up and turned him into one of the premier space eaters in the league. The 345-pound lineman has a career-high three sacks, and is just four tackles away from setting a new career high in that department. After all these years, teams STILL can't run the ball on a Belichick defense, and Shelton is a big reason why.

2. CB JC Jackson

Jackson went undrafted in 2018, as scouts had questions about if he could play on the outside while lacking great speed and athletic ability. With eight interceptions in two seasons, including five this season, Jackson has proved all his doubters wrong. With Stephon Gilmore taking away the opposition's top wide receiver, Jackson sees a lot of balls come his way, and he has done nothing but excel in just his second season in the pros.

1. LB Jamie Collins

Only in Cleveland could they acquire a Pro Bowl player, barely win any games as the player in question started to regress, and then trade that player away, only for him to regain his previous elite form back with his old team. Collins struggled away from New England, but has transformed this defense upon his return. The uber-athletic linebacker has been a maniac this season, leading the team with 77 tackles, setting a new personal best with six sacks, and intercepting three passes. With Collins back in the middle, that defense went from promising to almost unbeatable