3 Seahawks Players Who Surprised Fans in a Big Way This Year

To conclude what has been another outstanding year for the Seattle Seahawks, the team from the Pacific Northwest will face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night for the NFC West title. Oh, the drama.

However, while sitting at 11-4, the Hawks would not be where they are today without some guys exceeding expectations and stepping up in big ways when Pete Carroll and Co. needed them most. Here's three players who did just that this campaign.

3. TE Jacob Hollister

Minnesota Vikings v Seattle Seahawks / Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Who? That's probably what some fans would have been asking themselves about two months ago, but Jacob Hollister has truly made a name for himself this season. No, his stats don't rank him as one of the top TEs in the game, but 37 receptions for 324 yards and three touchdowns is nothing to sneeze at. Who could forget his showing on Nov. 3 against the Bucs? He finished with six receptions for 37 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. Also, LOL, he was a Patriot, 'til the 'Hawks fleeced 'em.

2. WR Tyler Lockett

WR Tyler Lockett has proven to be a superstar for the Seattle Seahawks this season. / Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

When it was announced Doug Baldwin Jr. would retire, Seahawks fans wondered who would step in. While the team drafted DK Metcalf, someone else needed to provide veteran leadership and rise to the WR1 role. Enter Tyler Lockett. No. 16 has been sensational this year, catching 76 balls for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns. It's the first 1,000-yard season of his career, and many more could be on the way if he and Russell Wilson keep going with their electric chemistry.

1. FS Quandre Diggs

Seattle Seahawks S Quandre Diggs / Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

With the Seahawks secondary facing numerous injuries, GM John Schneider went out and traded for Quandre Diggs in late October. What a decision that turned out to be. Diggs has been a hard-hitting, ball-hawking free safety. Entering Week 17, he's posted 21 tackles, three interceptions and one forced fumble in his five games for the Hawks. As soon as he arrived in Seattle, he became a playmaker for this team. That will need to continue in the postseason, but fans sure have plenty of belief in him.