NFL Week 8 Colts at Bengals: Unsung hero of the week

Every week, there are a number of players whose performances stand out prominently and they get the MVP nod. However, there are a number of other performances that contribute to a win, yet get overlooked.

Cast your vote for the Bengals’ Week 8 Unsung Hero of the Week and sound off in the comments!

Wide receiver Josh Malone: The rookie fourth round pick reached a couple of career milestones on Sunday, including his first pro catch and touchdown. Malone broke wide open and then adjusted nicely on his 25-yard touchdown grab, giving Andy Dalton another viable weapon in the offense.

Wide receiver Brandon LaFell: The veteran wideout had some nice plays on Sunday, notching four important grabs for 44 yards. He nearly had a fumble lost, but ended up being a nice ancillary weapon for Dalton with Tyler Eifert out and A.J. Green getting fewer looks.

Tight end Tyler Kroft: Speaking of Eifert being out, Kroft has stepped up in a big way the past few weeks. After scoring three touchdowns in Weeks 4-7, Kroft had five catches for 47 yards and constantly moved the chains.

Cornerback Darqueze Dennard: After struggling early in his career, the former first round pick has had a nice 2017 campaign. He was especially impressive against Indianapolis and T.Y. Hilton, as the explosive Colts receiver was held to just two catches for 15 yards on Sunday.

Defensive end Jordan Willis: Though the rookie end had just one tackle, he had a gigantic punt block at the beginning of the game. He hasn’t been getting the same kind of pressure as he did in the preseason, but he absolutely blew up the Colts’ special teams, leading to a Bengals field goal.

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick: Though he suffered what immediately looked like a gruesome injury, the veteran corner stepped up in a big way. He had three tackles and a quarterback sack and was a big part of the defense disallowing any wide receiver netting 33 receiving yards.

Defensive back Clayton Fejedelem: The second-year player stood out on special teams against the Colts. He had three tackles on special teams, corralling Indianapolis returners.