Each year, the NFC North is a blood bath. In three years, there have been three different division winners. At the top of the division are battles featuring star players. Guys like Aaron Rodgers, Khalil Mack, Darius Slay, and Adam Thielen are at the forefront of these division battles. Those players are the anchors to accomplishing the goal of winning the division, and hopefully, a Super Bowl.

However, there are always those under the radar players that will step up and have a big impact on their team — for example, Anthony Harris of the Minnesota Vikings. Harris was only a special teams player at the start of the season, and by the end, he was a key contributor. There is always a guy who can step up and push that team over the edge, and they might not be the usual suspects. So, let’s take it a step further and see who those guys could be this season for each team in the NFC North.

Chicago Bears: DL Bilal Nichols

If there was a rookie who had a great year and no one talked about him, Bilal Nichols would be that guy. Nichols had 11 run stops in 130 run defensive snaps and 17 pressures in 175 pass rushing snaps according to Pro Football Focus.

That is top level stuff from a day three draft pick, and this season Nichols should get even more opportunities after a year of impressive play. Nichols’ play has to take a big leap, even after his standout rookie season. The explosiveness and power are not questions, but the hand usage and tools in his arsenal are.

However, I would be optimistic about that progression. Every year he was at Delaware, Nichols took a step forward. Even more, Nichols was in as good a shape as he has ever been. His explosiveness and first step are some of the best things you see on his tape. Now it is all in the hands and technical aspects.

If Nichols can take that next step, he can become a huge piece of an already stacked Bears defense, pushing it over the edge with his added interior pressure, possibly keeping Chicago at the top of the NFC North.

Minnesota Vikings: DL Hercules Mata’afa

This one might come out of nowhere for non-Vikings fans, but for those in Minnesota, Hercules Mata’afa is a player they know all about.

NFC North fans will soon become accustomed to the new starting 3-technique for the Vikings. Mike Zimmer has sung the praises for Mata’afa’s work ethic and play. The 2018 undrafted free agent is coming off of an injury but is looking to show what he can truly do on a Minnesota squad that is looking to rebound.

Mata’afa’s main trait is his first step. The natural athleticism that he has is obvious even to the casual viewer. It starts with exceptional burst and transforms into one of the better motors in the entire league. Mata’afa’s range for a defensive lineman is one of the more impressive things to watch.

From a technical standpoint, there are some rough spots. Leverage, in particular, is where Mata’afa can fall off with his high-waist tendencies. However, his hands are violent and bring power with them. That is exactly where he will win technically, and it is why he can win the starting job from day one.

Green Bay Packers: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Imagine a receiver that is 6’4″ and runs a 4.37 40 time. Well, here he is.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be in a fight for the second spot on the receivers depth chart in Green Bay. With his flashes and athletic tools, he seems to be a natural front runner. The stat that puts him over the top is his 122.3 passer rating when targeted 20 or more yards down the field.

Valdes-Scantling is a quintessential deep threat that can fill a big play receiver role with a top quarterback like Rodgers. He could also have a similar kind of breakout season as did Martavis Bryant for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

His role as a deep threat where he can get manufactured touches and do things after the catch is what makes his breakout so likely. He fits the skill set the Packers want and has all the tools to do the things asked of him. There are obvious improvements he could make, especially in his route running, but the natural tools are working heavily in Valdes-Scantling’s favor.

Detroit Lions: CB Amani Oruwariye

Who knows who wins the second CB spot across from Darius Slay. It could be Teez Tabor, who has been nothing short of a disaster in his brief NFL tenure. Rashaan Melvin came over from the Raiders and was mediocre at best.

Then, you have the rookie Amani Oruwariye. Oruwariye surprisingly slid down to the fifth round, but the 2018 NFC North cellar dwellers was a great landing spot for a player craving some playing time.

At Penn State, Oruwariye only allowed a 66.5 passer rating and ranked 6th in the nation with 12 pass breakups in 2018. That was Oruwariye’s first true season as a full-time starter on the boundary, but he had a good showing. The length, fluidity, and ball skills Oruwariye showcased on tape were clear and it was what made many draft analysts peg him as a second-day talent.

Now, with a depth chart littered with uncertainty, Oruwariye has the opportunity to be a big contributor. He is still a bit raw, but he is more than ready to start right now, and he is better than their other options. If Oruwariye pans out, he and Slay will make a dynamic duo on the boundaries.

Nick Farabaugh is a writer for PFN covering the Minnesota Vikings. You can follow him @FarabaughFB on Twitter.