The Green Bay Packers are entering the bye week after an impressive 8-2 start to the 2019 season.

Matt LaFleur’s team has found different ways to win every week, and they are getting meaningful contributions from all sorts of players on the roster.

Here are the five most surprising players from the first 10 games:

RB Jamaal Williams

Williams is averaging right around 50 total yards per game this season, which tracks with the first two years of his NFL career. But his efficiency with the ball and value as a legitimate No. 2 back has skyrocketed in 2019. Williams is averaging a career-high 4.5 yards per carry, and he leads the team with five receiving touchdowns. He caught touchdown passes in four straight games between Weeks 6-9, including an incredible catch of an Aaron Rodgers pass to the corner of the end zone in Kansas City. His versatility is being maximized by Matt LaFleur, who has found the right balance between Williams and Aaron Jones.

LG Elgton Jenkins

Huge credit goes to GM Brian Gutekunst. He had a bunch of flashy players still on the board at No. 44 overall, but he stuck to his guns and took Jenkins, who since taking over as a starter at left guard, looks like a future Pro Bowler. He hasn’t allowed a single sack or quarterback hit in eight starts, and his weekly improvement in the run game has provided the foundation of a complete player. The Packers clearly thought highly of Jenkins, but did they really know he’d be this good this early? Teammates have raved about his ability, intelligence and maturity.

OLB Preston Smith

The Packers paid $66 million for Za’Darius Smith, an ascending rusher who looked like a blossoming star during the summer and has since delivered in a big way (8.5 sacks, 57 pressures). They also paid $52 million for Preston Smith, the far less sexy signing who wasn’t nearly as hyped as Za’Darius was leading into the season. Preston currently ranks third in the NFL in sacks with 10.0, two more than his previous career-high. He’s been an impact player in high leverage situations and a versatile weapon for Mike Pettine. It was clear right away that Za’Darius was going to be a difference-maker, but the Packers never could have imagined getting career-years from both edge rushers.

WR Allen Lazard

Lazard had a big summer, but who could have envisioned him entering the bye week as a legitimate candidate to be the team’s No. 2 receiver? Maybe that says something more about the team’s receiving talent, but Lazard has certainly taken advantage of opportunities, and it’s clear chemistry is forming between him and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Lazard has produced at least three catches in five straight games, and he’s been a standout as a perimeter blocker in the run game.

CB Tramon Williams

The 36-year-old cornerback came back after a hectic return to Green Bay in 2018 and has fully locked down the nickel role for Mike Pettine, who appreciates his football intelligence and movement ability in the slot. Covering inside isn’t an easy task in the NFL. It requires a high level of quickness and coverage IQ on every snap, but Williams has been up to the task. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating under 70.0 when targeting Williams in 2019. Overall, he’s the highest-graded cornerback on the Packers roster and the No. 15 cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

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The Green Bay Packers’ disappointing performance against the Chargers in Los Angeles had roots in an uncharacteristically unfocused afternoon from the five starters along the offensive line.

That group bounced back in a major way on Sunday against the talented defensive front of the Carolina Panthers.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked just twice, including once for a short loss after an extended passing play, and he was rarely under pressure despite dropping back to pass 30 times in slippery conditions. The offensive line also dominated the line of scrimmage in the run game, opening gaping holes for running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams – who rushed 26 times for 156 yards and three scores.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, Rodgers was pressured on just four total dropbacks and running backs were provided 3.6 yards before contact per rush against the Panthers.

“I think offensively the line deserves a lot of credit,” Rodgers said Sunday. “They were obviously frustrated by their performance last week and you look at today, we had a coverage sack and then one of those phantom minus half-yard sacks when I ran around there too long. Overall, the protection was really good and they controlled the line of scrimmage.”

In Los Angeles, the Packers committed four pre-snap penalties and gave up three sacks, including two on early third downs in the first half. The offense never got going, and many along the offensive line took the blame for the struggles.

They also took it on themselves to bounce back against a Panthers team that led the NFL in sacks entering Week 10.

Mission accomplished.

David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga largely handled the Panthers’ edge rushers, while Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley and Billy Turner were highly effective moving people in the run game.

The Packers knew they had to bounce back from a poor performance, play better across the board and get to the bye week at 8-2. The offensive line led the way back on Sunday, protecting Rodgers against a terrific pass-rush and helping Jones and Williams out-rush Christian McCaffrey in an important win for Matt LaFleur’s team.

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