by Howie Hanson
Here’s the truth about Arena Football One through two weeks: the standings tell you who’s winning — the stats tell you who’s driving it.
And already, even in a small sample, certain names keep showing up.
This is a league built on pace, spacing and quarterback play, and the early leaders reflect that. Albany’s offense has been among the most efficient in the league, powered by quarterback Joshua Kulka, who has quickly established himself as one of the early standard-setters behind a high-touchdown, low-mistake start.
But this isn’t just about one team.
Across the league, the early numbers are forming a watchlist — the players who are going to decide how this season unfolds.
Quarterbacks — The league runs through them
Start here, because everything else follows.
Joshua Kulka (Albany) has been the most efficient passer through two weeks, directing an offense that doesn’t waste possessions and already looks playoff-ready.
Shae Spencer (Kentucky) has been the most explosive — a dual-threat engine who accounted for nine total touchdowns in Week 2 alone, the kind of production that shifts defensive game plans immediately.
Tyler Kulka (Nashville) may be the most dangerous unknown. One game, six touchdown passes, near-perfect command. Small sample, big statement.
And then there’s Malik Henry (Michigan), who might be the most telling case in the league right now — big yardage, multiple touchdowns, but turnovers that turn production into losses. In AF1, that’s the difference between 2-0 and 0-2.
Wide receivers — Production everywhere, but stars emerging
Arena football always spreads the ball, but a few targets are already separating.
Darius Prince (Kentucky) has become the league’s most dangerous scoring threat early, piling up touchdowns in bunches and stretching the field in ways defenses haven’t solved yet.
Tyrese Chambers (Albany) and Darien Townsend (Albany) are doing it differently — sharing production in a system that doesn’t rely on one player but still produces elite numbers.
Malik Honeycutt (Nashville) might be the most complete receiver so far — yardage, touchdowns, and impact plays in a breakout Week 2 performance that turned heads across the league.
The takeaway isn’t just who’s producing. It’s how easily some of these offenses are finding their top targets.
Running backs / hybrid threats — Still matter, just differently
This isn’t a ground-and-pound league, but the best offenses still get something extra from players who can extend plays.
Shae Spencer (Kentucky) fits here again — not just a quarterback, but a red-zone weapon with his legs.
Austin Collier (Nashville) showed how short-yardage and goal-line efficiency still matter, punching in multiple scores in a game that turned lopsided early.
And across the league, the trend is clear: the “running game” isn’t about volume. It’s about finishing drives.
Defensive players — The hidden difference
This is where the standings start to make sense.
Drew Singleton (Albany) has already made himself one of the most impactful defenders in AF1, with multiple interceptions and a presence that stops drives before they start.
Trae Meadows (Nashville) delivered the kind of all-around performance — tackles, interception, return touchdown — that changes games, not just possessions.
Shiloh Flanagan (Kentucky) represents the defensive blueprint in this league: you don’t need 10 stops, you need one or two at the right time.
That’s the difference between winning shootouts and losing them.
And Minnesota? Still waiting
The Minnesota Monsters sit just outside this early player conversation — not because they lack talent, but because they’ve only played once and haven’t had the volume yet to establish statistical leaders.
Read more from Howie Hanson at howiehanson.com
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