Each season, new players become household names with their play on the gridiron. And with that, they become household names within the fantasy football community as well. Identifying potential diamonds in the rough, and ultimately hitting on those longshot picks, is one of the best feelings a fantasy manager can experience. Here are the top breakout candidates of 2022.
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Top 10 Breakout Candidates
Trey Lance only started two games as a rookie but flashed the rushing prowess that excited fantasy managers during last year’s draft season. The 49ers’ first-year signal-caller averaged 22.4 expected fantasy points (QB4 last season) and 60 rushing yards per game.
– Andrew Erickson
Rhamondre Stevenson experienced a very successful rookie season that should not be overlooked. After fully escaping the Bill Belichick doghouse in Week 9, Stevenson earned top grades across the board. He was PFF’s third-highest-graded running back (84.2). Stevenson also ranked 13th in rushing yards and yards per route run (1.41). For fantasy, the rookie running back was the RB25 in total points scored, eight spots behind his backfield teammate Damien Harris.
– Andrew Erickson
Do not forget what this guy did at Clemson with Trevor Lawrence as his quarterback. During his final season as a Clemson Tiger, he led the country in receiving yards and ranked second in receptions among running backs. With an explosive pass-catching skill set and James Robinson rehabbing an injury, Travis Etienne checks off the requisite boxes of a fantasy RB poised to make noise in 2022.
– Andrew Erickson
Expect the Packers to run the ball at a higher rate now that Davante Adams is gone. A.J. Dillon averaged 3.5 more carries per game than Aaron Jones over the last eight regular-season games they played together, and Dillon took over as Green Bay’s goal-line back late in the season. With a strong roster and a manageable schedule, the Packers should get plenty of run-friendly game scripts. Conditions are right for an A.J. Dillon breakthrough.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Sony Michel and Darrell Henderson combined for 336 touches — third most among all RBs, 19.7 per game — when operating as the true lead back through 17 games. Cam Akers has a chance to capture that role in 2022.
– Andrew Erickson
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Rashod Bateman showed some flashes when finally healthy. Unfortunately, that was while Lamar Jackson wasn’t. However, Bateman has a clear path to the WR1 job in Baltimore and is the best talent they’ve had at the position in years.
– Joe Pisapia
Kadarius Toney dealt with a zillion different injuries in his rookie season, but his talents were on full display in Weeks 4-5, with six catches for 78 yards against the Saints and 10 catches for 189 yards against the Cowboys. Toney is a twitchy, springy athlete who’s absolutely electric in the open field. If Toney can stay healthy, new Giants HC Brian Daboll should have fun devising ways to deploy this unique weapon.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND)
Sometimes, it is this simple. Matt Ryan has gone from worst to first in terms of offensive line play and he will clearly be in a position to make Michael Pittman Jr. a fantasy stud. There’s no WR close to his ability on this roster, so expect Pittman to have WR1 upside this season.
– Joe Pisapia
Based on Courtland Sutton’s track record of commanding targets near the pylon, I fully expect him to emerge as Russell Wilson’s go-to red-zone target. He led the Broncos in red-zone targets in 2021 and led all WRs in target rate inside the 10-yard line in 2019. Wilson has an affinity for attacking receivers in the red zone; a Seattle WR has finished top-five in red-zone targets for three straight seasons.
– Andrew Erickson
Cole Kmet has already established himself as an important contributor to the Bears’ offense, but his lousy TD luck has kept him from becoming a useful fantasy contributor. The young TE had 60 catches for 612 yards in his second NFL season but failed to score a single touchdown. He’s bound to have better fortune in the TD department this season, and Kmet should see plenty of targets with the Bears being so thin at wide receiver.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Trade Analyzer – which allows you to instantly find out if a trade offer benefits you or your opponent – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
