Get ahead of the fantasy football curve by exploring potential breakout stars who could transform your team’s fortunes in 2024. We asked our FeaturedPros contributors to give us their best promising running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks, and tight ends primed for breakout performances. Whether you’re seeking a dynamic RB, a game-changing WR, or a breakout star at QB or TE, we’ve got you covered. Here are all of our early fantasy football draft breakout candidates. Below we dive into a few notable names.

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2024 Fantasy Football Early Breakout Candidates

Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF)

“Stefon Diggs‘ departure from Buffalo creates an exciting opportunity for Khalil Shakir, who showed exciting growth last year. Shakir was ruthlessly efficient in 2023, averaging 15.7 yards per catch, 13.6 yards per target, and 1.75 yards per route run. He drew only 45 targets during the regular season but started playing more snaps and drawing more targets down the stretch. Shakir had a touchdown catch in each of the Bills’ two playoff games, and he had a team-high nine targets and seven receptions in the divisional-round loss to the Chiefs. Buffalo will no doubt add receivers in the draft. But with Diggs, a prolific target earner, out of the picture, Shakir could have a breakthrough season.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Anthony Richardson (QB – IND)

“Anthony Richardson’s breakout is upon us. When he was at 100% last season, he was the guy. With his Konami Code, he would give us a high upside. I see him as a quarterback in the top 8. ”
– Alejandro Orellana (Estadio Fantasy)

“Anthony Richardson is the only true answer here. With the flashes he showed as a rookie, it’s clear that AR5 is primed to break out. A healthy Jonathan Taylor should do wonders for his rushing floor given the holes both will open up for each other. And his precision passing should continue to add to his fantasy value, especially if they add a high-end receiving option or two in the upcoming draft. With an average defense in Indianapolis, Richardson has top-5 upside this season. Buy in.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)

“An Anthony Richardson breakout is inevitable. The only reason we didn’t get it last year was because injuries limited him to four games, only two of which he was able to finish. In the two games he DID start and finish, Richardson scored 21.9 and 29.6 fantasy points, good for weekly fantasy finishes of QB4 and QB2. Richardson averaged 0.43 fantasy points per snap last season, which is an absurd scoring rate. Richardson didn’t even get to play with RB Jonathan Taylor, who was on IR early last season. Having Taylor around is only going to make Richardson’s job easier. As big and as fast as he is, Richardson is going to pile up some serious rushing numbers, and he’s a more advanced passer than he was given credit for coming out of college. A-Rich is going to do some damage this year, my friends.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Will Levis (QB – TEN)

“Whatever happens in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft – WR, OT, TE – the Titans are giving second-year QB Will Levis everything he needs to succeed under a new coaching staff. He might be the late-round quarterback du jour in 2024 with all the additional weapons at his disposal between DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley. The OL should be superior to past versions, and Levis’s big arm lends itself to some high-end fantasy performances. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

“We saw the good and the bad from Will Levis last season. What we did not see is a full season of Will Levis. They brought in another WR, Calvin Ridley (1,000-yard season last season), to play opposite of DeAndre Hopkins since Burks seems to be heading towards being a first-round flop. Derrick Henry is now gone meaning there is a new era brewing in Tennessee. The hope is they beef up their offensive line with the arguably best offensive lineman in the draft. Anyway, all signs point to Levis officially making this his team this year! It is possible we see a 3,500-yard season with 20+ touchdowns in 2024. Hopefully, he does not take his 2:1 TD:INT ratio with him next year though.”
– Miguel ‘SC’ Romero (Fantasy Football Universe)

Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT)

“Pat Freiermuth had a promising rookie season in Ben Roethlisberger’s final year in the NFL, scoring seven receiving touchdowns. Unfortunately, his production has fallen off a cliff the past two seasons, totaling only four receiving touchdowns while catching passes from Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph. However, he could have a breakout season in the final year of his contract. Last year, the Atlanta Falcons tight ends averaged a 31.7% overall target share and a 29.3% red zone target share, with Arthur Smith calling the plays. Whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields is under center for Pittsburgh, it’s a massive upgrade for Freiermuth.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)