Every fantasy football season is defined by the players who exceed expectations, and 2025 will be no different. Whether it’s a rookie running back making the leap, a wide receiver capitalizing on a new opportunity or a quarterback putting it all together, breakout players are the backbone of championship rosters.
To help you stay one step ahead of your league, we asked our panel of fantasy experts to spotlight their favorite breakout candidates across every position. These aren’t just hyped names — they’re players with the talent, opportunity and situation to dramatically outperform their current fantasy football average draft position (ADP).
From ascending running backs like RJ Harvey and Quinshon Judkins to second-year wide receivers like Ricky Pearsall and Rome Odunze, and even overlooked quarterbacks and tight ends ready to surge, this is your fantasy football cheat sheet for finding this year’s biggest fantasy football risers.
Let’s dive in.
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Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates
Breakout Tight Ends
Which tight end has the best shot at having a breakout year in 2025 and why?
Brenton Strange (TE – JAX)
“We saw glimpses of what Brenton Strange can do last year. This Jacksonville Jaguars offense has some excitement around it with Liam Coen and all of their fun young weapons. Evan Engram is out; Brenton Strange is in. He is a perfect late-round tight end target. Last year, he only started a few games and played over 70% of snaps in six games. He was still able to post three top-10 finishes. He finished top 20 on three other occasions. Strange is a great value and breakout candidate in 2025.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)
Colston Loveland (TE – CHI)
“Colston Loveland, the rookie tight end for the Chicago Bears, is the undervalued sleeper with the best shot at a breakout year in 2025. Selected 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Loveland’s elite college production at Michigan (56 receptions, 682 yards, 90.6 Pro Football Focus receiving grade) and 4.48-second 40-yard dash make him a matchup nightmare in the Bears’ revamped offense under new head coach Ben Johnson. With Cole Kmet‘s production declining in 2024 and a crowded receiver room (DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III), Loveland’s athleticism and red-zone prowess position him to steal targets, especially as a safety valve for Caleb Williams. His ADP around TE10 reflects skepticism about rookie tight ends, but Chicago’s high-powered offense, projected for 580 pass attempts, offers a clear path to a 50-600-6 stat line, making him a low-end TE1 candidate. Johnson’s history of elevating tight ends like Sam LaPorta suggests Loveland could exceed expectations, delivering TE1 production at a TE2 draft cost.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
Mason Taylor (TE – NYJ)
“For me, a breakout is defined as a player who has never come close to being a fantasy star. How good is Mason Taylor? Nick Saban said during NFL Draft coverage, “That not landing new Jets tight end Mason Taylor was the biggest recruiting mistake we ever made” during his time at Alabama. LSU beat Saban’s Crimson Tide on a successful two-point conversion pass from Jayden Daniels to Mason Taylor. Note that Taylor was a pure freshman at the time. LSU also had some serious star power on their team with Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., and yet, head coach Brian Kelly still had the confidence to call the decisive, game-winning play for Taylor. I’m not sure if Mason Taylor will hit this year, but if you’re looking for one of Ringo’s longshot specials, there are worse dart throws to take than rolling the dice on the talented rookie tight end.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
David Njoku (TE – CLE)
“David Njoku has always been one of the most physically gifted tight ends since being taken in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but he has never been able to put all that talent to use for an entire season. In the five games started by Joe Flacco when he played for the Browns, Njoku tallied 30 receptions for 390 yards and four touchdowns. That’s an insane 17-game pace. That can’t be replicated, but if Flacco remains the starter for the entire year, Njoku has an outside chance to be the top-scoring tight end in the league in 2025. ”
– Lee Wehry (FantasyPros)
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