8 names getting fantasy breakout buzz as NFL's preseason heats up
With coaching upgrades, injury recoveries, and vacated targets all pointing toward opportunity, fantasy experts are loving the upside of the following players.
Before you know it, we’ll be deep into fantasy draft season, and you’ll be wanting to know which potential breakout players to target. So I’ve done my usual digging and have come across a set of players fantasy experts are buzzing about.
This year’s class of breakout candidates is a potent mix of sophomore QBs, versatile rookies, and ascending pass-catchers in retooled offenses. With coaching upgrades, injury recoveries, and vacated targets all pointing toward opportunity, fantasy experts are loving the upside of the following players.
Let’s get into eight names many say are primed to smash expectations in 2025.
Bryce Young, QB, Panthers
Bryce Young quietly became a fantasy asset down the stretch in 2024, averaging 18.0 points per game from Week 8 on — good for a top-10 finish if extrapolated over the season. His late-season surge was driven by a surprise rushing breakout (208 yards, 5 TDs over eight games), and now he enters 2025 with a stronger supporting cast, including WR Tetairoa McMillan and a solid O-line.
With Dave Canales calling plays — who helped revive Baker Mayfield — Young has the coaching and rushing floor to be a sneaky breakout candidate in single-QB leagues.
"Young has the building blocks for upside you want from someone who goes undrafted in most single-quarterback leagues,” writes Jim Sannes of fanduel.com.
Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
Drake Maye was impressive as a rookie despite chaos around him—he didn’t start until Week 6, had no elite weapons, and still managed to produce QB16-or-better numbers in 8 of 12 starts. Maye’s fantasy floor is buoyed by sneaky rushing ability (36.7 yards per game), and that should increase with new OC Josh McDaniels designing more runs.
Add in upgrades like Stefon Diggs, a healthy O-line, and Mike Vrabel’s stability, and Maye has low-end QB1 upside. Don’t be surprised if he ends up one of the biggest Year 2 leaps at the position.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders
Many see Ashton Jeanty as the safest rookie to bet on in 2025. The Raiders used top-6 draft capital on the Boise State standout, who now steps into a Chip Kelly offense that promises speed, volume, and scoring chances.
With only 33-year-old Raheem Mostert in the way, Jeanty should see 20+ touches per game and operate as the offensive engine. He has three-down talent, home-run potential, and PPR viability.
“An elite playmaker with a three-down skill set, Jeanty has the upside to be an elite fantasy football running back,” writes ESPN’s Mike Clay.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers
After a quiet start due to injury, Ricky Pearsall flashed upside late in his rookie season with back-to-back strong games in Weeks 16 and 17. Now, he enters 2025 with a clear path to targets: Deebo Samuel is in Washington, Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from major knee surgery, and Jauan Jennings’s status remains murky.
Pearsall is impressing at camp and could emerge as the top WR for a 49ers team projected to be among the league’s highest-scoring. If he maintains his efficiency from the end of 2024, he’ll offer mid-round WR2/WR3 value with upside.
“Pearsall isn’t getting nearly enough love from the fantasy community given his situation,” according to Yahoo’s Justin Boone.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills
Dalton Kincaid has quietly finished second on the Bills in targets in back-to-back seasons despite battling injuries. In 2024, he was ninth among tight ends in yards per route run but had a low catchable target rate and bad touchdown luck.
If healthy, Kincaid could finally realize his top-five TE potential—especially with Buffalo spreading the ball more under OC Joe Brady. He was on pace for 100+ targets before a PCL sprain last year, and if those missed connections with Josh Allen start hitting, Kincaid will become a weekly starter with top-tier upside.
Caleb Williams, QB, Bears
The Bears have gone all-in to set Caleb Williams up for success, retooling their o-line, adding weapons like Luther Burden and Colston Loveland, and most importantly, OC Ben Johnson — the mastermind behind Jared Goff’s resurgence. Williams also brings 400-yard rushing upside, making him a dual-threat breakout with both floor and ceiling.
“With Ben Johnson expected to bring a QB-friendly system that revived Jared Goff's career in Detroit, Williams is poised to become the first QB in Bears franchise history to exceed 4,000 passing yards and/or 30 TDs in a season,” writes ESPN’s Tyler Fulghum.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. underwhelmed compared to sky-high rookie expectations, finishing with as WR42 (standard points per game). But he still posted a solid 62-885-8 line, and in year two, expect Kyler Murray to lean more on Harrison, especially if his route tree expands beyond deep balls.
With his elite pedigree, improved physicality, and a potentially bigger target share, Harrison could easily jump into WR1 territory. He’s now priced more reasonably in drafts and remains a high-upside investment in Arizona’s evolving offense.
Rome Odunze, WR, Bears
Rome Odunze flashed big-play ability as a rookie despite inconsistent quarterback play and inefficient targets. Now, with OC Johnson installing a QB-friendly system and Williams set to take a leap, Odunze could see a massive efficiency bump.
He already earned 101 targets playing alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, and his size-speed combo makes him a red zone threat. “If Moore doesn’t rebound after a disappointing year where he showed questionable maturity at times, Odunze has the talent and athleticism to quickly become Williams’ top target in a revamped attack,” writes Boone.