12 Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates to Target in Drafts: Player Outlooks for Drake Maye, Jordan Mason, Ricky Pearsall, Dalton Kincaid, more (2025)

Mike Fanelli provides 12 fantasy football breakout candidates for 2025 at QB, RB, WR, TE. His top sleepers and draft targets include J.J. McCarthy, Ray Davis, Marvin Mims Jr., Brenton Strange, more.

The 2025 NFL season is still a few months away. However, fantasy football is a year-round game, and it’s never too early to prepare for redraft season.

One way to prepare is by identifying potential breakout candidates who have a clear path to a career season. These players are often being underdrafted relative to their potential and can provide fantasy players with immense value if they take the next step.

So, let’s look at 12 potential breakout candidates for the 2025 fantasy football season.

Quarterback Breakout Candidates

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Last year, Lawrence struggled with injuries. He ended the season as the QB27, averaging 14.5 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, the former Clemson star had only 11 passing touchdowns, a career low. Yet, Lawrence is one of my favorite potential breakout targets in 2025.

Jacksonville has done everything possible to help Lawrence succeed this season. They hired Liam Coen as their new head coach after he turned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense into one of the top units in the NFL last year. Furthermore, the Jaguars improved their offensive line in free agency and traded up for Travis Hunter during the NFL Draft.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Maye is one of my favorite draft targets for the 2025 season, especially in superflex leagues. He was outstanding in his first two starts as a rookie, completing 65.7% of his pass attempts for 519 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions, and 40.3 fantasy points, scoring 19.5 or more in both contests.

Third Drake Maye touchdown pass of the day!

📺: #HOUvsNE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/wx1KyxB7uR

— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024

Furthermore, Maye was on pace for 579 rushing yards over a 17-game pace as a starter, which would have ranked fourth among quarterbacks. More importantly, the Patriots significantly improved their supporting cast this offseason, adding Stefon Diggs and Morgan Moses in free agency while selecting Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson, Kyle Williams, and Jared Wilson in the NFL Draft.

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

While McCarthy is the ultimate wild-card fantasy quarterback, the second-year pro will be one of my highest-rostered players this season. He had little starting experience in college and missed his entire rookie year because of a knee injury. Thankfully, the former Michigan star is on track to play in Week 1.

The Vikings have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, adding three new starters this offseason. Furthermore, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson give McCarthy an excellent trio of weapons in the passing game. While it’s high praise, don’t be surprised if the former Michigan star has a Patrick Mahomes-lite second-year breakout because of his supporting cast.

Running Back Breakout Candidates

Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

Robinson was the RB29 last season, averaging 10.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite Jayden Daniels leading the team with 891 rushing yards. The former Alabama star set career highs in rushing yards (799), yards per attempt (4.3), and touchdowns (eight). However, he could be even better this year.

Many expected the Commanders to select a running back early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, they waited until the seventh round to select Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Furthermore, Washington vastly improved their offensive line, trading for Laremy Tunsil and drafting Josh Conerly Jr. Don’t be surprised if Robinson has over 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career in 2025.

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings traded for Mason earlier this offseason, swapping Day 3 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft and a sixth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft for the young running back. Last year, he finished as the RB37, averaging 9.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game as a part-time starter for the San Francisco 49ers.

However, Mason was productive as the starting running back. He averaged 22.8 rushing attempts and 17.9 fantasy points per game over the first four weeks, totaling 16.9 or more in all but one contest. While Aaron Jones re-signed with Minnesota earlier this offseason, Mason will have a role as a co-starter. Furthermore, he has league-winning upside if Jones misses significant time with an injury.

Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

Buffalo led the NFL with 32 rushing touchdowns last season. James Cook led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns, while Josh Allen had 12. However, Davis also had an impact on the ground, totaling three rushing touchdowns. More importantly, he performed well when Cook missed time with an injury last year.

Ray Davis takes it in for the TD! Time for snowballs in Buffalo ☃️

📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Mny7SZpama

— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024

The former Kentucky star was outstanding in the one game Cook missed with an injury last year. Davis finished Week 6 as the RB14, totaling 23 touches for 152 scrimmage yards and 16.7 half-point PPR fantasy points despite not scoring a touchdown. The second-year pro is a solid flex option with breakout potential if Cook’s contract situation leads to a holdout.

Wide Receiver Breakout Candidates

Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

It has been an interesting offseason for the 49ers. San Francisco traded away Deebo Samuel Sr. and had trade talks surrounding Brandon Aiyuk. While Jauan Jennings was the team’s most consistent wide receiver in 2024, Pearsall is the one fantasy players should target next season, despite a rocky rookie season.

Unfortunately, Pearsall missed the first six weeks recovering from a gunshot during an attempted robbery during the preseason. Yet, the former Florida star looked sharp when getting the ball. He averaged 18.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the three contests with six or more targets, scoring three receiving touchdowns. Pearsall should be a popular breakout candidate despite him missing some time this offseason. He's expected to be back for training camp.

Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos

Denver’s offense became fantasy-friendly late last season. Courtland Sutton was the only non-quarterback option in the offense that fantasy players could trust for most of the year. However, Mims started to shine over the final two months. He scored 12.3 or more half-point PPR fantasy points in four of the final seven regular-season games, including at least 18.4 in three outings.

Many believed the Broncos would have made a splashy addition at the wide receiver position this offseason. However, that didn’t happen because of how Mims ended last year. He made several big-time plays for Bo Nix and the offense over the final two weeks, averaging 6.5 receptions for 77 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and 22.9 fantasy points per game.

BO NIX ABSOLUTE CINEMA.

📺: #DENvsCIN on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LpdaNr6sVi

— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024

Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Unfortunately, Wilson’s rookie season was ruined by injuries. The former Michigan star played in only one game, totaling only five offensive snaps in the Week 6 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Yet, he was considered a talented prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft after totaling 12 receiving touchdowns in his final season at Michigan.

More importantly, Wilson could be the Steelers’ No. 2 wide receiver this year after the team traded away George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Pittsburgh didn’t use any of their seven picks in the NFL Draft on a pass catcher. Therefore, don’t be surprised if Wilson has a breakout sophomore year with defenses focused on stopping DK Metcalf.

UPDATE: The Steelers are acquiring Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith, which greatly reduces Wilson's chances to break out.

Tight End Breakout Candidates

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

Fantasy players had high hopes for Kincaid last year after the Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in the offseason. Unfortunately, the former Utah star fell well short of expectations, ending the year as the TE28, averaging 6.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.

Furthermore, Kincaid dealt with multiple injuries, including a knee issue that the team later admitted that they should have shut him down over. Therefore, I’m giving him another chance in 2025. Buffalo still lacks a No. 1 caliber wide receiver, meaning Kincaid could lead the team in targets and touchdowns, resulting in a breakout season.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strange had little fantasy impact over his first two years in the NFL. However, the former Penn State star flashed upside in 2024 when Evan Engram missed time with injuries. He averaged 4.9 targets and 6.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the eight contests without the veteran tight end.

More importantly, Strange is vastly underrated after the Jaguars moved on from Engram in the offseason and hired Liam Coen as their new head coach. The third-year pro will take over as the starter and fill the Cade Otton role in Coen’s offense. Last season, Otton finished as the TE13, averaging 7.9 fantasy points per game. Fantasy players should expect similar or better production from Strange.

Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers spent their first-round pick in the NFL Draft on Tetairoa McMillan, giving Bryce Young a legit go-to No. 1 wide receiver. However, they waited until the fifth round to select Mitchell Evans, meaning Sanders has no significant competition for the starting tight end role this season.

Last year, the former Texas star averaged 3.5 half-point PPR fantasy points, totaling one receiving touchdown. Yet, Sanders flashed upside as a rookie, ranking as the TE15 from Week 6 through Week 10, averaging 7.2 fantasy points per game. Don’t be surprised if he has a breakout sophomore season with Young developing as a passer.

Bryce Young finds a wide open Ja'Tavion Sanders for the touchdown ‼️

📺: #NYGvsCAR on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/wrSe7gwZdr

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024

More Fantasy Football Analysis