7 Fantasy Football League-Winners: Breakout Candidates for the Home Stretch

John's looks at 7 potential fantasy football league winners -- 2nd half breakout candidates for the home stretch, players ready to surge over the next few weeks.

Not all league-winners start the season strong. We've seen a ton of players over the years have slow or sometimes just awful starts to their seasons, only to turn things around and finish extremely strong.

Sometimes they finish so strong that they win leagues. For example, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) was the overall WR1 in Weeks 14-17 in 2024, scoring well over 20 PPR fantasy points per game in those contests. He struggled at times early in the year, though.

The same went for Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder). But it's not only rookies that have breakouts -- sometimes, veterans do as well. So let's keep all that in mind as we analyze seven second-half breakout candidates for fantasy football in 2025!

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars 

Tuten suffered an ankle injury near the end of his Week 11 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it looked like he forced at worst a 50/50 timeshare with fellow Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. That might be all Tuten needs to detonate this season.

In fact, he was quite close to breaking off a 60-yard touchdown scamper in that game, but he was tripped up close to the line of scrimmage and couldn't regain his footing. Tuten has been very close to breaking big runs all season, and the fumbling issues he had in college haven't reappeared yet.

This play is probably a touchdown for Bhayshul Tuten but he just barely gets tripped up. The narrative would probably be a lot different if he hadn't. He also got tackled inside the 5 on what could have been another TD. One day he'll break off a long TD. Elite speed for it pic.twitter.com/M26R7e9F0N

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) November 21, 2025

Tuten finished Week 11 with 13.4 PPR fantasy points, even though he was pulled from the game with his ankle injury. Interestingly, he out-carried Etienne by six rushes to three on the first two drives and had a few more touches than Etienne did before the injury knocked him out of the game.

It seems we're headed toward a half-and-half timeshare between the two in the near future, and it's possible Jaguars head coach Liam Coen wants to get Tuten the ball even more. He spoke glowingly about him in practice, which has been a bullish sign for Coen-coached players in the past.

Maybe it won't be until next year that we see Tuten get a big majority of the backfield touches. In fact, I expect Jacksonville to decline to extend Etienne and roll with Tuten and pass-protecting RB LeQuint Allen Jr. as their primary RBs next season. But this year, Tuten has huge potential for a big breakout down the stretch.

He's a strong buy ahead of the stretch run.

RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos

Harvey assumed lead back duties for Denver after the season-ending foot injury to RB J.K. Dobbins (foot). Dobbins had been the biggest barrier to Harvey getting more touches because he handled the majority of the rushing duties, while Harvey only got a handful of carries per game.

The receiving game involvement for Harvey has been very nice, and he's been able to capitalize on it. He's had four receiving touchdowns this season, even though RB Tyler Badie has mixed in on passing downs. But the playing time was encouraging -- Harvey logged 61 percent of offensive snaps in Week 11.

time for some juice 😈 https://t.co/fY3TM7ceqU pic.twitter.com/Y9fMYC7WU5

— Tyler🐴 (@HighAsTy) November 12, 2025

Unfortunately, Harvey has struggled running between the tackles this year. He's been much better as a pass-catching back and on outside runs, but the offensive line hasn't exactly blocked in a stellar fashion. He also hesitates too often and has a bad tendency to bounce runs outside when he should take the gaps in the middle of the offensive line.

Dobbins excelled at hitting the right holes decisively and at playing a more complete rushing game. Perhaps Harvey can develop in this area, but it's hard to make big improvements in the middle of a season. Still, the role is very nice, and he's a good buy-low target since last week's game wasn't inspiring, and he's on bye in Week 12.

Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Godwin (fibula) has been listed as questionable for Week 12 and is trending towards playing, and seems like a strong play once he returns and gets back to full health. He's been dealing with a leg injury this year that's had him out for an extended time, and he only played in two games after his dislocated ankle in 2024.

Still, he'll come back to the WR2 or possibly WR1B position for the Buccaneers. WR Emeka Egbuka, a rookie, has served as their WR1 in the absence of Mike Evans (clavicle) and has done well. However, the passing offense has still been productive enough to support another fantasy-relevant target.

Godwin went on an insane run last season, even with Evans healthy -- he was a top-5 overall receiver in fantasy football at one point. Obviously, he hasn't been fully healthy since then, but the added time away will have helped him heal more from his ankle ailment.

Once he gets back up to speed, which should happen by around Week 14, he could become a very strong flex play through the playoffs. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is still playing at a high level and could easily produce two highly productive pass catchers in this offense.

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

Kamara has been a huge fantasy football disappointment in 2025. Fantasy managers who drafted him likely have losing records, and he's not been a viable starter in many of his games. In fact, he scored single-digit PPR fantasy points in four of his 10 contests this season.

He also ranks as the RB29 overall despite being drafted heavily in the third and fourth rounds, as an RB2, in fantasy leagues this season. But the Saints' offense struggled for most of the season, and the former starting quarterback was a big reason why. New Orleans made a QB change and looked much better in Week 10.

Alvin Kamara BREAKS a LONG One! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jq1s5P2RTj

— Saints Happy Hour Podcast (@SaintsHappyHour) November 9, 2025

Kamara is still reasonably involved as a receiver, though it's possible they'll throw the ball to him more now that they traded away their WR2, Rashid Shaheed. With only WR Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson as the team's legitimate pass-catching threats, Kamara getting more involved in the passing game makes sense.

And he could have broken off a huge touchdown against the Carolina Panthers, as you can see from the video above. One more cut to the left would have helped. The extremely favorable upcoming schedule sets up the veteran very nicely, though.

Alvin Kamara ROS schedule...

-Falcons (27th-ranked schedule-adjusted defense vs RBs)
-Dolphins (26th)
-Buccaneers (25th)
-Panthers (19th)
-Jets (16th, but awful w/o Quinnen Williams)
-Titans (23rd)

Not one above-average run defense left. O better with Shough maybe. Buy! pic.twitter.com/BJ9FhWAHHt

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) November 21, 2025

Kamara is a nice buy target. Many fantasy managers might be tired of him, but it wouldn't surprise me if he scores double-digit PPR fantasy points and racks up at least four touchdowns to end the season.

Honorable Mentions

AJ Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks

No tight end has played as well as Barner has this year, while somehow flying completely under the radar. He's now had six contests with double-digit PPR fantasy points, which is rare production for a TE you can find on waivers in most leagues.

He's been the most consistent piece of Seattle's passing game aside from elite WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. And though the Seahawks spent a second-round pick on rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo, he hasn't impressed this year. The position takes a long time to develop in the NFL.

AJ Barner has alpha Tight End written all over him

Freakish Measurables

Elite Hands

Elite blocker that wants to beat your Edge

Redzone Threat pic.twitter.com/NEcDPP4Qre

— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) November 19, 2025

He's a player I like stashing in all leagues, and though he's had quite a few dud games, you want upside players on your roster as much as possible. The guy who might score one point but could also score 24 at tight end is more valuable than someone who consistently gets you between five and nine points.

Maybe he's earned himself a more consistent role moving forward.

Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints

The only reason I mention this here is that I think it could be very relevant in 2QB and superflex leagues moving forward. In redraft 1QB leagues, Shough is more of a bench stash that you can start when he has a good matchup and your starting QB has a bad matchup or is on bye.

Shough has a very favorable schedule moving forward. He gets to face whatever the opposite of a gauntlet is in his remaining games in 2025 -- the Atlanta Falcons and their collapsing defense, the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans all have poor defenses.

Honestly wouldn't be surprised if Tyler Shough becomes startable.

Look at his ROS matchups...

W12: Falcons (collapsing defense)
W13: Miami (8th-worst vs QBs)
W14: Bucs (7th-worst)
W15: Carolina (scored 19 on them in W10)
W16: Jets (11th-worst, no Sauce)
W17: Titans (Titans) pic.twitter.com/7yTfQdMPrU

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) November 21, 2025

Shough impressed in his second start with the Saints, and he's under the direction of a great offensive mind in head coach Kellen Moore. While the Saints' offense struggled consistently with QB Spencer Rattler starting, they actually seemed to have some direction on the road against a divisional rival.

Shough was clowned for being an awful draft pick, but he might surprise the rest of the season. Stashing him as your backup QB even in 1QB leagues makes sense this time of year if you need another one, as the waivers are picked clean of talent at every position.

Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears

The biggest barriers to Burden being more productive in fantasy football were his playing time and the accuracy struggles of his quarterback, Caleb Williams. Williams has been better at avoiding sacks this year thanks to his elite offensive line, but he's still been inaccurate.

At least one of those barriers appears to be crumbling, though -- Burden played 49 percent and 44 percent of offensive snaps in Week 11 and Week 12 after missing Week 10 with a concussion. He's been taking a lot of work from slot receiver Olamide Zaccheaus.

This route by Luther Burden wow. Sells vertical. Quick in and out of the break great reactive catch.

Give this man more targets. #DaBears #Bears pic.twitter.com/NdwipjPaxw

— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) November 9, 2025

He's made impressive strides as a route runner and shown off elite athleticism. He's big, fast, and very elusive with the ball in his hands, and has the power to bull through defensive backs for extra yards. He has a very high ceiling and could become Chicago's WR1 as early as the last few games of this season.

He's someone you need stashed on your benches.

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