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Dave Ventresca's fantasy football all-breakout team for 2025. Target and draft these undervalued players: J.J. McCarthy, Omarion Hampton, Kenneth Walker III, Rashee Rice, Josh Downs, and Tucker Kraft.
With the calendar flipping to June, we are only a handful of weeks away from the start of NFL training camps. That means it’s officially time to start preparing for your 2025 fantasy football draft. One of the best ways to get a jump on your league mates is by correctly identifying potential breakout candidates. Nailing a breakout pick can lead you to that long-eluded championship trophy.
But where do you begin when it comes to identifying potential breakouts? One way is to target players with upside who are being undervalued by the community. Today, we will put together a starting lineup filled with potential breakout players for the 2025 season. Draft enough of these players, and you might just capture your league’s championship trophy.
Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here is the All-Breakout team for 2025 fantasy football drafts.
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J.J. McCarthy - QB, Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy missed his entire rookie year in 2024 after tearing his meniscus in training camp.
BREAKING: Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is out for the 2024 season after undergoing a full meniscus repair this morning. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/GgpgfiNYRX
— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2024
Following McCarthy’s injury, Sam Darnold became Minnesota’s de facto QB1 and had an incredible 2024. He threw for a career-high 4,319 yards and 35 passing touchdowns but came crashing down to earth in the season’s final two games.
Minnesota subsequently decided not to re-sign Darnold, allowing him to walk into free agency. McCarthy had to survive a brief scare that future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers would join Minnesota. However, that storm has passed, and the Vikings have confirmed they are committed to McCarthy for the 2025 season.
J.J. McCarthy to Trishton Jackson for the 45 yard TD!
And @JJettas2 LOVES it!
📺: #LVvsMIN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/QmEKsnabMz— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
McCarthy is considered a bit of a wildcard in 2025 since he missed his entire rookie season. However, he is still a quarterback with top-10 draft capital tied to a strong offensive coach and surrounded by an abundance of talent. It's hard to find a better situation for a first-time starting quarterback.
Yes, we don't know McCarthy's true floor, and he could hurt your team if he's truly awful. But he also might have a higher ceiling than some people think. Head coach Kevin O'Connell worked wonders for Darnold's career last year. It shouldn't be that surprising if McCarthy has similar production.
Kenneth Walker III - RB, Seattle Seahawks
While his raw stats disappointed last year, Walker still posted some strong advanced metrics. Among 46 backs with 100+ carries, Walker finished:
First in Missed Tackles Forced Per Attempt (MTF/ATT), per Fantasy Points Data Suite
Third in PFF Elusive Rating
Fifth in PFF Rushing Grade
Ninth in Missed Tackles Forced (MTF), per Fantasy Points Data Suite
10th in Yards After Contact Per Attempt (YACO/ATT), per Fantasy Points Data Suite
All aboard the K9 train 🚂 pic.twitter.com/dCv6sT9IWr
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 8, 2024
He remains a highly talented player. Some of Walker's efficiency metrics have not been great, but this can partially be attributed to Seattle’s poor offensive line play over the years. A bad offensive line can skew running back efficiency metrics, and a good line can help.
Look no further than Saquon Barkley this past season for proof of that statement. Seattle has done their part to try and fix their offensive line by drafting guard Grey Zabel 18th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hopefully, he can bring some stability to this unit.
Walker received plenty of volume in 2024, even with a new coaching staff in place. This indicates he is the preferred back over third-year pro Zach Charbonnet. The addition of new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak might be what unlocks the next level of Walker’s game in 2025. Kubiak has stated that he plans to put a lot on Walker's plate this upcoming season and that they are expecting big things from the fourth-year back.
Walker has posted strong advanced metrics in key areas and has top-5 upside if things break right for him. He's also playing for a new contract. Playing in an ideal rushing scheme, along with the extra motivation of playing for a huge bag of money, never hurts. Walker should be a priority running back target in the early rounds of fantasy football drafts this year.
Omarion Hampton - RB, Los Angeles Chargers
While Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty got all the headlines as the clear-cut RB1 of the incoming rookie class, Hampton isn’t that far behind.
Omarion Hampton Ranked in the 97th Percentile in Yards After Contact Per Attempt (4.3)
➖Age: 21 (Early Declare)
➖Size: 6’0, 220 lbsHampton’s Averages over the last 2 Seasons:
➖24 Touches Per Game
➖150.4 Yards Per Game
➖1.32 TD’s Per GameFuture Workhorse RB1 in the NFL pic.twitter.com/Dfd8kA8zIi
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) January 29, 2025
Hampton is an extremely talented back who excelled at the NFL Combine. It was also reported that some teams had him and Jeanty neck and neck for the RB1 title.
The Chargers are very bullish on Hampton's future and felt comfortable spending the 22nd overall pick on him in the NFL Draft. It's easy to see why. His tape is great, and he scored well in several advanced metrics. Among 154 collegiate rushers with 100+ carries, Hampton ranked 16th in PFF's elusive rating, eighth in PFF's rushing grade, and fifth in missed tackles forced (MTF).
Hampton will have to beat out former Pittsburgh Steeler Najee Harris for the RB1 job in Los Angeles. While Harris was better in Pittsburgh than many would like to admit, he is not the same caliber of player that Hampton is.
This was arguably the best landing spot for a rookie running back, and it's only a matter of time before Hampton takes over this backfield. When he does, there will be some monster games in his future, and Hampton could be a league winner.
Rashee Rice - WR, Kansas City Chiefs
We’re going right back to the well with this one. Rice was a popular breakout pick last season. It looked like things were on the right track, but then disaster struck. Rice suffered a serious knee injury in a Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was later revealed he tore his LCL and was ruled out for the season.
Chiefs place WR Rashee Rice on injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/TuZ9sSaklw
— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2024
He only played in three games last year, but Rice’s advanced metrics will leave you salivating. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, Rice posted an elite 35 percent targets per route run (TPRR) as well as a remarkable 3.47 yards per route run (YPRR). These are very high marks, and scores like these indicate a high likelihood for fantasy football success. A monster season could be coming for Rice.
Mahomes ➡️ Rice, what a connection!
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS/Paramount
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/5jkq5qhePc— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Rice is expected to make a full recovery from his injury, but his place on our list is tentative as he awaits word from the NFL on a possible suspension due to an off-field incident last spring. Should he be hit with a significant suspension, then we will update his place on our list.
With Travis Kelce mulling retirement, Rice could potentially take over as Patrick Mahomes' top receiver. If Rice plays the full season, a 100+ reception campaign is a real possibility, and he could emerge as a PPR cheat code. There are many reasons to be excited about Rice’s 2025 season.
Update - Rashee Rice has accepted a plea deal following his high-speed car accident in Dallas in March 2024. He was sentenced to 30 days of jail time and five years of probation. As a result, Rice will likely be forced to serve a suspension during the 2025 NFL regular season. At this time, the league has not made an official ruling, but the looming suspension could cause his ADP to drop, making him an even greater value.
Josh Downs - WR, Indianapolis Colts
Downs' final 2024 numbers may not blow you away, but when we look under the hood, there are some good reasons to be excited about his future. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, Downs registered a 30 percent targets per route run (TPRR), a 23.9 percent target share, and a 2.29 yards per route run (YPRR). Strong scores in these metrics highly correlate with fantasy football success.
The elephant in the room regarding Downs is the Colts' current quarterback situation. Anthony Richardson struggled mightily this past season, and it looks like he could be a bust. However, Colts general manager Chris Ballard hinted that the team will add competition to the quarterback position this offseason.
They eventually did, and the team signed Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million contract. He has now won the QB1 job. Jones failed as the New York Giants starting quarterback, but he consistently targeted Malik Nabers last year. The veteran signal-caller is certainly an upgrade as a passer over what we've seen from Richardson so far.
Jones' arrival could be good news for Downs' fantasy value, as he was most successful last year when Joe Flacco was under center. Downs is a talented receiver and just needs competent quarterback play to thrive.
Touchdown Josh Downs to give Indy a 24-7 lead!
📺: #TENvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/PAQDLqNOH2— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
Indianapolis did select former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren with the 14th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He certainly adds more target competition to an already crowded receiving corps. However, Warren is not as far along in his development as many believe and could struggle a bit in Year 1.
Downs' situation is far from ideal, but he is a solid separator and can draw targets at a high rate. His underlying data is also super encouraging. Downs is good enough to blow past his current ADP. He's one of the more underrated receivers in the league and could break out in a big way if all goes right.
Tucker Kraft - TE, Green Bay Packers
Kraft enjoyed a fine sophomore season in 2024 as he posted a 50-707-7 line. It culminated with a PPR TE10 finish.
What a catch by Tucker Kraft for the TD!
📺: #HOUvsGB on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/5cpzRJLlEj— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
With fellow tight end Luke Musgrave injured for the majority of the year, Kraft flourished as the team’s TE1. He even continued to function as the lead tight end once Musgrave returned healthy. Following Green Bay’s playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Matt LaFleur praised Kraft’s improvement and stated his desire to further incorporate him into Green Bay’s offense.
Tucker Kraft Could Have Bigger Role In 2025 https://t.co/gwfiVJgXzX
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) January 28, 2025
With the Packers lacking a true alpha WR1, they might make Kraft a more prominent part of the passing game. LaFleur recently stated in an interview that he is content with the team's wide receiver room.
This suggests Green Bay may not use a high pick on a receiver. LaFleur also notably stated that he is not opposed to making a tight end the team's de facto WR1. That would be excellent news for Kraft's fantasy football value.
Green Bay did draft former Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden with the 23rd overall pick in this year's NFL Draft. This was a noteworthy selection because it marked the first time since 2002 that the team used a first-round pick on a receiver.
While this might seem like bad news for Kraft's value, Golden is a good, not great, wide receiver prospect and profiles more as a WR2. He is a very good receiver against zone coverage, but still needs refinement against man and press coverage. For 2025 at least, he will not pose as great a threat to Kraft as some want to believe.
If you are planning to wait on a tight end in your draft, Kraft should be the top name on your list. He's got a great rapport with Jordan Love, and his head coach wants him more involved in the offense. Sometimes, spotting a breakout candidate is really that simple.
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