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Andy's 6 breakout players and potential league-winning picks for 2025. His top fantasy football breakout candidates include Chase Brown, Courtland Sutton, and more.
Hello RotoBallers! Training camp is underway, and the Hall of Fame Game is just around the corner, which means it is time to start digging deep into fantasy football. While it is crucial to hit on most of your draft picks, if you can identify specific players with elite upside, you can put yourself in a great position to win your league.
Last season, if you were willing to take a gamble on rookies like Brian Thomas Jr. and Bucky Irving, you were likely the last team standing. In addition, several veterans, such as Baker Mayfield, were excellent value picks.
In this piece, I will highlight the players that I do not want to leave my draft without. While some are found in the early rounds, a handful could be acquired in the middle of your draft and pay off down the stretch. All ADP references are taken from the NFFC. Be sure to follow RotoBaller NFL and me on X for all your fantasy football needs this season. Let's get to it
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) rankings
- Quarterback (QB) rankings
- Tight end (TE) rankings
- Defense (D/ST) rankings
- Kicker (K) rankings
- FLEX rankings
- Dynasty rankings
Fantasy Football League Winners - Quarterback
Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott enjoyed a career season in 2023 when he threw for 4,516 yards and 36 scores en route to finishing as the QB3 in total points, sitting just behind Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts. However, his 2024 campaign did not go as planned. Through the first eight games, he averaged just 247 passing yards per game and threw only 11 scores.
His season was eventually cut short by a season-ending hamstring injury he suffered during their Week 9 contest against the Atlanta Falcons.
In total, the Cowboys had a rough season last fall but should be well-positioned to bounce back, which should put Prescott in a great position to return to form. First, the Cowboys made one of the biggest trades in the offseason by acquiring wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pickens has flashed immense potential as a deep threat throughout his career, but has typically been held back by subpar quarterback play in the Steel City. The Cowboys will also welcome back star wideout CeeDee Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson, who recently inked a four-year extension.
However, more importantly, Prescott could be well-positioned for a bounce-back due to the lack of production the Cowboys could have on the ground. During the 2023 season, the Cowboys posted a slightly above-average 1,920 total rush yards with 112.9 rush yards per game. Much of that production came from an inefficient Tony Pollard, who ran for 1,005 yards on the ground (four yards per attempt).
This year, the Cowboys enter the regular season with a lackluster running back room headlined by Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, who are each coming off their worst seasons of their careers. The Cowboys could be forced to lean on their potent passing attack even more than they did in 2023. Last season, both Williams and Sanders posted a 3.7 YPA mark, which suggests neither can lead the backfield.
They also added fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he has already shown some concern in training camp.
With a lack of a rushing attack, an improved offensive line that will welcome All-American offensive guard Tyler Booker (12th overall pick) from Alabama, and a new weapon in Pickens, expect Prescott to sit near the top of the league in pass attempts.
He is a prime bounce-back candidate and a smash at his current 95.5 ADP. I would rather fade Caleb Williams (89.3), Jared Goff (83.9), and Kyler Murray (86.9) and grab Prescott in the following round.
Dak Prescott airs it out to George Pickens 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vKTrWQC2R4
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) July 28, 2025
Honorable Mentions: J.J. McCarthy (MIN), Justin Fields (NYJ)
Fantasy Football League Winners - Running Backs
Chase Brown - Cincinnati Bengals
While I initially planned on highlighting De'Von Achane, his ADP sits just outside the first round, and instead, I will pivot to someone going in the early third.
After opening the season in a reserve role behind Zack Moss, anyone who grabbed Brown off the waiver wire or bought him low prior to Week 4 could have secured a league-winner. From Week 4 onward (excluding Week 18), Brown averaged an impressive 18.3 PPR points per game, which was the sixth-highest mark at his position.
So, why is Brown being selected as the RB12 in NFFC drafts?
A significant concern surrounding Brown is that he relied heavily on targets. During this noted stretch, he saw 4.5 targets per game, and the third-most total targets at the position, trailing only Alvin Kamara and Achane. From Weeks 8 through 17, Brown averaged an eye-catching 5.3 targets per game.
While some may believe that he is due for some regression, given that Cincinnati has two of the best wide receivers in football, I believe that Brown should continue to see a hefty number of targets his way. The Bengals often found themselves trailing in games or in high-scoring affairs due to their subpar defense last year, which allowed them to score the seventh-most total points per game.
With star defensive end Trey Hendrickson in the midst of a holdout with the team, this defense could be much worse in 2025. In fact, Hendrickson was one of the few bright spots, as he tallied a league-leading 17.5 sacks.
Expect the Bengals to once again boast one of the top offensive units in 2025, which should put Brown in a prominent position to push for RB1 status. I would take Brown (28.2) over several RBs going ahead of him in NFFC drafts: Kyren Williams (27.5), Josh Jacobs (22.9), and Jonathan Taylor (22.8).
Love to see this https://t.co/VgvhYTJ0ek
— Andy Smith (@A_Smith_FS) July 21, 2025
Trey Benson - Arizona Cardinals
My other running back to spotlight is a bit more of a traditional "sleeper" pick, but has the upside to be the coveted league-winner during the stretch run. The Cardinals drafted Benson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State. However, Benson took a backseat to the workhorse James Conner in his debut campaign as he only reached double-digit carries in two total games.
However, when given an opportunity, Benson looked the part, posting a strong 4.6 YPA and 9.8 yards per reception (on six catches).
Even though Conner still sits at the top of the depth chart, this season may be a bit different. During the early stages of camp, Benson has received nothing but praise from his coaching staff. Just listen to what head coach Jonathan Gannon said about the former 66th overall pick:
Trey Benson is going to have a big year pic.twitter.com/vyeQFCqWkL
— Andy Smith (@A_Smith_FS) July 26, 2025
In addition, Benson has reportedly gained weight in he offseason and is "more explosive" as he enters his sophomore campaign.
Trey Benson Adds Weight, Explosiveness https://t.co/7x7oJ3C29T
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) June 13, 2025
While Conner was relatively healthy last season (until Week 16), injuries have limited him in the past. With a full year of experience under his belt, Benson stands clear as the priority high-upside stash when Week 1 kicks off.
Honorable Mentions: De'Von Achane (MIA), Tank Bigsby (JAX)
Fantasy Football League Winners - Wide Receivers
Courtland Sutton - Denver Broncos
Both A.J. Brown and Davante Adams are at the top of my must-draft list, but since both are selected much higher than these names, I will push them to the honorable mentions section. Instead, I want to spotlight a wideout in Denver who recently got a contract extension.
On July 28, the Broncos announced they signed their top wide receiver, Courtland Sutton, to a four-year extension. Coming off of his best season as a pro, I still think he has an even higher ceiling in 2025.
Broncos and WR Courtland Sutton have reached agreement on a four-year, $92 million extension, per source. pic.twitter.com/BuTGpExY41
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2025
Last season, the Denver offense took some time to get going with rookie Bo Nix under center. But once the offense found its footing, Denver was one of the top offensive units in the sport. From Week 8 through 17, Sutton was the WR11 in PPR formats, averaging 17.6 PPR fantasy points per game. During this stretch, Sutton saw the 12th-most targets among all pass catchers.
With Nix entering his second year, you would assume that Sutton's ADP has Nix's growth baked into his price, right? In fact, the 29-year-old is being selected as the No. 23 WR off the board in NFFC drafts.
While the Denver run game figures to be much better with rookie RJ Harvey and veteran J.K. Dobbins, the only major option the team added to the pass-catching room was tight end Evan Engram. In the wide receiver room, Sutton stands at the clear top position over Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, and rookie Pat Bryant.
If you fade the RB position, you could be sitting with Sutton as your WR3/top flex option, which will provide your team an incredible advantage. This is one of the best value picks you can make.
Deebo Samuel Sr. - Washington Commanders
Hear me out on this one. The 29-year-old, supposedly "washed-up" Samuel, does not scream league-winner. However, sitting as the WR40 on NFFC ADP, Samuel can surely fit that bill.
The Commanders opted to acquire Samuel earlier in the offseason via a trade with the 49ers. Samuel will fill a much-needed void as the No. 2 WR in a Washington offense that relied on a combination of Noah Brown, Dyami Brown, and Olamide Zaccheaus during their Cinderella run to the NFC title game last year. Samuel is a valuable piece to this Washington offense and will be given ample opportunities.
Samuel was quite disappointing last season as he totaled just 670 yards through the air, 136 yards on the ground, and scored only four touchdowns. However, Samuel battled numerous injuries, including a fight with pneumonia, which clearly impacted him physically.
In 2023, Samuel was the WR15 in total PPR fantasy points and the WR5 in the back-half of the season (Weeks 8 through 17). Now, he's playing alongside one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Jayden Daniels, in a creative offensive scheme led by Kliff Kingsbury, who will put him in positions to get the ball in space through screen passes.
In addition, while it may seem unlikely, Terry McLaurin and the Commanders could potentially look to part ways if a deal cannot be agreed upon.
Being selected after players with significant question marks like Travis Hunter and Jakobi Meyers, I will gladly take a high-end WR3 with WR2 upside in the middle rounds of my draft. It never hurts to have players on good offenses. A change of scenery and playing alongside an emerging superstar QB and an elite offensive-minded coordinator can give Samuel the spark he needs to bounce back.
My biggest takeaway from the practices I’ve been at:
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt is going to be really good. Quick, sharp, has the vision.
•Deebo Samuel is going to have an outstanding season. Everything he does just looks like he did before 2024. Honestly couldn’t be more…— Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorFB) July 29, 2025
Honorable Mentions: Brown (PHI), Adams (LAR)
Fantasy Football League Winners - Tight Ends
T.J. Hockenson - Minnesota Vikings
While I considered including Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft as my league-winner at the position, my colleague Dave Ventresca has been shouting from this hill all offseason, and I will leave him those honors. Instead, I will target the No. 5 tight end in ADP, T.J. Hockenson.
Hockenson made his season debut in Week 9 after recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in 2023. The former eighth overall pick took some time to get adjusted, but looked the part down the stretch. From Week 10 through 17, Hockenson tallied double-digit PPR points in four games but was unable to find the back of the end zone.
However, during this stretch, he averaged 6.3 targets per game, which was tied for the sixth-most at the position. Some positive touchdown regression should be in play in 2025.
Before suffering the injury in 2023, Hockenson was finding elite success in the Kevin O'Connell system as he finished with the third-most PPR points at the position from Weeks 1 through 17.
While targets seem hard to come by on the surface in the Minnesota offense, with a "rookie" QB in McCarthy set to take over starting duties, the 6-foot-5 tight end could be a reliable security blanket in the middle of the field. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee.
In addition, Jordan Addison recently received a three-game suspension.
Hockenson is a massive value at his position, going almost 15 picks later than the TE4, Sam LaPorta (who faces even more target competition), and in near lockstep with Travis Kelce, who has taken the backseat in his offense.
While taking one of Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, or George Kittle will put you in a great position to win your league, opt to wait a bit later and grab Hockenson, who carries just as much upside in an elite Minnesota offense.
T.J. Hockenson Getting Targeted Heavily https://t.co/phQEHR045M
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) July 25, 2025
Honorable Mentions: Kraft (GB), Tyler Warren (IND)
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