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Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Breakouts From The 2024 Season. Mike Fanelli looks back at 10 breakout wide receivers from the 2024 season.
The 2024 fantasy football season is in the rearview mirror. However, the best way to prepare for next year is to look back at the season that just happened.
There were several breakout wide receivers this year. While Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers, and Ladd McConkey were outstanding rookies, they don’t count as breakouts.
A breakout player must significantly improve from their previous NFL season. Therefore, rookies can’t be breakout players. So, let’s look at 10 wide receiver breakouts from the 2024 season.
Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
Many predicted that London would have a third-year breakout heading into the season. The former USC star didn’t disappoint, ending the year as the WR5, averaging 13.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
He finished with 100 receptions on 158 targets for 1,271 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, setting career highs in every category. More importantly, London played well with Michael Penix Jr. under center, averaging 7.3 receptions on 13 targets for 117.3 receiving yards per contest in his three starts.
PENIX TO LONDON GIVES THE FALCONS THE LEAD.
📺: #CARvsATL on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/uaFaMt47qq— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
After struggling with several sub-par quarterbacks in Washington, McLaurin had a career season with Jayden Daniels. The former Ohio State star finished the year as the WR6, averaging 13.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, posting the first top-12 finish of his career.
Yet, McLaurin didn’t have a massive season compared to past years. He had 82 receptions on 117 targets for 1,096 receiving yards this season. However, McLaurin had a career-high 13 receiving touchdowns, breaking the franchise record.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Last year, Smith-Njigba was a barely starting flex option during bye weeks. However, the second-year pro had a breakout season under offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. He finished the year as the WR10, averaging 11.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
Furthermore, the former Ohio State star stepped up as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, with DK Metcalf struggling with injuries and inconsistent play. Smith-Njigba finished the season with 100 receptions on 137 targets for 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
New York traded for Davante Adams during the season, leading many to panic about Wilson. Yet, the third-year pro lived up to his top-12 draft capital, ending the season as the WR11, averaging 11.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He finished with a career-high seven receiving touchdowns on 154 targets.
8️⃣ to 5️⃣
Garrett Wilson grabs his first TD from Aaron Rodgers!#NEvsNYJ on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/FD2MMsD6pY— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2024
By comparison, Wilson had seven receiving touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons on 315 targets, totaling four or fewer scores in both years. More importantly, the former Ohio State star had several massive performances, totaling 20 or more fantasy points in 17.7% of the contests.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Many thought the Broncos passing attack would struggle with Bo Nix under center. While most of the wide receiver core had no fantasy value, Sutton was outstanding after a slow start. He finished the year as the WR13, averaging 11.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, a career-high.
The former SMU star had 10 receiving touchdowns in 2023. While he didn’t break that mark this season, Sutton did have the second-highest total of his career with eight. More importantly, the veteran set a career-high with 81 receptions and 135 targets, totaling 40 and 80 more than any other Denver wide receiver.
Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns
When the Browns traded Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills, it opened the door for Jeudy to have a breakout season. The former Alabama star ended the year as the WR15, averaging 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he was the WR5, averaging 12.6 fantasy points per game over the final eight weeks.
More importantly, Jeudy had some week-winning performances, including nine receptions on 13 targets for 235 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 36 fantasy points in the Week 13 loss to his former team – the Denver Broncos. He ended the season sixth in the NFL with 1,229 receiving yards.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
The Lions had arguably the most fantasy-friendly offense in the league this season. While Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery got most of the media’s attention, Williams was productive. After struggling with injuries and suspensions, the former Alabama star had a third-year breakout.
He was the WR19 for the season, averaging 12.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, a higher average than DJ Moore (11.1) and Tyreek Hill (10.5). Williams ended the year with 58 receptions on 91 targets for 1,001 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Jared Goff TO JAMESON WILLIAMS. 82-YARD TOUCHDOWN.
📺: #DETvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/x2g80Yw1vV— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
While the Vikings’ passing attack is built around Justin Jefferson, Addison built on a solid rookie season this year. The second-year pro ended the season as the WR20, averaging 12.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He had 63 receptions on 99 targets for 875 receiving yards in 15 contests.
Furthermore, Addison was a scoring machine for the second consecutive year. After totaling 10 receiving touchdowns as a rookie, the former USC star had nine receiving scores and a rushing touchdown in 2024 despite playing two fewer games.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Zay Flowers made the Pro Bowl in his second NFL season. Yet, Bateman was the better fantasy wide receiver based on draft cost. The former Minnesota star had a career year, ending the 2024 season as the WR34, averaging 8.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite playing on a run-first offense.
Fantasy players likely grabbed Bateman off the waiver wire, making him a league winner. He finished the season with 45 receptions on 72 targets for 756 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, setting career highs in nearly every category. By comparison, the fourth-year pro had only four receiving touchdowns over his first three seasons.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans
Many fantasy players hadn’t heard of Westbrook-Ikhine until this year. The veteran wide receiver had 32 receptions on 60 targets for 497 receiving yards and nine touchdowns this season, setting career highest in every category. More importantly, his nine receiving touchdowns were only one fewer than his career total entering the year.
Will Levis to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for the 38-yard TD!
📺: #TENvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ZXPwZJ7O2d— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
Surprisingly, Westbrook-Ikhine was the WR47 for the season, averaging seven half-point PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, he became a must-start WR2 or flex option for fantasy players after the Titans traded away DeAndre Hopkins. The veteran was the WR6 from Week 8 through Week 13, averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game.
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