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Top second-year dynasty fantasy football sleepers who can breakout further in 2025. Target these players: C.J. Stroud, Rashee Rice, Jayden Reed, and Sam LaPorta.
The 2023 NFL Draft class might be one of the best fantasy units in recent memory. Several players from the draft class have already become fantasy football superstars.
Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are most fantasy experts’ top two running backs in their dynasty rankings. De'Von Achane and Puka Nacua have been fantasy superstars when healthy despite being mid-round NFL Draft picks. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison, and Zay Flowers have been weekly starting options for fantasy options over their first two years in the league.
Those six players have been the best from the 2023 rookie class. Trading for them will cost fantasy players a significant haul. However, let’s look at five others from the draft class that fantasy players should buy in dynasty leagues this offseason before they have a breakout 2025 season.
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C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Stroud won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2023 despite Puka Nacua’s record-breaking season. He completed 63.9% of his pass attempts for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 contests. The former Ohio State star led the NFL with 273.9 passing yards per game.
Unfortunately, Stroud regressed last year. He completed 63.2% of his pass attempts for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 17 games. Furthermore, the star quarterback was unstartable for fantasy players. He ended the season as the QB18, averaging 13 fantasy points per game, a lower average than Daniel Jones (13.5).
CJ TO NICO 67 YARDS!
📺: #BUFvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/0wfq5acJXl— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
However, Stroud wasn’t completely to blame for his fantasy struggles. The Texans’ offense was dysfunctional all year. Their offensive line struggled to protect him. Meanwhile, his wide receiver core struggled with injuries, as Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell played four healthy games together in 2024.
Hopefully, Houston improves Stroud’s offensive line and receiving core this offseason. While he lacks rushing upside, the former Ohio State star was a low-end QB1 as a rookie with a limited supporting cast. Don’t be surprised if Stroud returns to that level of production next year under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Many called Brown a sleeper candidate entering the 2024 season. He didn’t have much fantasy production as a rookie, as the former Illinois star didn’t get a chance with Joe Mixon on the roster. Yet, that changed last year despite the Bengals signing Zack Moss in free agency.
Brown began the season as the No. 2 running back behind the veteran. However, he became a fantasy star, starting in Week 4, totaling 17 touches for 92 scrimmage yards, two touchdowns, and 22.2 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Carolina Panthers.
The second-year pro finished the season on fire. Brown had 886 rushing yards and seven touchdowns from Week 4 through Week 17. More importantly, he was the RB6 over those 14 weeks, averaging 16.4 fantasy points per game, a higher average than James Cook (15.5) and Kyren Williams (15.3).
Chase Brown scores again!
📺: #CINvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/jt27GKU0X0— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
Cincinnati will likely release Moss this offseason in a salary cap-saving move. However, don’t expect the Bengals to add a big-name replacement to their backfield. Brown was outstanding once taking over as the starter, giving the team no reason to spend significant capital on their backfield.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
While Josh Jacobs called the Packers to add a No. 1 caliber wide receiver this offseason, Reed can fill that role. The former Michigan State star finished the 2024 season as the WR26, averaging 10 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite Green Bay’s inconsistent passing attack.
Reed had a solid second year in the NFL. He finished with 55 receptions on 17 targets for 857 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 games. Furthermore, Reed had another productive season on the ground, totaling 20 rushing attempts for 163 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he was wildly inconsistent.
Love to Reed for the first TD of the night!
📺: #MIAvsGB on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/aO9fvJY8Nv— NFL (@NFL) November 29, 2024
The former Michigan State star averaged 5.3 receptions on 6.5 targets for 95.8 receiving yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 19.6 fantasy points per game over his first four contests with Jordan Love under center. However, he averaged 2.6 receptions on 3.7 targets for 37.7 receiving yards, 0.3 touchdowns, and seven fantasy points per game over the final 12 weeks.
Despite his struggles, Reed is an excellent trade option for fantasy players. Green Bay is unlikely to add a big name in the offseason. Furthermore, Christian Watson will likely miss most of the 2025 season with a torn ACL, giving Reed a clear pathway to have a third-year breakout.
Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Fantasy players had high hopes for Rice in 2024. The former SMU star was outstanding to end his rookie year, ranking as the WR6 over the final six weeks of the fantasy season, averaging 14.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
The second-year pro started last season on fire. Rice was the WR4 over the first three weeks, averaging 17.6 fantasy points per game, scoring 13.8 or more in every contest. Furthermore, he had a spectacular fantasy performance in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, earning a 35.9% target share in the win.
DOT. @PatrickMahomes | @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/a9lV4txNu3
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Unfortunately, Rice suffered a significant knee injury early in the Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Patrick Mahomes attempted to make a tackle after throwing an interception but crashed into Rice’s knee, ending his season. Thankfully, the star wide receiver should be ready for the start of next year.
However, Rice likely will miss time with a suspension from an off-the-field incident last offseason. Yet, the likely suspension and injury create the perfect buy-low window for the star wide receiver. More importantly, Travis Kelce could retire this offseason, making Rice Mahomes’ top weapon in the middle of the field.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
LaPorta surprised everyone in 2023. The former Iowa star ended his rookie year as the TE1, averaging 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game when many had low expectations for him. He was even better during the fantasy playoffs, averaging 13.8 fantasy points per game.
Furthermore, LaPorta scored 11.7% more total fantasy points than any other tight end that year. Many fantasy players drafted him as the TE1 in their dynasty startup drafts after his outstanding rookie season. Unfortunately, the young star struggled in 2024.
The former Iowa star finished last year as the TE7, averaging nine fantasy points per game. LaPorta finished the season with 60 receptions on 83 targets for 726 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 16 contests. While he got off to a slow start, the young tight end finished the year playing well.
David Montgomery throws a TD to Sam LaPorta!
📺: #TENvsDET on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/HGuKPJbBTD— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
After scoring 7.3 or fewer fantasy points in five of his first six games, LaPorta scored 12.3 or more in six of the final 10 contests. Furthermore, he averaged 8.3 targets and 14.1 fantasy points per game during the fantasy playoffs. While LaPorta is no longer the dynasty TE1, the young star is an excellent trade target.
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