5 Sophomore Wide Receiver Breakout Candidates: Second-Year Players to Draft (2025)

August 17, 2025

Kacey Kasem's second-year fantasy football wide receivers risers, breakout candidates, and draft targets. Sophomores to draft, including Keon Coleman.

Lately, I've found myself in a deep YouTube rabbit hole watching people play GeoGuessr. If you haven't had experience with it, the game places you in a random location on Google Street View, and you have to decide on where you're located based on clues like architecture, road signs, terrain, and gut feelings.

Some people can guess the country they're dropped in based on the color of the soil. Meanwhile, I'm clueless when it comes to where most U.S. states are on a map (Texas... I'm confident with Texas). Geography isn't exactly my thing, but fantasy football clues are something I can read.

Let's use the data we do have. Looking at quarterback play, injuries, depth charts, and team trends, let's identify five second-year wide receivers who are ready to break out. No need for tree identification here.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

It's pretty safe to say Harrison didn't live up to the immense expectations we had for his rookie season. That doesn't mean he was bad; he concluded the year with 885 yards and eight scores, but we wanted more from the No. 5 overall pick.

The wideout gained 116 targets and pulled in 62 receptions, but only 71% of his targets were catchable. It's safe to say Kyler Murray played a part in his down season.

The Cardinals were intent on getting Trey McBride the ball, as he became the top target in the passing game. Harrison's 22.2% target share didn't scream superstar, although it wasn't horrible; he just played second fiddle to the TE.

Kyler Murray connects with Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 22-yard TD catch over Jalen Ramsey 🔥

🎥 @NFLpic.twitter.com/VBr8zZBSPe

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) October 27, 2024

With little target competition from anyone outside of McBride, Harrison is in a position to take that second-year leap. The coaching staff wants to get him the ball more, so they're going to make sure the WR and QB are on the same page going into Year 2 together. If they build on their connection, as they should, the receiver will be in for a huge year.

Harrison has boom potential in the red zone, as displayed by scoring five of his eight TDs in the red zone (on 14 targets). The schedule is also promising, with the team taking on softer matchups like the Saints, Panthers, and 49ers.

Currently sitting at an ADP of 41.1, you can expect good value for a player coming off a solid rookie campaign. If they tighten things up, we're looking at massive breakout potential.

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

In his rookie year, Odunze quietly put together a solid campaign. He caught 54 passes for 734 yards and three touchdowns. His 13.6 yards per reception showed how explosive he can be despite limited volume.

The first-round draft capital is there, and the team opted to move on from Keenan Allen. He'll now be stepping confidently into the WR2 role behind DJ Moore.

There are still questions about his upside, mainly because Moore demands such a large portion of targets (140 in 2025). There's still real potential for both wideouts to surge in the Bears' offense.

Rome Odunze should be on everyone’s radar.

Top-15 in both end zone targets and aDOT last year......and he’s just getting started. pic.twitter.com/XJe9pdSovA

— Moody (@EricNMoody) July 22, 2025

Chicago went 5-12 last season and fired both their head coach and offensive coordinator. Now, they bring in Ben Johnson as their new head coach. Johnson was an integral part of Detroit's offensive success, and now he's tasked with developing QB Caleb Williams.

Last year, Odunze hauled in just 53.5% of his targets, but the number should improve as the WR and QB work on their connection during training camp. With better play under center and a new HC, Odunze should have more shots at displaying his skills.

It might be a bit until we see a full-on breakout from the wideout, but I wouldn't sleep on his potential in Year 2. He's moving into a more meaningful role, and with an ADP of 86.3, he's a steal if you're looking for a safe floor and a leap forward.

Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

Another player trying to improve on his Year 1 is Worthy. Worthy's rookie season started sluggishly, as he averaged just 27.3 receiving yards per game through Week 10. Once Rashee Rice was injured, Worthy's opportunities opened up. From Week 11 onward, he averaged 49 yards per contest and showed flashes of talent.

In the regular season, Worthy caught 59 balls for 638 yards on 98 targets. Additionally, he picked up six TDs through the air. He also showed he could get it done on the ground, rushing 20 times for 104 yards and an additional three scores.

The real eye-opener was the Super Bowl, where the first-year player gained 157 yards and two scores. He racked up three TDs in the postseason, capping off his rookie year.

27 teams really let the Chiefs get Xavier Worthy pic.twitter.com/Vo1IxZNJ2m

— Matt Hicks (@TheFF_Educator) September 6, 2024

Worthy's not alone in a crowded receiver room. Rice and Marquise Brown are both in the mix. And never forget about ol' reliable Travis Kelce.

With Patrick Mahomes under center, Worthy's remains an intriguing option despite all the mouths to feed. Injuries and rotations happen, and Worthy's big-play capability gives him weekly upside.

You're not taking him and expecting WR1 numbers, but the way his season looked coming down the stretch, you can expect more work in 2025. You can go bold early in the draft, knowing you've got a shot at him in the fifth.

Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

If you want to talk about a rookie season that was anything but ordinary, Pearsall would be your guy. The late first-rounder was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery and missed the first six games of the season.

He still managed to end the year on a high note. In Week 17, Pearsall hauled in eight catches for 141 yards and a score. That boosted his PPR points for that week to an impressive 28.7. Then in Week 18, he tacked on six catches for 69 yards and an additional TD. His strong finish in Year 1 has managers wondering what's next.

On the season as a whole, Pearsall registered 31 receptions on 46 targets for 400 yards and three scores. Not a bad statline for someone who only played in 11 matchups. He has the speed and efficiency to be productive, but he has to be given more opportunities.

Jauan Jennings is missing camp with a calf injury 😳

Is it officially wheels up szn for Ricky Pearsall?

pic.twitter.com/2I94yIBKAE

— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) July 28, 2025

The wideout was missing from the start of training camp due to a physically unable to perform (PUP) designation, but has since returned. That's more than we can say for Brandon Aiyuk, who at the moment is rehabbing from a right knee injury.

With Deebo Samuel Sr. in D.C. and the uncertainty surrounding Aiyuk's status, Pearsall has a real shot at improving on last season's numbers. His biggest competition for more work is Jauan Jennings. While Jennings is a playmaker, he hasn't proven himself the locked-in WR2 in San Francisco. George Kittle is the alpha target on this offense, restricting the ceiling of the wide receivers.

Pearsall needs a few things to break his way to be a consistent fantasy stud. He'll take a step forward this season, but a full-on breakout might not be in the cards until we see which WRs are healthy. Jennings just injured the same calf that he had issues with in OTAs. There is no timeframe for his return, so Pearsall's step forward could happen sooner rather than later.

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

The Bills selected Coleman in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he didn't have the rookie season fantasy managers were hoping for. Coleman knows that.

He straight-up called it "trash" when speaking to reporters, highlighting how he needs to be more efficient and help his quarterback more. He's got the self-awareness, and he's got Josh Allen slinging the ball his way; that combo makes for a sneaky-good sophomore jump.

Last year, Coleman recorded 556 yards and four TDs on just 29 receptions (in 13 contests). Despite limited receptions, the receiver posted an incredible 19.2 yards per catch. An injury to his wrist forced him to miss four games, slowing his Year 1 development.

.@JoshAllenQB to @keoncoleman6 ‼️@ticketmaster | #BillsCamp pic.twitter.com/2N2OAd47x5

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) July 31, 2025

The Bills believe in him, as they replaced Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis with Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore (for depth). And they didn't pick up anyone who threatens Coleman's role. He's currently competing with Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel for snaps, and there's ample opportunity for Coleman to develop into the alpha role.

He ranked second on the roster in receiving yards last season, trailing Shakir's 821. The Bills were second in scoring last season, and the offense should continue to light it up with MVP Josh Allen under center.

That setup is a recipe for success. Coleman's motivation to be more than just a guy with potential, paired with his ADP of 127.9, makes for the perfect third or fourth WR option on fantasy rosters.

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