RADIO
The best fantasy football players can sometimes identify potential breakout candidates before the season. These players aren't necessarily going high in drafts, but they have the upside to finish at the top of their respective positions. There are always a few breakout candidates at every position each year.
That was no different at the wide receiver position this past season. There were a handful of wideouts who were going late in drafts and winded up being strong fantasy options for managers throughout the year.
So, which six wide receivers broke out during the 2024-25 fantasy season? Let's dive in and find out what this might mean for these players next year.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
- 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
The potential was always there for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to break out in his second NFL season. Shane Waldron was let go as his offensive coordinator during the 2024 offseason, and Smith-Njigba showed some encouraging things in his rookie campaign. Still, the wideout faced an uphill battle to be a strong fantasy option.
With DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett still with the team, Smith-Njigba had to compete for targets with both veteran wideouts. As a result, the 23-year-old playmaker found himself going as the WR43 in most drafts this past summer. That ADP, though, turned out to be an absolute steal for fantasy managers.
Smith-Njigba went on to finish as the WR9 in PPR formats behind a 100-catch, 1,130-yard, and six-touchdown campaign. He was also a strong WR1 option from Week 9 onward, averaging 18.2 PPR fantasy points over his final nine games of the season. During that span, the young wideout totaled above 70 receiving yards in seven of those nine contests.
#Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba had the highest yards per route run against man coverages per @FantasyPtsData with a min of 25 routes in Weeks 12-18.
Had to include Courtland Sutton onto the screenshot too 👀 pic.twitter.com/NZPLWwW9nR
— Corbin (@corbin_young21) January 22, 2025
That strong stretch should propel Smith-Njigba into being drafted as a top-15 wide receiver in 2025. He was Geno Smith's go-to option later in the year, and there's a strong chance that Lockett won't be with the team next season. So, the 23-year-old should be in a great spot to build on his breakout campaign.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. wasn't going near the top of drafts this past summer. He was only a rookie and had to compete for targets with Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Evan Engram in Jacksonville's offense. As a result, his WR48 preseason ADP made a lot of sense entering the year.
But Thomas was a sleeper pick in the middle-to-late rounds of drafts because of his potential. He totaled 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in his final college season at LSU, and it was only a matter of time until the rookie emerged as the WR1 in this Jaguars offense. That happened almost immediately for the young playmaker.
He averaged 79.4 receiving yards per game through the five weeks and became a solid fantasy option right away. Then, Thomas broke out in fantasy in the second half of the season. Even with Mac Jones at quarterback, the 22-year-old averaged 21.5 PPR fantasy points across the final seven weeks. That 21.5 PPR fantasy point average ranked third among all wide receivers during that span.
Top 101 NFL players from the 2024 season:
#79: WR Brian Thomas Jr.
🐆 1,282 receiving yards (3rd)
🐆 2.45 yards per route run (5th) pic.twitter.com/Tt0vOFiigx— PFF (@PFF) February 18, 2025
Thomas became a strong WR1 to end his rookie campaign and finished as the WR4 in PPR formats. Therefore, he will likely be drafted as a top-8 wide receiver in 2025. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see him selected within the first 16 picks of fantasy drafts.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
There were a ton of concerns with selecting New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers in fantasy drafts this past year. Although he didn't have any competition for targets, having Daniel Jones as his quarterback would severely limit his fantasy upside. So, taking him with a top-45 pick was a real risk.
However, Nabers was a fantasy superstar in his first pro season. He finished as the WR6 in PPR formats and averaged 18.24 PPR fantasy points per game. Despite catching passes from Jones, Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock, and Tim Boyle this past year, the team's quarterback play didn't seem to affect the rookie's fantasy numbers in his first year.
He scored in double figures in 14 of 15 games and saw at least 10 targets in 10 different games. Given that he didn't have to compete for targets with anyone in New York, Nabers was a strong WR2 option for most of the year.
Now, his situation should only improve in Year 2. The Giants are in a great spot to select a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, and that should only increase Nabers' fantasy value in 2025. Don't be surprised if the 21-year-old wideout is selected later in the first round of fantasy drafts. He has the potential to finish as a top-3 fantasy wide receiver next season.
Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy got off to a rough start in fantasy to begin the 2024-25 season. Through the first seven weeks, he averaged only 7.9 PPR fantasy points and three catches per game. But once Jameis Winston took over under center, Jeudy was a much stronger fantasy option.
From Week 8 onward, the 25-year-old scored the sixth-most fantasy points at the position and averaged 18.5 PPR fantasy points per game. His best game during that stretch came in Week 13 when the Browns wideout scored 40.5 PPR fantasy points behind a nine-catch, 235-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Broncos.
Jeudy broke out in the second half of the season and was a solid WR1 option for fantasy managers over the last 10 weeks. Although Winston was eventually benched, the Browns playmaker still put up strong fantasy numbers with Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the fantasy football championship. He scored 21.4 PPR fantasy points in Week 17.
However, it's hard to envision Jeudy going near the top of drafts next season. We still don't know who will be the starting quarterback for the Browns next year, and that is not a great sign for his fantasy value in 2025. Of course, things can change in the coming months, but as of now, he'll likely be selected as a WR3 in fantasy.
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London didn't do much in his first two NFL seasons. He totaled under 75 catches and 1,000 yards in each of those campaigns while finishing outside the top 30 at the wide receiver position in both fantasy years. However, London saw his ADP skyrocket this past summer due to the arrival of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Cousins has always been known to heavily target his WR1s on offense, which resulted in London having a WR11 ADP in drafts. Although this was a breakout that most fantasy managers predicted in the preseason, it worked out extremely well for everyone who took a second- or third-round pick on him. That's because the Falcons wideout finished as the WR5 in PPR formats.
He averaged 16.5 PPR fantasy points per game and totaled career-highs in catches (100), receiving yards (1,271), and touchdowns (nine). It was truly a breakout fantasy campaign for London in his third NFL season, as he became a reliable WR1. Even when Michael Penix Jr. took over for Cousins later in the year, the wideout was still a strong fantasy option.
Drake London in 3 games with Michael Penix Jr. at QB:
5/59 on 8 targets
7/106 on 13 targets
10/187/2 on 18 targets 👀23.0 fantasy PPG.
📈📈📈 pic.twitter.com/yJF5v1fopR
— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) January 5, 2025
As a result, London should be a top wide receiver pick once again in 2025 drafts. He'll operate as the team's WR1 and should find himself going early in the third round of drafts. At just 23 years old, another top-5 wide receiver finish could be in the cards for the USC product next season.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
Injuries and a suspension prevented Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams from reaching his full potential in his first two NFL seasons. In those two years, Williams only caught a combined 25 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns. Nonetheless, it was a much different story for him during the 2024-25 season.
The Alabama product broke out this past year by catching 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 games. Those numbers helped Williams finish as the WR19 in half-PPR formats. He was also an even better fantasy option in the final eight weeks of the season, as he averaged 16.2 PPR fantasy points during that span.
Williams was a reliable WR2 option for fantasy managers for most of the year, and he winded up crushing his preseason ADP. The 23-year-old wideout was going as the WR49 in drafts this past summer.
It will now be interesting to see how Williams performs next season without offensive guru Ben Johnson. Johnson helped the young wideout break out this past year, but he left in the offseason to take the Bears' head-coaching job. Therefore, the Lions playmaker will probably be drafted as more of a WR3 this upcoming summer.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
More Start/Sit Advice
