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2021 Fantasy Breakout Players

Thursday, Jul 29, 2021 at 10:41 am ET

The best time is approaching. Yes, the NFL season is about two and a half months away, but it just is not that. Fantasy football season is upon us. That means mock drafts on top of mock drafts. That means trash talking amongst the players in your league. It means trying to figure out which player will have that breakout year this season. That breakout player that you get in the third round or later and ends up being top ten, possibly top five in their position. The five fantasy breakout players begin now!

Number 5: Logan Thomas

To begin with, Logan Thomas proved to be a solid tight end last year, finishing in the top five of tight end rankings. Putting up great numbers with Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen throwing to you will say a lot, no disrespect intended, just cold facts. Logan Thomas came alive in the last month of the season having 41 targets in the last four games. He racked up a touchdown and 244 receiving yards in that last month. The positive news in all of this is that the Washington Football team acquired a gunslinger. A man who is ready to get the ball down the field and a man with a luscious beard. Ryan Fitzpatrick aka Fitzmagic has found a new home and will be making a player like Logan Thomas excel in the passing game. Look for Thomas to finish in the top five and possibly higher.

Number 4: Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford, one of the most underrated, underappreciated players of his generation. Since entering the NFL, he was the face of the Detroit Lions. Accumulating over 45,000 passing yards and 280 passing touchdowns, that leaves Stafford as the 16th all-time in passing yards and touchdowns. Now, Stafford has a real team, a proven offensive genius at the head coaching position and defense to give him rest at times. Stafford being on the Los Angeles Rams will benefit the team overall and Stafford in fantasy. With having weapons such as Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Tyler Higbee, I see Stafford being a sleeper in most leagues. There are about seven or eight QBs that will go ahead of him, but don't be shocked if he finishes in the top seven for rankings. Stafford is a lock for a fantasy breakout player.

Number 3: CeeDee Lamb

To continue, the third of my fantasy breakout players is none other than the sensational CeeDee Lamb. Lamb in his rookie season, without Dak Prescott for a majority of the time, finished as the 22nd wide receiver in fantasy. In the five games Dak started, Lamb was WR11! Dak coming back from the gruesome leg injury leaves Lamb in a prime position to take the next step. An 18% target share last year will more than likely increase and having a fully healthy offense shall mean more firepower to go all around for the weapons of the Cowboys. I expect CeeDee to continue working in the slot, causing nightmares. My prediction for Lamb this year is 92 catches, over 1,100 yards receiving, and 6 touchdowns.

Number 2: Najee Harris

Furthermore, my top two fantasy breakout players are the best thing to draft in fantasy. Running backs are the best thing to ever draft in fantasy and this one guy has not even played in an NFL game...yet. Najee Harris will continue to prove the haters wrong and show why Alabama running backs are the real deal. The Steelers finally have a workhorse back. The days of relying on three-yard slant pass as running plays are over. Harris comes in as the clear-cut number one running back on the roster as James Conner went to Arizona. Harris will become that every-down back to alleviate the pressure off of an aging Big Ben. I expect Harris to come in and finish as a top ten running back in his rookie season.

Number 1: J.K. Dobbins

All in all, it has led up to this one player. I might be crazy, maybe a little but J.K. Dobbins has high potential to finish as a top FIVE running back in fantasy this year. It might just be speculation, but the facts are that Mark Ingram finished as a top ten running back at age 30 in this same running attack. Now, enter J.K. Dobbins as the lead back at a way younger age, the sky is the limit for the young man. Dobbins had 134 rush attempts with 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns last season! With a full workload approaching this season, I see Dobbins establishing himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL. Dobbins finishes the year with over 1200 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards, and over 15 total touchdowns. J.K. Dobbins is my number one fantasy breakout player for the 2021 NFL season.