Fantasy: 7 breakout candidates to target in 2018 (Updated)
Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
With all 32 NFL teams back on the field, it's time to identify this year's fantasy breakout candidates.
Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
The quarterback position is incredibly deep once again, giving fantasy owners an opportunity to sit back and wait before selecting a starter. If you're exercising that type of patience, Mahomes could be this year's Carson Wentz - a sophomore QB capable of emerging as a fantasy star. After sitting behind Alex Smith for a year, Mahomes is taking over a Kansas City offense loaded with talent at every skill position, with Sammy Watkins being added to a group that already featured Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs could also end up in more shootouts in 2018, since their defense lost several key members. Pairing Mahomes with a more steady late-round option like Matt Ryan is a potential league-winning strategy.
Star Potential: a...a...a...a...a
ADP: 10th round (QB14)
The Ty Montgomery experiment is over in Green Bay and the conclusion is that he works best as a pass-catching specialist. Jones emerged as the lead back a month into the 2017 season and popped off for a pair of 100-yard games before a knee injury compromised the rest of his rookie campaign. Jamaal Williams, who was taken a round earlier than Jones in the 2017 NFL Draft, played well over the final eight games, averaging just under 3.7 yards per carry. Jones' sample size is smaller, but in the four games, during which he saw at least 13 carries, he averaged nearly 5.6 yards per rush. He's a far more explosive back, which will make it hard for the Packers to put the SPARQ freak back on the bench. However, a two-game suspension for Jones to start the year could open the door for Williams to take the lead role. Williams' fantasy ceiling as the starter would be an RB2, while Jones offers RB1 upside if he wins the job. Jones the running back to target in Green Bay and you're getting him at a discount thanks to the suspension.
Star Potential: a...a...a...a...a...
ADP: 8th round (RB38)
Cohen displayed his dynamic, game-breaking talents as a runner, receiver, and returner during an impressive rookie campaign that was limited only by an archaic coaching staff. After topping 100 total yards in two of his first three outings, Cohen only saw 10-plus touches in four of the remaining 13 contests. However, the new regime in Chicago won't allow a player of his caliber to go to waste, and has already expressed a desire to capitalize on the running back's ability to create mismatches all over the field. At 5-foot-6 and 181 pounds, Cohen's durability will be a concern, but if the Bears commit to getting him the ball in space more often, he won't need a massive workload to become a fantasy star.
Star Potential: a...a...a...a...a
ADP: 7th round (RB35)
The fifth overall selection in last year's draft had a disappointing debut campaign, recording 34 receptions, 375 yards, and no touchdowns, while battling hamstring issues for most of the regular season. Once healthy, Davis began to showcase his potential with a six-catch, 91-yard performance in Week 16, followed a few weeks later by a two-touchdown outing in the divisional-round loss to the Patriots. Now, it's teammate Rishard Matthews who's sidelined early in camp with an undisclosed injury, opening the door for Davis to ascend as the Titans' No. 1 wideout. With a new coaching staff in town, if Davis can improve his chemistry with Marcus Mariota, a top-20 fantasy season is well within reach.
Star Potential: a...a...a...a...a...
ADP: 6th round (WR28)
Entering his third season, the 25-year-old Doctson will finally get his chance to be the Redskins' top receiver. After being sidelined with injuries for almost his entire rookie campaign, the former first-round pick played in all 16 games last season. When he's on the field, Doctson is a raw weapon who specializes in winning contested catches and is capable of making highlight-reel grabs at any level of the defense. His 502 yards and six scores from 2017 may not jump off the page, but the Redskins did start pushing the ball his way, resulting in 16 red-zone targets - a number the coaching staff has said they want to increase moving forward. If Alex Smith is willing to challenge defenses like he did during his last season in K.C., Doctson will flourish as a fantasy starter with significant TD upside.
Star Potential: a...a...a...a...a
ADP: 12th round (WR55)
Fantasy owners are familiar with Burton thanks to a couple big games while filling in for Zach Ertz in Philadelphia. Those performances helped him cash in as a free agent when he signed with the Bears. New head coach, and former Chiefs offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy has already stated that Burton will play the Travis Kelce role in their system. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound tight end has the speed and athleticism to replicate most of what Kelce can do, and should see enough volume to warrant serious consideration as a top-10 fantasy tight end.
Star Potential: a...a...a...a...a
ADP: 8th round (TE9)
The 49ers were the feel-good story down the stretch and they're garnering a ton of hype heading into the 2018 campaign. There's always a lot to like about a Kyle Shanahan offense, and Kittle is definitely one of the players worth scooping up late in drafts in an effort to get in on the windfall. Rookie tight ends often struggle, so seeing Kittle flash at different moments in his first season was promising. He posted a seven-catch, 83-yard, one-touchdown outing in Week 5 and ended the year with 194 yards and a score over his final three outings. Outside of the top eight tight ends, the position is wide open in fantasy and Kittle has as good a chance as anyone to join that group this season.
Star Potential: a...a...a...a...a
ADP: 12th round (TE11)
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
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