Fantasy: Breakout candidates to target in 2021

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With the NFL draft behind us and almost all of the notable free agents signed, it's time to identify this season's fantasy breakout candidates.

Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Over the last couple of years, the fantasy community has really improved its ability to identify the next breakout quarterback. After watching passers like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson turn in superstar sophomore seasons as late-round fantasy picks, managers sharpened their focus and correctly nailed Kyler Murray as the next in line in 2020 - moving his ADP out of that value range.

We may see the same thing happen with Hurts, who took over as the Eagles' starting signal-caller down the stretch and delivered an impressive finish to his rookie campaign. Hurts averaged the eighth most fantasy points per game (21.99) from Week 13 to Week 16, helping many bring home fantasy titles in the process.

The 22-year-old's journey was somewhat reminiscent of Jackson's debut season, in which he relied heavily on his legs to keep the offense moving. Hurts racked up 238 rushing yards in his three starts - a predictable outcome given his college success as a dual-threat QB.

However, his back-to-back performances of over 300 passing yards were surprising. Even if we underrated his arm as a prospect, Philly's pass-catching corps really lacked star power in 2020. With veterans Zach Ertz and Alshon Jeffery fading, Hurts was forced to rely on tight end Dallas Goedert, running back Miles Sanders, and inconsistent first-year wideout Jalen Reagor through the air.

To put the two 300-yard outings in context, that's a feat Jackson has still only accomplished once in his three seasons as a pro.

Whether Hurts can turn that small sample size into top-10 stats over the long term remains to been seen, but his production during the final month is exactly what you want to witness from an ascending fantasy quarterback. He'll also have the benefit of a healthier offensive line and a new target in first-rounder DeVonta Smith.

Hurts' rushing numbers provide a high floor as well as a potentially difference-making ceiling for anyone willing to roll the dice on him in the middle rounds. Unless his ADP rises significantly over the next couple of months, he'll find a home on a lot of my rosters.

Other Breakout QB Candidates:

• Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins - Miami is all in on its young passer after upgrading his receiving corps with players who complement his skill set.
• Daniel Jones, Giants - The Giants' offense is stacked with weapons - as long as their line can give Jones time to find them.
• Sam Darnold, Panthers - A fresh start in Carolina with better coaching and the best supporting cast he's ever had is exactly what the former first-round pick needs.

Cam Akers, RB, Rams Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Breakout running backs tend to feel like the most obvious names on this list. All you need to do is find where talent and opportunity intersect, and it doesn't take long for those two points to meet with Akers.

The Rams second-rounder (52nd overall) took some time to overcome a crowded backfield and a couple minor injuries, but he eventually emerged as a workhorse late in the year. Akers posted 84 yards or more from scrimmage in four of his last five contests during that span, including a 194-yard effort against the Patriots in Week 14. The 21-year-old also showed signs of being a bell cow, averaging 23.5 touches per game in the final month.

Akers has established himself as the clear lead rusher on Sean McVay's depth chart and should face less competition than a year ago, with Darrell Henderson serving as his main backup and Malcolm Brown now in Miami. Brown alone leaves 124 vacated touches behind, the majority of which will go to Akers.

It's not just a running back we're investing in either - it's Los Angeles' entire offensive unit now that Matthew Stafford is at the helm. Such a drastic upgrade at quarterback could vault this attack into the NFL's upper echelon, leading to even more scoring opportunities.

And despite only playing 32.45% of the Rams' snaps on the campaign, Akers finished tied for 12th in carries inside the 10-yard line, according to Pro Football Reference.

If Akers maintains anything close to that late-season volume against what we project will be the fifth-easiest schedule for fantasy backs, an RB1 is well within reach in 2021.

Other Breakout RB Candidates:

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs - If Andy Reid unleashes CEH with a bigger workload behind an improved offensive line, a top-five fantasy finish isn't out of the question.
• D'Andre Swift, Lions - The 22-year-old's talent is undeniable, but will Jared Goff and the rest of Detroit's uninspiring offense hold him back?
• Chase Edmonds, Cardinals - Edmonds has shown he can be a lead back in small doses, and now all that stands in his way is James Conner, whose durability is always in doubt.

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Broncos Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With Courtland Sutton sidelined for most of 2020, some people were disappointed Jeudy didn't make a bigger impact as a rookie. While 52 receptions, 856 yards, and three touchdowns represent a successful start to an NFL career, there was opportunity for a lot more given his 113 targets on the year.

That 46% catch rate puts him 200th among receivers, and his 14 drops were tied for second worst in the league.

So, why are we touting Jeudy as a breakout?

Well, a big part of his struggles were due to Drew Lock, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien, and Kendall Hinton's subpar quarterback play. During the fantasy season (Week 1 to Week 16), Jeudy was near the bottom of the league in percentage (38%) of accurate passes thrown his way, according to Pro Football Focus.

Lock now faces competition from a more reliable veteran in Teddy Bridgewater, and although Bridgewater is far from an elite option, he at least gives the passing attack a higher floor than it had a year ago. There's also a possibility Denver pulls off a trade for Aaron Rodgers, but we can't bank on that.

With some combination of Lock and Bridgewater, Jeudy will be better off than he was in Year 1. Sutton's return isn't as worrisome as it may seem - Tim Patrick did a decent job of replicating Sutton's production (79 targets), and the franchise just released DaeSean Hamilton (44 targets).

It's also worth noting that Jeudy ranked sixth in the often predictive air yards category behind only Calvin Ridley, Stefon Diggs, DK Metcalf, Tyreek Hill, and D.J. Moore. With first-round draft capital propelling him forward, the Broncos are hoping the Alabama product will develop into the same star-caliber player as the names above him on that list.

A slight improvement to Jeudy's catch rate alone could be enough to bump him into the fantasy WR2 conversation as a sophomore.

Other Breakout WR Candidates:

• Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals - Normally, we don't include rookies in the breakout list, but Chase is an exception who will be an immediate force in the NFL.
• Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers - From Week 3 on, Aiyuk was the WR14 in fantasy points per game (16.4) as a rookie.
• Darnell Mooney, Bears - After Mooney overachieved as a fifth-round pick last year, Justin Fields' downfield accuracy could fully unlock his game.

Irv Smith Jr., TE, Vikings Peter G. Aiken / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Ever since he was drafted in the second round (50th overall) in 2019, fantasy managers have been waiting for Smith to secure the starting job in Minnesota's tight end room.

Late last season, we got a glimpse of what the future might look like when Kyle Rudolph remained sidelined for the final four weeks. During that short stretch, Smith averaged the eighth-most fantasy points (12.8) per game among tight ends while hauling in 15 balls for 183 yards and three scores.

The 22-year-old is an explosive receiving threat from the tight end position and will benefit from the defensive attention that has to be paid to receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

With Rudolph now out of the picture, Smith is set for a career year in a Vikings offense that saw an uptick in passing attempts from 466 in 2019 to 516 in 2020. He's also a dangerous threat around the end zone, evidenced by his five touchdown grabs on just 30 total catches last campaign.

Smith will never see enough volume to have the upside of an elite fantasy tight end, but he has an excellent shot at returning mid-range TE1 value as a late-round option.

Other Breakout TE Candidates:

• Noah Fant, Broncos - While target competition could be a problem entering his third season, we've yet to see him reach his apex.
• Anthony Firkser, Titans - Jonnu Smith's departure opens the door for a starring role in an offense that heavily uses tight ends.
• Adam Trautman, Saints - After a year of learning behind Jared Cook, the 24-year-old will step into starter snaps for a unit needing another option behind Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara.

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