ClutchPoints
The 2025 NFL season is nearly upon us. That means fantasy football managers can rejoice, knowing it is the most exciting time of year. It is time to draft a winner and show your friends what fantasy supremacy looks like.
For nearly two decades, the running back position was the bell cow of fantasy football. See what I did there! Ok, that was a poorly written dad joke. I digress.
But as the NFL has changed, so has fantasy football. Wide receiver has become the preeminent and most consistent position to garner fantasy points. More and more leagues are full PPR, with some even going three wideout-heavy plus a flex. I am in two of those myself.
After all, people love high-scoring affairs.
Hitting on those breakout receivers has become indicative of championships. With that said, let’s dive into the five fantasy football breakout candidates at the WR position. Keep in mind, these players are on the list relative to their current ADP.
Jacksonville Jaguars second-year wideout Brian Thomas Jr. is the first player on my list. Yes, he is already ranked just inside the top 10 at the wide receiver position. But even that could be too low for the talented youngster out of LSU.
For one, which LSU pass catcher has not blown up in recent years? Odell Beckham Jr., Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Jarvis Landry all once called Baton Rouge home. The first three became alpha WR1s, while all Landry did was set the NFL record for the most receptions over his first six years (564).
The Jaguars used a first-round pick (No. 23 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft to nab him. After a sluggish start to his rookie season, he took off in the second half.
Following the Week 11 bye, Thomas caught 45 balls for 593 yards and five touchdowns.
New Jags head coach Liam Coen ran a receiver-friendly offense in Tampa Bay, and there is no reason to expect things to be any different this year in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence finally has someone who can help the offense utilize his talents. A top-3 finish at the WR position is within Thomas’ range of outcomes. I am grabbing all his stock I can get.
Last season, Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a name for himself. He caught 100 passes for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. Those stats helped him finish as WR10 in half-PPR leagues with 203 fantasy points. That was 45 points ahead of the team’s supposed top receiver, D.K. Metcalf.
Metcalf signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, joining Aaron Rodgers. In his place, Seattle brought in veteran wideout Cooper Kupp. But the writing is all over the wall on the former Super Bowl MVP. Kupp is a shell of himself.
The Seahawks also made a change at quarterback, replacing Geno Smith with Sam Darnold. I see...
