Power Ranking the Top 5 NFL Players Ready to Breakout in 2012

Victor Cruz, Jimmy Graham, Cam Newton and Rob Gronkowski were just a few players that took the league by storm in 2011. Each was a breakout player in every sense of the word. 

As we enter 2012, several other players appear ready to break out in a big way this season. 

In the following slides, we give you five names to keep your eyes on in 2012. 

5. Austin Collie, Colts

Collie isn't a guy you've heard a lot about this offseason, but hold with me here. 

Quarterback Andrew Luck appeared plenty comfortable in targeting Collie Sunday, giving the 26-year-old receiver five looks in 16 pass attempts. One hookup between the two resulted in a 23-yard touchdown during the second quarter of the Colts' 38-3 romp over the St. Louis Rams. 

But Rotoworld.com's Evan Silva brought up a good point about Collie in relation with the Colts' new offensive coordinator. 

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New Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians appears to be using Collie like he once did Antonio Brown. The ability to play multiple positions will help Collie get open, and he's always been underrated in the red zone (16 touchdowns, 16 career starts). I think there's a good chance Collie will emerge as Luck's top target this season. 

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Brown broke out for over 1,000 yards receiving last season. Why couldn't Collie do something similar? He's versatile, and Luck and the Colts are going to be throwing the football late in games.

If Collie is healthy—something he's obviously struggled with—he could be the Colts' top receiver in 2012.

4. Sean Weatherspoon, Falcons

A year ago, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Navorro Bowman broke out as one of the game's best 3-4 inside linebackers. 

In 2012, Weatherspoon could do the same as the one of NFL's better 4-3 outside linebackers. 

Weatherspoon is coming off a season that saw him record 115 tackles and four sacks, and his role is likely to grow now that tackle-machine Curtis Lofton is in New Orleans. He's the man now in Atlanta. 

I wouldn't be at all shocked if Weatherspoon puts up a very Lance Briggs-like season. At his peak, Briggs was good for 120-plus tackles, plus a handful of sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles. Weatherspoon has that kind of ceiling. 

3. Tyron Smith, Cowboys

Looking for the game's next great left tackle? He probably wears No. 77 for the Dallas Cowboys. 

Smith is moving from the right side to the left in his second year, and all indications are that the transition has been a smooth one. 

From Bill Callahan, Smith's position coach in Dallas:

“He is just very strong, very lean, very explosive,” Callahan said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “and he can carry those traits over to the left side because of his athleticism.”

Despite being 6'5" and 315 pounds, Smith is one of the more athletic tackles in the NFL. And he'll turn just 22 years old in December, leaving a huge window for Smith to develop into one the game's best.

Expect a big jump in his second season.

2. Eric Decker, Broncos

Decker received limited time with Peyton Manning in Denver's preseason debut against the Chicago Bears, but the two did manage to hook up for two completions and 29 yards Thursday. 

One completion especially stood out: On a 3rd-and-17 situation, Manning threw a strike to Decker down the middle of the field, picking up 19 yards and a first down. 

It was just one play, but the two showed the kind of potential most have been raving about in training camp. If everyone's stays healthy, Decker should be a good candidate to catch 80-90 passes in 2012.

1. Julio Jones, Falcons

Granted, it was only one preseason game against a defense that was without its two best players. But the first quarter Falcons receiver Julio Jones had Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens was eye-opening. 

Jones caught six passes for 107 yards and a score in the first 15 minutes Thursday, mostly out of no-huddle looks from new Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. The Ravens were without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, too. 

But if Thursday was any sign of things to come, Jones is primed to have a huge 2012 season. Simply no receiver in the game has the kind of opportunity to jump into the "elite" status as Jones currently does now.