Breakout Meter for New Potential Stars in the 2025 Fantasy Football Season

Fantasy football managers who took a chance on Jayden Daniels in his rookie year, predicted Jaxon Smith-Njigba's breakout campaign or bought into Sam Darnold's career turnaround were ahead of the curve last year. So, it's never too early to think about next season's new fantasy stars.

As most teams wrap up mandatory minicamp, take note of the buzz from practices and how players have progressed over the offseason.

We'll help you catch up to speed with a breakout meter that ranges from one (less likely to break out) to 10 (most likely to break out) for the next crop of potential new stars in fantasy football headlines this year.

The list consists of 10 players who have never made All-Pro or Pro Bowl rosters or finished within the top 10 in fantasy scoring at their position for a season.

Looking at the fantasy numbers Daniels (QB5), Brock Bowers (TE1) and Brian Thomas Jr. (WR4) posted last year, we felt obligated to include rookies.

QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Head coach Ben Johnson should be able to get the Chicago Bears offense off to a strong start in his first season with the team. With that in mind, Caleb Williams has a promising second-year outlook.

The 2024 No. 1 overall pick will have plenty of target options in a revamped unit behind a stronger offensive line.

Johnson inherited an underachieving but talented offense that includes DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and D'Andre Swift. This offseason, the Bears added rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III to the pass-catching group along with two-time All-Pro Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson to the interior of the offensive line.

One can make a case that Johnson has more playmakers in Chicago than he had with the Detroit Lions.

The Bears head coach can run three-receiver sets with Moore, Odunze and Burden, or two-tight end sets that feature Loveland and Kmet to attack defenses in various ways. Swift is a versatile playmaker out of the backfield with over 1,200 scrimmage yards in back-to-back campaigns.

Jared Goff finished within the top 10 in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks for all three seasons in Johnson's offense without notable rushing production.

Last year, Williams led the Bears' 31st-ranked passing offense, throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also tacked on 489 rushing yards.

With Johnson calling the plays, Williams could be a top-five fantasy quarterback.

Breakout meter: 9

RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Don't make the mistake of overlooking TreVeyon Henderson because he joins Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson in the New England Patriots' crowded backfield. He's the guy to draft in the early rounds.

Stevenson is familiar with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system from his rookie year, but if he continues to struggle with fumbles (seven last year), the veteran running back will cede touches to his rookie running mate.

Even if Stevenson holds onto the ball and puts a stronghold on the lead role, Henderson can break out as a pass-catcher in points-per-reception scoring formats.

At Ohio State, Henderson caught 77 passes for 853 yards and six touchdowns, and Patriots executive vice president Eliot Wolf envisions a three-down role for him.

"Although he's a little bit undersized, we view him as a three-down back and a really good complement," Wolf told reporters. "He's a threat with the ball in his hands, speed to take at the distance anytime he touches it."

Henderson could be similar to Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane in terms of his ability to make the most out of a rotational role. In Achane's rookie year, he accumulated 997 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns on 130 touches.

If Henderson is the No. 2 RB with a consistent role in the passing game, he could average 10 touches per week, giving him a chance to rack up 1,000-plus scrimmage yards and a double-digit touchdown total.

Breakout meter: 6

RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Ashton Jeanty has recent fantasy football history on his side. Since 2012, except for Christian McCaffrey, every tailback who went within the top 10 picks in his draft class eclipsed 1,200 scrimmage yards as a rookie.

In 2017, McCaffrey shared the backfield with Jonathan Stewart, and Cam Newton ranked second on that Carolina Panthers team in carries.

Jeanty won't have to share much of the workload in the Las Vegas Raiders backfield. He will be the lead back over Raheem Mostert, Zamir White, Sincere McCormick, Dylan Laube and Chris Collier.

Mostert is 33 years old. According to The Athletic's Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur, White was available for trade early in the offseason. McCormick, Laube and Collier have limited playing experience.

The Raiders don't have the personnel to be conservative with Jeanty's usage. He should have at least 250 touches in the upcoming term, and with that volume, the rookie running back is a viable breakout candidate.

As a head coach and offensive coordinator for seven years on the collegiate level, Chip Kelly had a 1,000-plus yard rusher in five terms. Since his NFL stint, he's become an elite run-play designer.

Like tight end Brock Bowers last year, Jeanty is in a position to be a standout rookie in Las Vegas.

Breakout meter: 10

RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted a new running mate to pair with Jaylen Warren. Rookie third-rounder Kaleb Johnson could replace Najee Harris as the team's big-bodied early-down ball-carrier.

Though Johnson has the 6'1", 224-pound frame to run between the tackles and take on goal-line carries, Warren should maintain his role as the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield.

In three terms at Iowa, Johnson caught 29 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Warren has established himself as a reliable pass-catching running back, hauling in 127 passes for 894 yards.

Last year, in Arthur Smith's offense, Harris and Warren saw 48 and 47 targets, respectively. Harris' departure could result in an uptick in targets for Warren this year.

Even if Warren is stuck in a rushing timeshare in which he logs fewer than 150 carries, his pass-catching production will make him a fantasy football gem in PPR leagues. Last year with the New York Jets, quarterback Aaron Rodgers dumped off a ton of passes to running back Breece Hall, who saw 76 targets for the season.

Breakout meter: 7

WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Take one moment to look at Marvin Harrison Jr.'s chiseled physique, and you'll realize he's ready to win contested battles for passes thrown his way.

Aside from the work the Ohio State product put into his weightlifting routine, he's going into his second season with Kyler Murray. With a growing rapport, they will be one of the top quarterback-receiver stacks in the upcoming campaign.

As a rookie, Harrison caught 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, but he finished with an inefficient 53.4 percent catch rate. Now, using his bigger, stronger arms, he can box out and handfight defenders to gain an edge in one-on-one battles downfield.

Also, Murray is entering his third year in offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's offense. Remember, he missed half of the 2023 campaign recovering from a torn ACL.

In his second full healthy term in the same system, Murray should be comfortable operating in Petzing's offense, which will boost Harrison's chances of a breakout year.

Breakout meter: 8

WR Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

The Houston Texans need a reliable wide receiver to complement Nico Collins. According to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander, Tank Dell will "more than likely" miss the 2025 season as he recovers from multiple knee surgeries. Houston allowed Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods to walk in free agency.

The Texans took an aggressive approach in addressing the receiver position, which indicates what they thought about John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson taking on more significant roles. Houston acquired Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars and drafted Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

Managers should monitor Higgins' development over the summer. At 6'4", 215 pounds, he has a similar frame to Collins, with 4.47 40-yard speed.

Immediately, Higgins can be an asset in the red zone, though he should be able to make big plays all over the field with his size and speed. In 2023, he averaged 18.5 yards per catch. If C.J. Stroud has enough time to throw behind a revamped offensive line, the rookie second-rounder won't need many targets to post gaudy fantasy stat lines.

At 5'11", 201 pounds, Noel resembles Kirk as an inside-outside playmaker. He can carve out a rotational role in the Texans' offense, but Higgins' big-play ability gives him more upside in terms of fantasy production.

That said, the Houston offensive line must hold up, and Stroud must click with new offensive coordinator Nick Caley for Higgins to post eye-popping numbers.

Breakout meter: 5

WR Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

Rome Odunze has already caught the attention of his new head coach. Ben Johnson told reporters he's "extremely impressed" with the second-year wideout.

"To be a second-year guy, you would expect a little bit more inconsistency," Johnson said. "And yet, the way he approaches the meeting room, the walk-throughs, the on-field, the drill work, it's very much like a seasoned pro, some of the best that I've been around."

Last year, Odunze caught 54 passes for 734 yards and three touchdowns in one of the league's worst passing offenses (31st in yards). Johnson just needs to moderately improve the Bears' offensive attack for him to flirt with 1,000 receiving yards.

Though the Washington product will compete with DJ Moore, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet and D'Andre Swift for targets, he should have an edge over the rookies because of his established rapport with Caleb Williams.

At 6'3", 215 pounds, Odunze is Chicago's biggest primary receiver, which may equate to more targets in the red zone.

Breakout meter: 7

WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Ricky Pearsall showed flashes at the end of his 2024 rookie term. In his last two outings, he hauled in 14 out of 18 targets for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Last year, the 24-year-old opened the season on the non-football injury list, recovering from a gunshot wound as the target in an attempted robbery. He'll be a probable starter in the 2025 season opener.

This offseason, the San Francisco 49ers traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders. Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL. General manager John Lynch told reporters that the team knew about Demarcus Robinson's potential three-week suspension when it signed him to a two-year deal.

George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and Pearsall could be Brock Purdy's top options in the passing game, especially if the 49ers plan to limit Christian McCaffrey's workload.

While speaking about McCaffrey's workload in a return from an injury-riddled season, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters the team must "protect him from himself."

Pearsall could pick up where he left off at the end of the 2024 season and become the 49ers' most explosive playmaker in the passing game while Aiyuk is on the sideline.

Though, of course, McCaffrey's involvement in the passing game, Aiyuk's recovery timeline and Robinson's presence will impact Pearsall's outlook in a potential breakout year.

Breakout meter: 6

TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

In 2024, while Evan Engram battled injuries, Brenton Strange showcased his playmaking ability in the passing game.

Engram sat out the last four games of the previous season. In two of those outings, Strange accumulated 60-plus receiving yards. In Week 15, he recorded career highs in catches (11) and receiving yards (73) in a loss to the New York Jets. For four of the 17 weeks last season, the 24-year-old finished ninth or higher in fantasy scoring among tight ends in PPR leagues.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't draft a tight end in a strong class of prospects. So, Strange should be in line to start and see a more consistent role in the passing game.

As Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Liam Coen had to improvise with his pass-catching group because of injuries. Tight end Cade Otton finished second on the team in targets (87), catches (59) and receiving yards (600).

As Jaguars head coach and lead offensive play-caller, Coen will have Pro Bowl receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and two-way rookie first-rounder Travis Hunter, but there will be enough targets to go around for Strange if Coen builds the offense around quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Strange could finish third on the team in several receiving categories. He can be the No. 2 option in some weeks if the Jaguars balance Hunter's snaps between his receiver and cornerback duties.

Breakout meter: 8

TE Mason Taylor, New York Jets

AP Photo/Noah K. Murray

Mason Taylor is a deep sleeper. He's a rookie tight end with a quarterback in Justin Fields who hasn't met first-round expectations on a team that's finished 23rd or worse in scoring every year since 2015.

All of that aside, Taylor is in a situation that may require him to contribute consistently. Also, the coaching staff has a plan for him to make an early impact in the passing game.

"Taylor should have a significant role as a rookie, considering the Jets lost starter Tyler Conklin in free agency," ESPN's Rich Cimini wrote early in May.

"Mason is exactly who we thought he was," head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters. "He has dynamic movements. He can really catch the ball. He did a good job catching the ball away from his body. He's quick to bring it in and get north and south exactly like we want."

The Jets don't have a receiver locked into the No. 2 position. Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds will battle for that spot, though Mason could finish with the second-most targets on the team.

In two of the three years Fields started for the Chicago Bears, Cole Kmet finished eighth in PPR fantasy scoring among tight ends.

Taylor's projected starting role and Fields' history of targeting his lead tight end in the passing game are good enough reasons to believe he has TE1 potential.

Breakout meter: 7

College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.