Fantasy Football 2025 Rankings for JJ McCarthy and Top Breakout Sleeper Picks

The key to winning any fantasy football league is identifying sleeper and breakout candidates and getting them on your roster before your opponents do.

With the 2025 NFL preseason underway, it is more important than ever to be able to do so.

Ahead of your league draft, find out the top players to eye as sleeper candidates, including Minnesota's JJ McCarthy, a second-year quarterback with the potential to be one of the best at his position this year.

Top 15 Fantasy Breakout Sleepers

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Here are 14 positional players and one defense/special teams with fantasy breakout potential in 2025:

1. Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys
2. JJ McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
3. Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans
4. Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns
5. Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
6. Isaac Guerendo, RB, San Francisco 49ers
7. Elijah Arroyo, TE, Seattle Seahawks
8. Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Denver Broncos
9. Jack Bech, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
10. Kyle Williams, WR, New England Patriots
11. Roshon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears
12. Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
13. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
14. Arizona Cardinals D/ST
15. Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Isaac Guerendo's Breakout Possibility

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Christian McCaffrey is the 49ers starting running back and at his best, he is an MVP candidate, as we saw with his performance in the 2023 season. Unfortunately for the second-generation NFL star, he has dealt with injuries and missed significant time at points, opening the door for his backups to have an impact on the field and in fantasy.

Guerendo benefited from one such absence a season ago and enjoyed three top-15 finishes in both standard and PPR leagues.

One game in particular, against Chicago in Week 14, gave 49ers fans a flash of what he can be as a primary back when he rushed 15 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

With the possibility that McCaffrey misses time always on the table, Guerendo is a definite handcuff for the starter. Should the former MVP candidate be sidelined, Guerendo is a player who will benefit based on the run-heavy offense that head coach Kyle Shanahan employs.

J.J. McCarthy Ready to Breakout Into Elite Fantasy Realm?

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Don't let a little thing like experience get in the way of your willingness to take J.J. McCarthy as a potential starting quarterback for your team. Head coach Kevin O'Connell turned career backup Sam Darnold into a legitimate top-10 fantasy QB and, with the number of skill players surrounding the second-year player out of Michigan, there is reason to believe the former Wolverine will still be a strong performer.

It helps that one of the two best wide receivers in football is lining up beside him in Justin Jefferson and having a veteran running back like Adam Jones behind him does not hurt.

While his sample size is limited to one preseason game a year ago, where he went 11-for-17 with 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interceptions, Derek Brown of FantasyPros noted that he was a top-12 quarterback in completion rate, yards per attempt, and adjusted completion rate with downfield throws.

And he excelled against pressure.

He is a worthy sleeper, a potential breakout contender, and a player who has the tools around him to see his name mentioned against the elite passers in fantasy by season's end.