2016 NFL Predictions: 2nd-Year Players Set to Become Breakout Fantasy Stars

There are tons of resources out there on figuring out what to make of fantasy football rookies, and veterans are known commodities. But what if you're trying to choose which second-year players to add to your fantasy roster come draft day?

Second-year players are a particularly tricky commodity in fantasy football. Will they continue to build on impressive rookie outings? Or will they crash and burn spectacularly, taking your team down with them?

And what about the players who missed their rookie seasons? How do you predict their performance?

Let's take a look at some of the skill-position players who could become breakout fantasy stars in 2016.

Clive Walford, TE, Oakland Raiders

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Tight end Clive Walford's fantasy season may have been in doubt back in May, when an ATV accident led to a knee injury that sidelined him during spring practices. 

However, Walford recovered on schedule and has been impressing in training camp, connecting with Matt McGloin on a 19-yard touchdown in the preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday. 

Walford's rookie season got off to a quiet start after he was sidelined during training camp with a hamstring injury. His numbers from his first year don't immediately catch the eye: 28 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns. 

However, remember that those numbers mainly reflect Walford's usage after the Week 6 bye; prior to that, he had only three receptions for 38 yards and no scores. 

In July, Marc Sessler of NFL.com highlighted Walford as a breakout player to watch in 2016. 

Assuming he gets the starting nod, Sessler argued that "Walford's second half to last season provides a road map for what to expect in 2016."

He also wrote that "it's safe to suggest that he'll double his catch total and yardage."

Given the lack of impact tight ends available in this year's draft, Walford could be a No. 1 in 12-team leagues. 

Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

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Everything is in place for wide receiver Tyler Lockett to have a breakout year in 2016. 

The second-year player is coming off the heels of an impressive 2015 season in which he had 664 yards on 51 receptions and six touchdowns.

However, his big contributions on the field in his rookie year were on special teams; he returned 33 kicks for 852 yards and a touchdown and another 40 punts for 379 yards and a score. 

Lockett is primed to be Russell Wilson's No. 2 target behind Doug Baldwin, and head coach Pete Carroll is designing the offense to get the ball in Lockett's hands more often. 

"He’s a legit player for us, and he’s right in the middle of all our planning and all of our preparation," Carroll said in July, per Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com.  

"You have to deal with him in our offense. He’s going to be moved around a lot."

Seattle opened up its passing game at the end of the 2015 season, including a lot more bunch formations and bubble screens, and this helped Lockett flourish.

Plus, he's using the preseason to his advantage, showcasing his skills and development. As Rotoworld writer Raymond Summerlin noted, it's working:

Plan to target Lockett as a No. 2 wideout in your fantasy draft. 

DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

DeVante Parker is a great example of a second-year wideout you could buy low in your fantasy draft.

After missing time due to foot surgery in 2015 (his second in two years) and then sitting out multiple practices this offseason with a hamstring injury, it looks like Parker is finally getting healthy at the right time. 

Parker showed flashes of excellence in his rookie season. Though he only had 26 receptions for 494 yards and three touchdowns, he averaged a whopping 19 yards per catch. 

And now he's back at practice and preparing for a breakout sophomore season.

ESPN's James Walker shared a video of Parker looking "smooth" at Dolphins practice:

While Parker may not warrant more than WR2 or even WR3 consideration, he's a solid pick to double his rookie production in 2016.