Fantasy Football 2024: 7 Breakout Candidates to Target

Today, we will take an early look at some breakout candidates for the upcoming 2024 NFL season. More specifically, for fantasy football purposes. When considering breakout candidates, we looked at some players who have been elite and have recently had some down years. Additionally, we examined players who have shown flashes of elite ability but haven’t had a full breakout yet. Overall, this mix of established talent and emerging potential gives us an exciting pool of players to consider for the upcoming season. Let’s get right into these breakout candidates for fantasy football in 2024 and beyond.

Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates for 2024

As fantasy football managers gear up for the upcoming season, identifying breakout candidates is crucial for building a championship-caliber roster. In this comprehensive analysis, we’ll highlight players poised to take the next step and make a significant impact in fantasy leagues. From rising stars ready to emerge as elite performers to overlooked talents primed for a breakout season, we’ll delve into the key factors driving their potential success. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or new to fantasy football, join us as we uncover the players destined to elevate your team to glory in the 2024 season. Let’s get right into it.

Tyjae Spears (RB) Tennessee Titans

2023 PPR Rank: RB34

It seems as close to 100% as possible that Derick Henry will not be returning to the Titans next season. This will pave the way for Spears to have a chance to be the lead back. Keep in mind, I do believe the team will bring in some competition.

Sitting at 5’10 and weighing 200 pounds, Spears is not your typical three-down back. In the past, he was never asked to carry the full load with Henry. However, he has certainly shown flashes of being a potentially elite pass catcher. Notably, Spears was 10th in the NFL for receiving targets at 67 per PFF. Notably, his 1.27 yards per route run lands him 10th in the league for running backs with a minimum of 50 targets. Yards per route run is a great indicator of elite pass-catching production. Moving forward, we can only expect this role to expand in his sophomore season making him an awesome breakout candidate for 2024.

Johnathan Taylor (RB) Indianapolis Colts

2023 PPR Rank: RB33

Johnathan Taylor is far removed from his RB1 overall finish back in 2021. In back-to-back seasons, he has finished as the RB33 in PPR leagues. Zack Moss played a big role in Taylor’s low finish in 2024. However, the team is not expected to bring him back. Recently, Taylor signed a 3-year, $42 million extension to stay with the team. Clearly, the Colts are paying him a lot of money to be the guy.

Personally, I expect Taylor to tote the rock as the three-down back we saw in his first two seasons with Indy. With Anthony Richardson healthy and back in the fold, it will only help the offense move down the field more, providing opportunities for Taylor. Some may worry about Richardson stealing touches at the goal line, but given his injuries last year, I believe the team will try their best to avoid putting him in that situation while leaning on Taylor. Ultimately, Taylor could return to fantasy football stardom in 2024.

Zamir White (RB) Las Vegas Raiders

2023 PPR Rank: RB56

Zamir White flashed down the stretch of last season. When given the opportunity, he was able to post two 100+ yard rushing games in the four games he started. More importantly, White is fairly affordable, going for roughly a mid to late 2nd round pick in dynasty fantasy football leagues. This makes him a decent buy-low candidate as well as a breakout candidate.

Standing at 6’0 tall and weighing 215 pounds, White has the makeup of a three-down back in the NFL. Antonio Pierce seems like a player who is going to want to play hard-nosed football and run the ball down your throat. White is a physical running back who ranks 5th overall in yards after contact over the last two seasons for running backs, posting around 3.3 yards after contact. Additionally, he showed he can get it done through the air this season with a 5-reception game on 6 targets. White should be someone to target in his third season as a breakout candidate for 2024.

Rashee Rice (WR) Kansas City Chiefs

2023 PPR Rank: WR27

Ever since Tyreek Hill left the Chiefs, fantasy football managers have been trying their best to project who will be Patrick Mahomes‘ favorite target outside of Travis Kelce. I think we finally found a new favorite target during the 2023 season. Rice, in his rookie season, was 14th in yards per route run per PFF. To put that in perspective, 9 of the players ahead of him in this stat finished as WR1s in 2023. Justin Jefferson was 3rd on the list but didn’t have a top-10 finish due to injury.

This just goes to show that again yards per route run is a strong indicator to help project elite fantasy football production. Personally, I believe Rice will only grow his connection with Mahomes and take a step forward, making him a strong breakout candidate for 2024. Even if the Chiefs draft a rookie wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft, Rice should still be the WR1.

Michael Pittman Jr. (WR) Indianapolis Colts

2023 PPR Rank: WR13

It feels like Michael Pittman Jr. has been on this list for the last few years. From a fantasy football perspective, Pittman had the best finish of his career, coming in at WR13. At this point, Pittman has the volume you look for in a true WR1 for fantasy football.

In his last three seasons, Pittman has averaged 142 targets per year. Keep in mind, this was with Gardner Minshew throwing him the football. However, he now will get the biggest quarterback upgrade of his career. Richardson showed flashes of being a good/great NFL quarterback in limited time last year. This will be the year Pittman finally finishes as a WR1, and he will be in the conversation going forward for the next few years.

Trey McBride (TE) Arizona Cardinals

2023 PPR Rank: TE7

Some may say McBride already broke out in 2023. However, I think McBride has a real shot at finishing as the TE1 overall in PPR for 2024. Kyler Murray is not going anywhere. Additionally, some may fear that Arizona will bring in Marvin Harrison Jr. at the 2024 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, I believe adding a talent like Harrison will only help McBride, with how much attention it will draw away from him.

Furthermore, McBride was blocked by Zach Ertz for the first five weeks of the season and still finished as the TE7 on the year in PPR leagues. He will be hard to acquire in dynasty leagues, but I am doing all I can to get as many shares of him as possible. Even if I have to slightly overpay.

Dalton Kincaid (TE) Buffalo Bills

2023 PPR Rank: TE11

Despite all of the hype around McBride and Sam LaPorta, Dalton Kincaid had a great rookie season as well. At least, for a rookie tight end. Needless to say, 2023 was a great year to be a rookie tight end. Kincaid averaged 9.39 points per game in PPR formats. Now, the Bills are in salary cap hell and it seems like it will only get worse before it gets better. Dawson Knox could be cut, freeing up $7 million in cap space this season and $12 million next year. If this happens, it would clear the way for Kincaid’s role to expand even more in the Bills’ offense next season.

Furthermore, Kincaid finished as TE11 while only pulling in two touchdowns on the year. We all know it’s difficult to project touchdowns, but two touchdowns is not a hard bar to clear. Especially if he becomes the true TE1 in that offense. All in all, Kincaid is set up to have a big breakout season during his 2024 campaign.

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