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32 breakout fantasy football players for the 2016-17 NFL season

By Andrew C. Lovell

May 6, 2016; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys number one draft pick Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs drills during rookie minicamp at Dallas Cowboys headquarters at Valley Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2016; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys number one draft pick Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs drills during rookie minicamp at Dallas Cowboys headquarters at Valley Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 31, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; Team Rice strong safety Charles Woodson of the Oakland Raiders (24) on the NFL gold shield logo to commemorate Super Bowl 50 during the 2016 Pro Bowl against Team Irvin at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; Team Rice strong safety Charles Woodson of the Oakland Raiders (24) on the NFL gold shield logo to commemorate Super Bowl 50 during the 2016 Pro Bowl against Team Irvin at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Identifying one breakout fantasy performer for all 32 NFL teams for the upcoming season.

Blake Bortles. Devonta Freeman. Doug Baldwin. Gary Barnidge. Up until last season, Bortles and Freeman were just promising young players, while Baldwin and Barnidge were veterans with minimal fantasy relevance.

Not anymore. All four had monster breakout seasons in 2015, and chances are if you had one of them on your fantasy team, they were your MVP.

This happens every season. Fantasy football experts and fans alike bridge the seven-month gap between the Super Bowl and the regular-season opener of the following season debating player rankings, only for seasons to hinge on the likes of Barnidge, a player that wasn’t on anyone’s radar.


Sure, Barnidge is a bit of an extreme — most players with 603 receiving yards and three total touchdowns through their first seven NFL seasons don’t suddenly explode for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns on a three-win team. But the point remains — finding those breakout players, those diamonds in the rough, can propel you to a fantasy football championship.

It’s not easy to do. Anyone can pick Adrian Peterson or Le’Veon Bell with their first-round pick. That’s simple. Finding that value running back, like Freeman last season, in the 12th round? Now that’s a game changer.

We’re here to help unearth some of those rare finds for the 2016-17 season. This list contains one from all 32 NFL teams and runs the board across the main fantasy positions — quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end. Sorry, no kickers or defenses here.

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