Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 33
Next
Sep 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron (85) scores a touchdown on a pass against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron (85) scores a touchdown on a pass against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Lions – TE Eric Ebron

Ebron hasn’t been completely terrible since the Lions selected him with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. It’s just that he hasn’t really been all that good, either.

Ebron had a few decent games last season, like his five-catch, 89-yard, one-touchdown outing in Week 7 against Minnesota. He simply was never able to string together consistent performances and, thus, continued to frustrate fantasy owners.

That should change in his third year, particularly after the retirement of Pro Bowl wide receiver Calvin Johnson. “Megatron” was targeted 150 times last season, turning that into 88 catches for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns. That’s a lot of production that needs to be accounted for.

Surely, wide receiver Golden Tate and the recently-signed Jones will benefit in that regard, but Ebron has the most potential for growth. He set career highs in receptions (47), receiving yards (537) and touchdowns (five) last season, but if he doesn’t surpass all three of those totals in 2016, something went wrong.

Tight end, once you get past Rob Gronkowski, is full of unknown commodities, unproven players with promise and aging veterans. Ebron could make the jump into the top 10 at the position in his third NFL season.

Next: Green Bay Packers

Home/Arizona Cardinals