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This week in the 2024 Top 150 PPR Rankings, I discuss my favorite breakouts for the upcoming season! Now you might be asking yourself, “What do I consider a breakout”. Well for this article, I am using the term “breakout” as any player who has yet to finish in the Top 12 at their position in their career who I believe will finish inside the Top 12 in 2024. Most of the players covered in this article can be drafted whether you’re picking 1st or last. Hopefully, I can convince you to take at least one if not all of these guys this season.

What goes into my rankings? Every year, I start with a baseline of what happened the prior year. Then, I review key things that might have impacted the player’s production like injuries, bad coaching, or lack of talent around that player. Next, I review what’s changed heading into this season. This includes things like coaching or personnel changes, injuries, and training camp news and notes on how a player has moved up or down the depth chart.

Check out the latest 2024 Flex Fantasy Football Projections on Razzball.com!

 

2024 Breakouts – Leveling Up!

 

  • Player: Isiah Pacheco
  • Team: Kansas City Chiefs
  • Overall Ranking: 19th (ADP 29)

The breakout already started for Isaiah Pacheco after a strong finish in 2023 finishing as the RB15 in PPR. However, those numbers on the surface don’t do him justice as he took a big step after the Chiefs’ Week 10 bye.

In those final 5 games, Pacheco dominated averaging a ridiculous 19.9 PPR points per game. That production would have made him the RB3 in PPR points per game last season.

Heading into 2024, Pacheco could see his role continue to expand. Former 3rd down back Jerick McKinnon is unlikely to return and with Clyde Edwards-Helaire falling behind on the depth chart, Pacheco looks locked into an every-down role.

 

  • Player: De’Von Achane
  • Team: Miami Dolphins
  • Overall Ranking: 14th (ADP 22)

De’Von Achane is a very polarizing player heading into 2024 and rightfully so. The good from 2023 was he spectacular when on the field averaging 17.5 PPR points per game. The bad is he missed six games and left two games early.

The upside case for Achane is there which could justify getting aggressive on him this season. In the games where he played at least 30% of the snaps, he averaged 21 PPR PPG. I understand this came on insane efficiency, but Head Coach Mike McDaniel already discussed getting him more involved which could compensate for any loss in efficiency in 2024.

 

  • Player: Garrett Wilson
  • Team: New York Jets
  • Overall Ranking: 8th (ADP 11)

Garrett Wilson has yet to see his ceiling with poor quarterback play in the first two seasons in the NFL. Even though we haven’t seen the production yet with his overall stats, Wilson has flashed an elite ability to earn targets.

Last season, Wilson played 9 games where the Jets attempted at least 30 passes. In those games, he averaged 11.3 targets per game. That would be a 17-game pace of 193. That would put him in elite company alongside the likes of Davante Adams.

In the three seasons, with Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Adams averaged 10.6 targets per game and finished as the WR5, WR1, and WR2 in PPR PPG.

 

  • Player: C.J. Stroud
  • Team: Houston Texans
  • Overall Ranking: 40th (ADP 46th)

CJ Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons in history throwing for 4108 yards and 23 touchdowns. What is more impressive is his numbers could have been even better if the Texans stayed healthy.

In 2023, his top two options Tank Dell and Nico Collins only played 50% of the snaps in seven games. In those seven games, Stroud averaged over 300 yards, two touchdowns, and an insane 27.8 PPG in six points per passing TDs. That would have made him the QB1 last season ahead of Josh Allen.

Now heading into 2024, the Texans have added Stefon Diggs to go along with Dell and Collins. This elite receiving core could give Stroud a chance to throw for 5000 yards and a shot to be the QB1 this season.

 

  • Player: Pat Freiermuth
  • Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Overall Ranking: 106th (ADP 132)

After a strong rookie season as the TE13 with Ben Roethlisberger in 2021, it’s been tough sledding for Pat Freiermuth. Over the past two seasons, the Steelers have struggled throwing the football finishing bottom 10 in passing yards and bottom 5 in passing touchdowns each season.

Heading into 2024, Freiermuth should get an opportunity to bounce back with Russell Wilson under Arthur Smith. The Falcons’ Tight Ends under Smith averaged 145 targets per season. Now with the offense funneling targets to the Tight End and the Steelers struggling at WR2, Freiermuth has a chance to be the 2nd option. Last season, as the 2nd option for Wilson, Jerry Jeudy averaged 8.9 PPR PPG. Granted that production isn’t great for WRs, but for tight ends, this would lock him into the Top 15 at least this season.

 

Download Table as CSV
Note: Filters and sorting in the table below apply to the output

# Name Team Pos
Christian McCaffrey SF RB
CeeDee Lamb DAL WR
Tyreek Hill MIA WR
Breece Hall NYJ RB
Amon-Ra St. Brown DET WR
Bijan Robinson ATL RB
Ja’Marr Chase CIN WR
Garrett Wilson NYJ WR
Justin Jefferson MIN WR
A.J. Brown PHI WR
Jonathan Taylor IND RB
Jahmyr Gibbs DET RB
Isiah Pacheco KC RB
Saquon Barkley PHI RB
Kyren Williams LAR RB
Cooper Kupp LAR WR
Deebo Samuel SF WR
Nico Collins HOU WR
Davante Adams LV WR
Chris Olave NO WR
Marvin Harrison ARI WR
De’Von Achane MIA RB
Derrick Henry BAL RB
Drake London ATL WR
Travis Etienne JAC RB
Alvin Kamara NO RB
Puka Nacua LAR WR
Brandon Aiyuk SF WR
James Cook BUF RB
Josh Jacobs GB RB
Rachaad White TB RB
Mike Evans TB WR
Sam LaPorta DET TE
Kenneth Walker SEA RB
Rashee Rice KC WR
Amari Cooper CLE WR
Tee Higgins CIN WR
DeVonta Smith PHI WR
Patrick Mahomes KC QB
Josh Allen BUF QB
Jalen Hurts PHI QB
Lamar Jackson BAL QB
C.J. Stroud HOU QB
Joe Mixon HOU RB
Travis Kelce KC TE
Dalton Kincaid BUF TE
Jaylen Waddle MIA WR
D.K. Metcalf SEA WR
Stefon Diggs HOU WR
D.J. Moore CHI WR
Mark Andrews BAL TE
Michael Pittman IND WR
Trey McBride ARI TE
Zay Flowers BAL WR
Raheem Mostert MIA RB
James Conner ARI RB
Aaron Jones MIN RB
David Montgomery DET RB
Jordan Love GB QB
Kyler Murray ARI QB
Malik Nabers NYG WR
George Pickens PIT WR
Anthony Richardson IND QB
Dak Prescott DAL QB
Joe Burrow CIN QB
Zamir White LV RB
Rhamondre Stevenson NE RB
George Kittle SF TE
Javonte Williams DEN RB
Kyle Pitts ATL TE
Evan Engram JAC TE
Jaxon Smith-Njigba SEA WR
Christian Kirk JAC WR
Chris Godwin TB WR
Marquise Brown KC WR
Tank Dell HOU WR
Jake Ferguson DAL TE
Brock Purdy SF QB
Diontae Johnson CAR WR
Devin Singletary NYG RB
Terry McLaurin WAS WR
Calvin Ridley TEN WR
Ladd McConkey LAC WR
Keenan Allen CHI WR
Tony Pollard TEN RB
Romeo Doubs GB WR
Brian Robinson WAS RB
Jayden Daniels WAS QB
Christian Watson GB WR
D’Andre Swift CHI RB
Chase Brown CIN RB
Najee Harris PIT RB
Jerome Ford CLE RB
Joshua Palmer LAC WR
Brian Thomas JAC WR
Jayden Reed GB WR
Austin Ekeler WAS RB
Jaylen Warren PIT RB
Aaron Rodgers NYJ QB
Courtland Sutton DEN WR
Dallas Goedert PHI TE
Jonathon Brooks CAR RB
Jameson Williams DET WR
Zack Moss CIN RB
Khalil Shakir BUF WR
Keon Coleman BUF WR
Pat Freiermuth PIT TE
DeAndre Hopkins TEN WR
Brandin Cooks DAL WR
David Njoku CLE TE
Darnell Mooney ATL WR
Rome Odunze CHI WR
Chuba Hubbard CAR RB
Jordan Addison MIN WR
Adam Thielen CAR WR
Tyjae Spears TEN RB
Rico Dowdle DAL RB
Ezekiel Elliott DAL RB
Gus Edwards LAC RB
Jaleel McLaughlin DEN RB
Xavier Worthy KC WR
Blake Corum LAR RB
J.K. Dobbins LAC RB
Jakobi Meyers LV WR
Trevor Lawrence JAC QB
Justin Herbert LAC QB
Tua Tagovailoa MIA QB
Jared Goff DET QB
Matthew Stafford LAR QB
Caleb Williams CHI QB
Tyler Lockett SEA WR
Hunter Henry NE TE
Deshaun Watson CLE QB
Dalton Schultz HOU TE
Rashid Shaheed NO WR
Ja’Lynn Polk NE WR
Josh Downs IND WR
Geno Smith SEA QB
Tyler Conklin NYJ TE
Rashod Bateman BAL WR
Michael Wilson ARI WR
Demario Douglas NE WR
Demarcus Robinson LAR WR
Gabe Davis JAC WR
Allen Lazard NYJ WR
Zach Ertz WAS TE
Mike Gesicki CIN TE
Jerry Jeudy CLE WR
Nick Chubb CLE RB
T.J. Hockenson MIN TE

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 For more from Bobby and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @bobbylamarco.

Sources: Razzball.comPFF.comFantasyProsFFTodayPro Football Reference and Football Outsiders