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.
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| 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.com, PFF.com, FantasyPros, FFToday, Pro Football Reference and Football Outsiders
