As the sun starts to shine brighter, heralding the arrival of a new NFL season and the NFL Draft, a familiar excitement begins to build within the hearts of fantasy football enthusiasts everywhere. Our team of esteemed fantasy football experts has come together to cast our collective gaze upon the gridiron horizon, searching for those elusive early breakout candidates who could catapult your fantasy team to the top of the leaderboard.
In the ever-changing landscape of fantasy football, identifying potential stars before they rise to prominence is the name of the game. It’s a quest filled with twists and turns, requiring keen insight, a deep understanding of the sport, and just a touch of that so-called “gut feeling.” So, buckle up, fire up your draft boards and cheat sheets, and dive into the top fantasy football early breakout candidates our featured experts have selected.
- 2025 NFL Draft Guide
- 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
- 2025 NFL Mock Drafts
- Dynasty Mock Draft Simulator
Early Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates: Wide Receivers
Which WR has the best shot of having a breakout year in 2025 and why?
Rome Odunze (WR – CHI)
“The former top-10 pick from the 2024 NFL Draft will turn 23 years old this year. He is slated to take a massive leap in Year 2. Keenan Allen is gone, former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is gone and the Bears have revamped their offensive line in free agency. This might be your last chance to acquire Caleb Williams‘ future No. 1 WR at an adequate price. Once we get confirmation of him operating from the slot… he’s going to the moon.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“Rome Odunze is a solid bet to breakout in 2025. Sophomore receivers are always a great play when looking for a breakout player, especially when they are coming off a disappointing rookie season and had first-round draft capital. The Bears were a work in progress last season with a rookie quarterback and many moving pieces, but Caleb Williams showed steady improvement. Under the direction of new head coach Ben Johnson, this offense should be ready to explode. Add in the departure of veteran Keenan Allen, and Odunze is certain to be the No. 2 WR or better for the Chicago Bears in 2025.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
“The Bears upgraded their offensive line with key additions such as Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney and Drew Dalman. The good news is they might not be done. The word on the street is that Chicago is looking at picking an offensive tackle and a running back high in the draft. This should help Caleb Williams, which will have a positive domino effect on the entire offense, including Rome Odunze. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Unfortunately, Ringo’s terrible jokes were. Honorable mentions include Tetairoa McMillan, Isaiah Bond, Adonai Mitchell and Emeka Egbuka.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“He didn’t pop as a rookie despite being a top-10 draft pick, but it wasn’t Rome Odunze‘s fault. He had to share targets with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggled behind the Bears’ Swiss cheese offensive line. Allen is gone and the offensive line has been repaired, so Williams should be poised to take a big step forward. Odunze is positioned for a second-year breakout.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF)
“The 49ers moved on from Deebo Samuel this offseason, and while they remain flush with skill player talent, Ricky Pearsall is headed for a wonderful sophomore season breakout. Last year, during the final two regular-season games, he was given an audition as a major contributor for the offense. He stepped up to the plate and hit a homer. In those games, Pearsall drew a 21.7% target share and 30.4% first-read share while producing WR7 and WR14 weekly scoring finishes and 2.84 yards per route run, per Fantasy Points Data. It’s Pearsall’s time to shine in 2025.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
“It might be one of the easiest shouts to just go ahead and say Ricky Pearsall. After missing half the season, Pearsall came back and was immediately integrated into the offense by Kyle Shanahan en route to his eruption at the end of the season. While the stats aren’t stunning, his situation is following Deebo Samuel‘s trade to Washington and with Brandon Aiyuk likely out until mid-season. That gives Pearsall every opportunity to get more snaps and targets in a dynamic 49ers offense. Pearsall should outperform his WR43 ADP. He is an absolute bargain at that price.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Darius Slayton (WR – NYG)
“Darius Slayton has found himself back on the Giants on a three-year, $36 million deal. This may sound like putting lipstick on a pig, but at least a pig with lipstick is prettier than a pig without it. Jokes aside, Slayton low-key fits exactly how Russell Wilson likes to play. Of course, Malik Nabers has the talent to win anywhere on the field, but he thrives in the short to intermediate game. Meanwhile, Wilson is known for his moon balls, which pair nicely with Slayton’s speed and downfield ability. It’s unlikely to be a massive breakout, but I could see Slayton having a similar season to Rashod Bateman last year as a viable WR3/WR4 with weekly upside.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI)
“There are plenty of misconceptions surrounding Marvin Harrison’s rookie campaign. Was it as good as his contemporaries? No. Did it look rough at times? Yes. But he still managed to record 885 yards, 14.3 yards per reception and nine touchdowns (tied for first among rookie receivers). Harrison’s only competition within the Cardinals’ wide receiver room is Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and Zay Jones; a lackluster group no matter how you slice it. Kyler Murray and Harrison have committed this offseason to get on the same page and remedy some of the miscommunication issues from last season. At 22, Harrison’s potential is still being realized, with a better connection with Murray and a more focalized offense, Harrison should easily surpass last year’s reception and yardage totals. He should also outperform his current WR19 ADP.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (Armchair Scouting)
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
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