Typical breakout lists this time of year are usually flooded with high-profile rookies and obvious names. I wanted to take a slightly different direction with this one. My focus was on guys already in the league, highlighting second-year players poised to take a leap and veterans entering their prime, when things should finally start clicking. These guys should be viable in all dynasty leagues in 2026, with some players at the end who could help managers in those deeper formats.
These guys haven’t fully broken out yet for whatever reason. You know what’s funny? Last year, an analyst for another site listed his breakouts and included Calvin Ridley. I, too, was in on Calvin Ridley last season (bad call by me), but calling a 30-year-old receiver with a top-five season and a WR2 finish under his belt a “potential breakout” was silly. Lazy take. The oldest player on my list is 27 years old or younger.
Following are my top 10 players with the talent and situation who could break out in 2026.
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The Time is Ripe for a Breakout
Luther Burden | WR, Chicago Bears
Okay, one obvious name. There’s a massive amount of excitement surrounding Luther Burden as he heads into his second season. After a slow start to his rookie campaign, he took off down the stretch and averaged 12.9 fantasy points per game from Week 12 on. That stretch included a monster Week 17, where he earned WR1 overall honors after torching the 49ers defense for 138 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions.
Luther Burden’s Efficiency Metrics
Now, with D.J. Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus gone, that’s roughly 30% of last season’s target share now up for grabs. Those additional targets should fuel Burden’s breakout, which feels imminent after he finished top 10 in several efficiency metrics as a rookie: target separation (2.63), yards per route run (2.79), fantasy points per route run (0.55), and yards per target (10.9).
The arrow is pointing up, and in head coach Ben Johnson’s offense, Burden seems destined to take a major leap in 2026.
Quinshon Judkins, | RB, Cleveland Browns
One of the biggest beneficiaries of the 2026 schedule is undoubtedly Quinshon Judkins. Cleveland has one of the softest slates in the league, and that should help the 2025 second-round pick as he looks to bounce back from injury after a pedestrian rookie campaign. Judkins was serviceable in Year 1 — 998 total yards and seven scores. But he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, and his 12.1 fantasy points per game ranked just 25th among running backs.
An easy schedule theoretically means the Browns shouldn’t be trailing nearly as often. That’s huge for Judkins, who was often phased out late in games as Cleveland was slinging it to try to play catch-up. Some closer contests will allow Judkins to pile up touches and wear down defenses late with his 221-pound frame.
It remains to be seen whether the Browns can get into scoring position enough for Judkins to become a truly elite fantasy back. RB1 ascension might be tough to pull off, but high-end RB2 output is definitely in his range of outcomes.
Bhayshul Tuten | RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bhayshul Tuten could be this year’s low-key breakout running back. The former Virginia Tech Hokie heads into his sophomore season with Travis Etienne no longer blocking his progression. He left nearly 300 touches available for Jacksonville to redistribute.
Of course, some of those will go to newly-signed Chris Rodriguez Jr., who played for head coach Liam Coen at Kentucky. “C-Rod” is just an early-down guy only, though; he has just six career catches across three NFL seasons, so Tuten should be the one getting the high-value targets in the passing game.
Bhayshul Tuten‘s Athletic Score
If he can get double-digit touches with a few receptions per game, Tuten has the athletic skill set to flourish. He’s lightning-quick with 4.32 speed and shifty enough to make tacklers miss in space. There’s RB2 upside going forward in this Jacksonville offense if he gets enough opportunities.
Tyler Shough | QB, New Orleans Saints
It’s kind of funny how quickly people went from joking about Tyler Shough‘s age to thinking he’s an up-and-coming fantasy quarterback. They might be on to something, though. He became the full-time starter in Week 8, and from Week 10 on, he posted six QB1 finishes and averaged 18.6 fantasy points per game (QB10).
The outlook for 2026 is so bright that Shough might need a tinted visor. He’ll get the full offseason to take all the starter reps, and New Orleans did a quality job surrounding him with more weapons. The team added running back Etienne in free agency, then grabbed receivers Jordyn Tyson and Bryce Lance, and tight end Oscar Delp in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft.
If he wants to take a major leap, though, Shough will need to find the end zone more. He only accounted for 13 touchdowns (10 passing, three rushing) in 10 games, which explains why he averaged only 0.46 fantasy points per dropback (QB25). That number should rise in Year 2, and that’s a big reason why there’s growing optimism around him.
Shough makes a fine second quarterback in superflex leagues and could flirt with high-end QB2 numbers with HC Kellen Moore calling the shots.
Chigoziem Okonkwo | TE, Washington Commanders
After four ho-hum seasons with the Titans, Chigoziem Okonkwo left Tennessee in search of greener pastures. He may have found them near the nation’s capital. Okonkwo will now be catching passes from Jayden Daniels after inking a three-year deal in free agency.
Daniels has leaned on his tight end during his first two NFL seasons. Zach Ertz was the TE9 in fantasy points per game (10.4) in 2024 at 34 years old. He also averaged 11.2 FPPG in six games last season with Daniels. Not bad for a guy close to needing Life Alert.
Chigoziem Okonkwo‘s Career Stats
Okonkwo now slides into the TE1 role and could immediately be the No. 2 option in the passing game behind Terry McLaurin. He’s coming off a season where he set career-highs in targets (79), catches (56), and yards (560) — numbers I could see him easily topping in his first season with the Commanders.
He’s a dark horse to finish as a TE1, but you can still get him much later than that in drafts.
Cam Ward | QB, Tennessee Titans
Last year’s No.1 overall pick couldn’t have asked for a better offseason. Cam Ward got an entirely new coaching staff with Robert Saleh calling the shots and Brian Daboll running the offense. He received a new trusty slot maven in free agency when the Titans signed Wan’dale Robinson to a four-year deal. And perhaps best of all: the team spent the No. 4 overall pick on Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, who should thrive downfield with Ward’s lively arm.
All of those changes mean Ward should hit the ground running in Year 2, unlike his rookie season. Through his first nine games, he had just five touchdowns against six interceptions. Things started to click in the back half of the season, and Ward finished with the arrow pointing up — throwing 10 touchdowns and only one pick in his final eight games.
If he takes the projected leap that most assume he’ll make, Ward could pay off as a QB2 with room to grow. He’s young enough and has enough insulation that he’s worth stashing in 1-QB leagues, but he’s infinitely more valuable in Superflex, where you can plug him in as your QB2.
Josh Downs | WR, Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman finished as WR18 in full PPR last year.
He leaves behind 111 targets in Indy.
Tyler Warren and Alec Pierce are the sexy picks, but you can get Josh Downs even later. pic.twitter.com/CWLkaDbGz3
— Kevin Roberts (@BreakingKevin) May 19, 2026
This might finally be the year we see more work for Josh Downs. With the departure of Michael Pittman, the former North Carolina Tar Heel should see more snaps in 2-WR sets. Not like there’s much behind him that could threaten him. After Alex Pierce and Downs, the Colts have only Nick Westbrook-Ikhene, Ashton Dulin, and seventh-round rookie Deion Burks. Not a Murderers’ Row of receivers, that’s for sure.
The Colts were near the top in RPO usage last year, and Pittman was often the target on those quick-hitters. This season, it will likely be Downs cashing in on those looks. He averaged just 6.8 yards per target last season, so he’s better equipped to take those short passes and do some damage after the catch over a guy like Pierce, who has led the league in yards per catch (minimum 25 receptions) for two years running.
With Pittman leaving behind 111 targets each of the past two seasons, it’s not hard to envision a scenario in which Downs has a career year. He should top his 2024 season, when he averaged 13.1 fantasy points per game (WR28) while catching 72 passes for 803 yards and five scores.
Greg Dulcich | TE, Miami Dolphins
A deep sleeper after a solid close to the 2025 season, expect Greg Dulcich‘s ADP to climb as we get closer to the season. From Week 14 on, he was TE16 in total fantasy points last year.
Greg Dulcich‘s Advanced Metrics
It wasn’t just raw production, either. Among tight ends with at least 200 snaps, Weird Al Dulcivic ranked sixth in first downs per route run (0.106) and third in yards per route run (2.54). That’s elite efficiency; let’s see what he does with some more looks.
Dulcich doesn’t have much competition for targets heading into 2026. If he can build off last year’s finish and stay healthy — a tall ask, I know — then he could be a late-round steal. Heck, he might be sitting on your waiver wire right now, just waiting for you to scoop him up. I was able to add a ton of shares that way this offseason.
Jonathon Brooks | RB, Carolina Panthers
This one requires a bit of wish-casting by the fantasy community, but the runway is there for Jonathon Brooks. Rico Dowdle is now wearing black and yellow. That’s 275 touches from a season ago that just left for Pittsburgh. They can’t all go to Chuba Hubbard, who had 164 touches of his own in 2025.
Plenty of those opportunities should flow to Brooks, who was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Sadly, he suffered a second torn ACL in his rookie season, and we haven’t seen him on a field since. Still, we know the kid has skills. At 20 years old, he broke out at Texas, rushing for 1,139 yards, catching 25 passes for 286 yards, and scoring 11 touchdowns as a junior.
Brooks must remain healthy. And he has to hold off veteran AJ Dillon and second-year man Trevor Etienne, who got fourth-round draft capital just a year ago. If Brooks can do those things, a decent workload awaits him in his third season in the pros.
Jalen Nailor | WR, Las Vegas Raiders
My analysis for a Jalen Nailor breakout is simple: have you seen the Raiders’ receiver room?!? It’s grotesque, like “Shrek ugly.” All jokes aside, the former sixth-round pick has a splendid opportunity in front of him to take the reins and emerge as Las Vegas’s WR1.
Playing third fiddle to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison the past few years, Nailor has back-to-back seasons with at least 28 catches, 414 yards, and four touchdowns. May not seem like much, but there are some encouraging metrics. Nailor did average 15.3 yards per catch (WR10) and 1.90 fantasy points per target (WR29) last season. He also plays bigger than his size — 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds — and was fifth-best in contested grabs with a 72.7% catch rate.
Jalen Nailor‘s 2025 Explosive Play Rating
Brock Bowers is unquestionably the top target-earner in this offense. Heck, running back Ashton Jeanty might be No. 2. But there’s no reason why Nailor can’t lead this receiver group in targets and post a career-best season, especially after Las Vegas gave him a three-year, $35-million deal this offseason.
Wolf Trelles-Heard is a fantasy football analyst for PlayerProfiler.
Follow @DynastyFFWolf
