Every fantasy season brings a few surprises—players who outperform expectations and deliver game-changing performances. In fantasy football, we call these breakout players: athletes who significantly exceed their average draft position (ADP) and deliver the best season of their career to date.
In this article, we’ll highlight four players poised for a breakout in 2025. Whether it’s due to opportunity, talent, team situation, or a combination of all three, each of these names has the potential to become a league-winner. Let’s dive into why these players could dominate your fantasy league this year.
Higher Draft Breakout – Drake London (ADP15)
Drake London is our first breakout candidate, and he’s someone you’ll need to draft early to capitalize on his massive opportunity in 2025. Currently going at ADP 15 (per FantasyPros), London has improved steadily each season, going from 866 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2022 to 1,271 yards and 9 scores last year. He already flirted with breakout status in 2024, finishing 21st in fantasy points per game and 10th in total points among receivers.
The reason to target Drake London in the second round is simple: he has legitimate WR1 overall upside, yet no one seems to be talking about it. Despite enduring inconsistent quarterback play early in his career, London now enters 2025 with a full season alongside franchise QB Michael Penix Jr. In their three games together last year, London saw a whopping 39 targets, turning them into 22 catches for 352 yards and 2 touchdowns. If you paced out those numbers over 17 games, London would have reached another level, eclipsing 120 targets while nearly reaching 2000 receiving yards. While those numbers very likely won’t be reached, Penix’s elite arm strength perfectly complements London’s big frame and sneaky downfield speed, making this duo one of the most explosive ascending connections in fantasy football.
At its highest potential, London’s 2025 outlook has the potential to rival what we saw from Ja’Marr Chase in his dominant 2024 campaign. London already commanded 158 targets last season and could realistically push past 170 with Michael Penix Jr. leading the offense. While Kirk Cousins struggled to push the ball downfield and limited Atlanta’s explosiveness, Penix brings the arm talent to fully unlock London’s ceiling. Make no mistake, Kyle Pitts and Darnell Mooney aren’t threats to London’s alpha role in this offense. He’s set to dominate targets and could very well leap into elite WR1 territory in 2025.
Mid-Round Breakout – Jauan Jennings (ADP 62)
Jauan Jennings emerged as a surprise 2024 fantasy football season, capitalizing on injuries to Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey that opened the door for an expanded role in the 49ers offense. From Week 10 onward, Jennings was a consistent force, finishing as the WR21 over that stretch.
What makes Jennings especially intriguing heading into 2025 is how efficient he was when given the opportunity. On a per-route basis, he was right there with the league’s elite. Jennings posted 2.47 yards per route run (YPRR), a mark that topped both Ja’Marr Chase and Malik Nabers. His 0.27 targets per route run (TPRR) was also stronger than that of Chase and Justin Jefferson, indicating he was commanding volume when on the field.
Jennings capped his efficiency with a reliable 71.3% catch rate, further reinforcing that he wasn’t just a volume beneficiary, but a trustworthy target who maximized his chances. With the potential for a continued expanded role and the possibility of carving out a more permanent spot in the 49ers’ offense, Jennings could be one of 2025’s biggest draft-day steals.
But perhaps the most important factor heading into 2025 is Jennings’ growing rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy. Jennings led the team with 109 targets, and with at least 79 vacated targets following Deebo Samuel‘s offseason trade, there’s an opening for Jennings to become the clear WR1 in San Francisco.
There’s also reason to believe the 49ers’ offensive script could shift. With key defensive departures like Charvarius Ward weakening the secondary, San Francisco may be forced into more shootouts. That could push Purdy past 500 passing attempts, which would only increase Jennings’ fantasy ceiling. With all signs pointing to a larger role and sustained efficiency, Jennings is shaping up to be a mid-round gem. He could easily be a WR1 you can draft in rounds 5 or 6.
Young Buck Breakout – Rome Odunze (ADP 70)
Rome Odunze enters his sophomore NFL season poised for a breakout. The former 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft flashed serious potential despite playing in a dysfunctional Bears offense. Buried behind veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, Odunze still managed to command 107 targets, impressive for a third option.
His usage tells a story of untapped upside: his average depth of target (ADOT) sat at an impressive 14.2, ranking top 20 among wide receivers with 200+ routes. The Bears trusted him in high-leverage situations, as Odunze saw 14 end zone targets, the ninth-most in the NFL. Unfortunately, that didn’t translate to touchdowns. He only converted 3 of those end zone looks, a number that feels more like bad luck than a red flag.
Some may have concerns following the 2025 NFL draft, as the Bears drafted Colston Loveland and Luther Burden in the first two rounds. However, new head coach Ben Johnson showed us in Detroit that he can have two top 20 receivers and a top 7 tight end in the same offense. DJ Moore is getting up there in age, and Odunze has the ideal play style to take over as the WR1 as soon as this season. Odunze should be someone to target in your 2025 drafts who has top-15 upside if all hits right in Chicago.
Odunze’s path to a breakout season in 2025 mirrors what we saw from Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2024. Both were former first-round picks entering crowded receiver rooms in their rookie seasons. For Odunze, it was DJ Moore and Keenan Allen in Chicago. For JSN, it was Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf in Seattle. In both cases, limited opportunities capped early production but flashes of high-level talent were evident.
Smith-Njigba took off in Year 2 thanks to an expanded role and the arrival of a new offensive coordinator who modernized the offense. Odunze could follow the same trajectory with Ben Johnson now at the helm in Chicago. With Keenan Allen gone and Odunze’s chemistry likely to grow with Caleb Williams, the setup is ideal. If you believed in JSN’s breakout, it’s time to bet on Odunze in 2025.
Redemption Breakout – Javonte Williams (ADP 118)
Javonte Williams is a running back to keep your eyes on for the 2025 season. Once a highly-touted prospect, has dealt with injuries over the last 2 seasons. As a rookie, he flashed some upside, rushing for over 900 yards in a split backfield with Melvin Gordon.
A devastating knee injury in his second season derailed his momentum. Over the past two years, Williams has struggled to return to form, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. He was able to provide a strong pass-catching role, with 99 receptions across those two seasons. There were signs of his former self returning: in games where he received at least 10 carries, he averaged a respectable 14 PPR fantasy points. Notably, 55% of his rushing yards came after contact last year, second-best among the top 10 RBs.
The Cowboys have a strong track record of producing fantasy-relevant running backs, finishing with a top-15 RB in four of the last five seasons. Even in 2024, with injuries and offensive struggles (including the absence of Dak Prescott), Rico Dowdle managed to finish as the RB24. The offensive line, while no longer elite, has been rebuilt and is expected to be a strength again in 2025.
Williams enters training camp as the favorite to lead the Dallas backfield. He’ll face competition from the inconsistent Miles Sanders and promising rookie Jaydon Blue, but early minicamp reports suggest Williams is ahead of the pack. Now two years removed from his ACL tear, the stars may finally be aligning. If he can stay healthy and seize the lead role, Javonte Williams has the talent, opportunity, and situation to be one of the biggest surprise fantasy performers of 2025.
(Data sourced from Fantasy Pros, PFF, and Fantasy Points Data)
Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Asbury