8 Fantasy Football Second-Year Breakouts: Sophomore Risers at WR, RB, and QB for 2025

Mitch's fantasy football breakouts for second-year NFL players. His top 8 sophomore risers, potential sleepers, and draft value picks for 2025 fantasy football leagues.

Identifying breakout players is key to winning your fantasy football league. Every year, some unexpected players pop up and deliver spectacular results that help win leagues.

Last season, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba nearly doubled his yardage from 628 yards to 1,130. Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a breakout during the second half of his second season, completing 12 touchdown passes and throwing just three interceptions in the final eight games.

Now, as we get into the fantasy football draft season, here are eight players at QB, RB, and WR who could have big breakouts in 2025.

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Second-Year Breakout Running Backs

Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins added another speedster to their running back room in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Jaylen Wright ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, the second-fastest time of any RB at the combine and amongst the top-10-fastest backs in the NFL.

As a rookie, Wright only got 68 carries. While he was somewhat disappointing on the raw metrics, averaging only 3.7 yards per attempt, he could have more opportunities to produce in 2025.

While Wright only graded at 65.3 overall, according to PFF, his running grade was better at 75.8. His average of 3.25 yards per carry was No. 18, just ahead of James Cook. He forced a missed tackle on almost one-in-four carries, a rate commensurate with the best running backs in the league.

Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. both left Miami in free agency. The Dolphins waited until the sixth round to draft Ollie Gordon II, who had a disappointing senior season, out of Oklahoma State.

Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Trey Benson averaged 4.6 yards per carry as a rookie, and he only got better as the season went along. From Week 7-13, he averaged 5.6 yards per attempt. In Week 10, he had his best game, running for 62 yards on 10 snaps and adding two receptions for 25 yards, scoring an 80.0 PFF offensive grade.

In the final five weeks, he scored over 60.0 on offense. James Conner has been used as a three-down back in Arizona, but he's 30 years old, and last year was the first time he played 16 games in a season.

Second-Year Breakout Quarterbacks

Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

In a year when rookie quarterbacks shone, No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams was a bit of a disappointment. He completed just 62.5% of his passes and he looked like he was unprepared for the big time.

According to the book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," Williams really was left unprepared by the Bears coaches. The Bears are expected to have better coaching this season, with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson taking over.

Williams also has new targets to throw to in second-round rookie WR Luther Burden III and first-round rookie TE Colston Loveland.

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks always succeed under head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Last season, Sam Darnold was an MVP candidate. The year before, Joshua Dobbs took over as the starter midway through the season and looked special. Vikings fans had to say “Yes” to Kirk Cousins’ slogan, “You like that” -- at least until the playoffs started.

Now, J.J. McCarthy, who is probably better than any of the recent Vikings quarterbacks, has his chance to start after tearing his meniscus and missing the entire 2024 season. McCarthy was capable of leading a high-flying Michigan Wolverines offense to a college football national championship.

His team scored 30 or more points in 12 of 15 games, and McCarthy led the Big Ten in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating. Some would criticize the Michigan offense for being simple to run, but the Vikings offense is, too.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. showed flashes while starting for the final three games of the Falcons’ season. He was the second-best rookie quarterback to take 200 or more snaps, according to PFF grades.

While accuracy issues showed up, contributing to a 58.1% completion percentage, Penix exhibited high-end processing ability and poise in the pocket. Accuracy is easier to correct when a quarterback has the instincts that Penix does.

Second-Year Breakout Wide Receivers

Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Xavier Worthy looked like a more well-rounded receiver late in the season. His unprecedented speed had been evident since Week 1 when he caught a touchdown pass and ran for a touchdown on a jet sweep. But early on, his usage was mostly limited to deep passes and short-range plays designed to bust him free.

However, Worthy expanded his role and came into his own in the playoffs. From Week 10 on, Worthy was targeted five or more times in every game he played. He had two of his highest volume games in Weeks 16 and 17, making a total of 15 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged nearly 100 yards per game on the Chiefs’ playoff run and scored three touchdowns.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers

It surprised many when Ricky Pearsall was drafted No. 31 by the San Francisco 49ers last year. As a rookie, he didn’t get much playing time until later in the season, but when he was on the field, he showed his route-running chops and elite hands that made him a first-round talent.

With Deebo Samuel Sr. having been traded and Brandon Aiyuk having suffered an ACL and MCL tear that could limit him early this season, Pearsall is due for a bigger role in the offense.

Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears

When he entered the NFL Draft in 2024 after leading the NCAA in receiving yards as a senior, Odunze was treated -- along with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers -- as part of an elite top tier far above other receiving prospects.

As it happened, Odunze and the Bears had a disappointing season, and other receivers in an extremely strong draft class had amazing rookie campaigns. Given how bad the Chicago Bears were, Odunze catching 54 passes for 734 yards was far from a failure.

Now, the Bears have a new and highly touted head coach coming in and a much-improved offensive line, while Odunze and his quarterback, Williams, enter their second years.

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