RADIO
It is June, the sun is shining, and football is in full swing as teams ramp up their offseason programs. Fantasy football drafts are right around the corner as we enter one of the most exciting times of the year preparing for drafts.
This is the time of year to keep your eye on potential breakout candidates who could be substantial contributors for your team in 2024. Breakout candidates are generally drafted in later rounds and thus provide exceptional value.
Last season's wide receiver breakout stars included Puka Nacua, Nico Collins, and Rashee Rice. There are several players I have my eye on this year so let's check it out.
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Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
Christian Watson has been limited to 23 of a possible 34 career games due to recurring hamstring injuries. However, when he has been on the field, and most importantly 100% healthy, Watson has been productive.
The culmination of one of the most dominant stretches of football I can remember...
Healthy Christian Watson is special
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) June 8, 2024
Watson's 2.4 yards per route run as a rookie were good for 12th in the NFL in 2022. That number plummeted to 1.58 in 2023, but Watson was in and out of the lineup while quarterback Jordan Love was still figuring things out. After Love hit his stride, Watson finally started to look like his old self scoring in three strait games from Week 11 through Week 13. However, Watson once again left the lineup after Week 13 and did not return until the playoffs.
Watson's hamstring injuries are certainly cause for concern. My new found confidence in Watson stems from the fact that he reportedly got to the root of the issue and has been able to partially correct an asymmetry of strength between his hamstrings. The difference in strength between his right and left legs was approximately 20 percent which caused his right leg to stress itself to keep up with his left.
If Watson's new training regiment works and he stays on the field, then he is going to be a problem in a burgeoning Packers offense.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
Another product of the 2022 NFL Draft, Jameson Williams is full of untapped potential. A torn-ACL suffered while still at Alabama in 2022 and a gambling suspension in 2023 have limited Williams to 18 of a possible 34 NFL games.
After averaging 2.9 targets per game from Weeks five to 15, Williams' target number jumped to 4.2 targets per game from Weeks 16 through 18 and the Lions' three playoff games. 4.2 is not huge target volume, but it is demonstrative of the effort the Lions were making to get Williams the ball.
pic.twitter.com/jBnKIn9TrP
Detroit Lions Jameson Williams for the first TD of the game vs 49ers— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) January 28, 2024
One of the knocks against Williams thus far has been that he has primarily been used as a situational deep threat. While that is partially true, anyone who watched the Lions' playoff run in 2024 likely noted that Williams was schemed touches far more than he was in the regular season.
The Lions seem ready to unleash Williams and at an ADP of WR45, I can say the same about my fantasy team.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Jaxon Smith-Njigba landed in a situation that did not allow him to truly showcase his talents in 2023. Smith-Njigba was stuck behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf on the depth chart. The Seahawks offense also took a step back from its 2022 form.
Former Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron seemed allergic to using any of the Seahawk weapons in a meaningful way. In Waldron's system, Smith-Njigba was primarily used as a short-yardage threat. He was never able to unleash his route running ability because so many of his receptions occurred at or behind the line of scrimmage. With a completely new regime in town, Smith-Njigba has a chance to take a step forward.
Tyler Lockett is going to be playing in his age-31 season. He has been a great player for a long time but the run may be coming to an end. The Seahawks drafted Smith-Njigba as the number one wide receiver in the draft class of 2023 with a luxury pick. It appeared to be a selection meant to backfill Lockett's role as he aged out.
Smith Njigba already had 93 targets in 2023. If that number eclipses 100 and approaches 120 this year, and the depth of the targets increases, then watch for Smith-Njigba to start to blossom in new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's system.
Bucky Brooks, NFL Analyst, put #Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba on his "2024 NFL All-Breakout team, offense:"
"The No. 20 overall pick from last year could enjoy a breakout campaign in new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's high-flying attack. With defenses intent on slowing down… pic.twitter.com/r8rK5jsqKR
— HawkMania (@hawkmania4) June 23, 2024
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