X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

2024 Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates: Three Wide Receivers to Keep on Your Radar

Jameson Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

Who are three WR who can make a huge difference on your fantasy football team this year based on their ADP? Quincy Williams takes a look at those being overlooked.

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.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

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.

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.

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.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tylor Megill44 mins ago

Looks Excellent On Monday
Gavin Williams50 mins ago

Records Eight Strikeouts
Cade Smith55 mins ago

Earns First Save
Jesus Tinoco1 hour ago

Notches Second Save
Max Meyer1 hour ago

Records 14 Strikeouts
Drew Pomeranz1 hour ago

Acquired By Cubs
Aaron Gordon1 hour ago

Cleared For Action
NFL3 hours ago

Josh Simmons May Not Be Cleared Until August
NFL3 hours ago

Jihaad Campbell A Candidate To Start On PUP List
NFL3 hours ago

Mykel Williams Still Hampered By Ankle Injury
NFL3 hours ago

Will Johnson Could Fall In Draft Due To Knee Injury
3 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders Could Fall Out Of First Round
3 hours ago

Cam Skattebo Visiting With Lions, Titans
Dallas Cowboys3 hours ago

Cowboys Expected To Pick Up Tyler Smith's Fifth-Year Option
Philadelphia Eagles3 hours ago

Cam Jurgens, Eagles Agree On Four-Year Extension
C.J. Stroud4 hours ago

Expects To Be "Running The Show" In New Offense
J.J. McCarthy4 hours ago

"No Limitations" For J.J. McCarthy
San Francisco 49ers4 hours ago

Fred Warner Could Stay Away From Offseason Program
Ousmane Dieng4 hours ago

Still Out On Tuesday
George Kittle4 hours ago

May Not Take Part In Offseason Workouts
Kevin Love4 hours ago

Remains Away From Team
Brock Purdy4 hours ago

Might Not Participate In Voluntary Workouts
Terry Rozier4 hours ago

Hurts Ankle Monday
New York Jets4 hours ago

Jets Picking Up Jermaine Johnson's Fifth-Year Option
New York Jets4 hours ago

Jets Picking Up Sauce Gardner's Fifth-Year Option
Damian Lillard5 hours ago

Officially Listed As Questionable For Game 2
Garrett Wilson5 hours ago

Jets Picking Up Garrett Wilson's Fifth-Year Option
Isaiah Stewart5 hours ago

Ruled Out For Game 2 Against Knicks
Spencer Strider5 hours ago

Placed On 15-Day Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Tobias Myers5 hours ago

To Start On Thursday Against Giants
Trent Frederic5 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Monday
Leon Draisaitl5 hours ago

Returns To Oilers Lineup For Postseason Opener
Logan Henderson5 hours ago

Heading Back To Triple-A
Jake Walman5 hours ago

Available For Game 1
Craig Yoho5 hours ago

Brewers Calling Up Craig Yoho
Brett Kulak5 hours ago

Ready To Play Monday
Christian Walker5 hours ago

Getting A Day Off
Aliaksei Protas5 hours ago

Expected To Return During First-Round Series
Mark Vientos5 hours ago

Still Absent Against Phillies
Nick Lodolo5 hours ago

Activated From Paternity List, Starting On Monday
Miro Heiskanen6 hours ago

Out On Monday
Jeimer Candelario6 hours ago

Out Again On Monday
Ross Colton6 hours ago

Uncertain For Game 2
Luis Arraez6 hours ago

Going On Seven-Day Injured List
Gabriel Landeskog6 hours ago

Activated From Injured Reserve
Nick Kurtz6 hours ago

A's Calling Up Nick Kurtz
Javier Báez7 hours ago

Javier Baez Starting In Center Field On Monday
Keider Montero7 hours ago

Starting On Monday Against Padres
Jace Jung7 hours ago

Recalled And Starting On Monday For Tigers
Kerry Carpenter7 hours ago

Out On Monday, Not Going On Injured List
Jorbit Vivas7 hours ago

Yankees Recall Prospect Jorbit Vivas
Auston Matthews14 hours ago

Finishes Game 1 With Two Assists
Mitchell Marner14 hours ago

Totals Three Points In Postseason Opener
Matt Boldy14 hours ago

Bags Two Goals In Losing Effort
Brett Howden14 hours ago

Scores Twice In Sunday's Win
Logan Stankoven14 hours ago

Nets Two Goals In Game 1 Victory
Brenden Dillon15 hours ago

Makes Early Exit Sunday
Cody Glass15 hours ago

Injured In Game 1 Loss
Jayden Daniels1 day ago

Focused On Improving In 2025
Isaiah Stewart1 day ago

Iffy For Monday Night
Aaron Gordon1 day ago

Listed As Probable For Game 2
Gabriel Vilardi1 day ago

To Remain Out For Game 2
Logan Thompson1 day ago

Could Be An Option Monday
Martin Fehérváry1 day ago

Martin Fehervary Iffy For Game 1
Tanner Jeannot1 day ago

Remains Week-To-Week, Out For Game 1
Zeev Buium1 day ago

Makes NHL Debut In Playoff Opener
Anthony Stolarz1 day ago

Makes First Career Postseason Start
1 day ago

Washington Hosts Tre Harris
NFL1 day ago

Will Johnson Visits With Seattle
NFL1 day ago

Devon Key Sticking With Denver
Jaylen Brown2 days ago

Not Expected To Be Limited On Sunday
Irv Smith2 days ago

Houston Re-Signs Irv Smith Jr.
Ja Morant3 days ago

Cleared To Play Friday
Brandon Williams3 days ago

Available Against Grizzlies
Anthony Davis3 days ago

Will Play Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.3 days ago

Available For Game 1 Against Pacers
Taurean Prince3 days ago

Returns To Bucks Lineup Saturday
Isaiah Stewart3 days ago

To Return For Game 1
Ausar Thompson3 days ago

Available For Game 1
Rui Hachimura3 days ago

On Track To Play Saturday
Austin Reaves3 days ago

Ready To Go For Game 1
Luka Dončić3 days ago

Luka Doncic Removed From Injury Report
LeBron James3 days ago

Listed As Probable For Game 1
Ben Sheppard3 days ago

Probable For Saturday's Game 1
Ryan Blaney4 days ago

Bold Strategies Fall Flat, Still Musters A Top-Five Finish At Bristol
Lucas Glover5 days ago

Looks To Rebound After Poor Performance
Daniel Berger5 days ago

Looking To Continue Solid Play At RBC
Sepp Straka5 days ago

Looking To Bounce Back At RBC
Justin Thomas5 days ago

Looking To Shake Off Poor Masters At RBC Heritage
Xander Schauffele5 days ago

Still Looking For Year's First Win At RBC Heritage
Austin Dillon5 days ago

Nabs His First Top-10 Finish Of The 2025 Season At Bristol
Maverick McNealy5 days ago

Is An Intriguing Play At RBC Heritage
Shane Lowry6 days ago

Looks To Shake Off Poor Masters Sunday At RBC Heritage
Will Zalatoris6 days ago

Eyes A Bounce-Back At RBC Heritage
Gary Woodland6 days ago

Could Add Some Surprise At Hilton Head
Sam Burns6 days ago

Hoping For Better Times At RBC Heritage
Sahith Theegala6 days ago

Still Trying To Put It All Together
Aaron Rai6 days ago

Might Be That Guy For Hilton Head
Robert MacIntyre6 days ago

All Or Nothing At RBC Heritage
Tom Hoge6 days ago

Still Playing Solid Heading To Hilton Head
Nick Dunlap6 days ago

Continues To Have Rough Stretch
Keegan Bradley6 days ago

Looks To Move On From Masters Performance
Matt Fitzpatrick6 days ago

A Boom-Or-Bust Option At RBC Heritage
Patrick Cantlay6 days ago

A Strong Play At RBC Heritage
Jordan Spieth6 days ago

Targets Another Strong RBC Heritage Showing
Collin Morikawa6 days ago

Eyeing Victory At RBC Heritage
Max Homa6 days ago

Breaks Through At The Masters
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF