Second-Year Receivers Ready to Break Out

August 18, 2021

Rishi Patel identifies second-year players ready to break out and become assets in fantasy football for the 2021 season at WR and TE.

Even if an NFL player has a disappointing rookie campaign, there is always hope that the second campaign can be better. There are many reasons behind this, such as acclimation to the league, a potentially bigger role due to depth chart changes, etc. 

Entering 2021, there are certainly a few second-year players who could enjoy more success and thus draw the intrigue of fantasy managers. Which of these players should catch your eye?

As the saying goes, if at first you don't succeed... well, let’s look and see which sophomores you want to consider for your team.

Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have had receiving corps issues the past couple of seasons now and Reagor didn’t have a particularly impressive rookie campaign, securing 31 receptions for 396 yards and a score on 54 targets. However, there’s reason to believe Reagor can take a leap forward in 2021, as Jalen Hurts will be manning the offense and there won’t be much stiff competition for Reagor in terms of targets.

Rookie DeVonta Smith is expected to be the WR1 and TE Dallas Goedert will likely have a huge role, but other than that, there are still many targets available for Reagor to take as there are no other standout receivers on the team. On top of that, he’ll be entering the season as the team's WR2 and can hopefully take advantage by playing all 16 games (the 22-year-old had a thumb injury last season and played 11 total games).

Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts now have an aging T.Y. Hilton atop their WR depth chart, but the time is now for a young guy to step up and cement his role as a top Colts receiver for the years to come. That opportunity could come for Michael Pittman Jr., the now second-year player drafted out of USC in the second round last year. 

The 6’4” WR finished with 40 receptions for 503 yards and one score on 61 targets in 13 games in 2020. Entering 2021, Pittman enters the depth chart on a high spot and should be considered a top target for new QB Carson Wentz. The WR will still face competition from guys like Zach Pascal, Hilton, and Parris Campbell, but Pascal and Campbell haven’t been elite and Hilton is coming off two “down years” based on his standards. Pittman is a strong sleeper candidate who could cement himself as the Colts’ WR1 in 2021.

Henry Ruggs III, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

This is the most high-risk/reward pick on the list, but I’m putting some faith into Ruggs for 2021. Coming into the draft, Ruggs ran an impressive 4.27-second 40-yard dash, so there’s no doubt he brings talent (and incredible speed) to the field. While his rookie season was disappointing based on his status as a first-round pick (26/452/2), Ruggs does enter 2021 in a favorable position on the depth chart.

Aside from TE Darren Waller, there is no clear-cut favorite for a huge amount of targets from QB Derek Carr. Guys like Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow, and John Brown will compete with Ruggs for targets, but none of them are elite talents who should stand out above Ruggs. In fact, Ruggs is the likely WR1 for Derek Carr entering 2021, a huge plus. 

This is because the team’s leading wide receiver from last year, Nelson Agholor, has departed east for New England. He finished with 48 receptions for 896 yards and eight scores on 82 targets and leaves behind a huge chunk of production to be picked up by someone else. This means now is the time for Ruggs to emerge. Stay tuned for these potential breakout candidates when the 2021 season kicks off in less than a month!

Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears

Trautman played behind veteran Jared Cook last year. Kmet also played behind a veteran TE in Jimmy Graham last year. While Cook has left NOLA and Graham still remains with the Bears, there’s reason to hope Kmet will have the bigger role as the young guy looking to be on the come-up. With a year under his belt, he will surely have more familiarity with the system.

The 22-year-old finished with 28 receptions for 243 yards and two scores on 44 targets in 16 games as a rookie but the hope is that the youngster will see more opportunities as Graham will turn 35 this season and is likely entering the final stretch of his career.

Adam Trautman, TE, New Orleans Saints

Sure, the 24-year-old was essentially a non-factor last year, managing 15 receptions for 171 yards and a score on 16 targets, but things could be different this year. A lot different. There will be a new QB and potentially some pains with that but New Orleans doesn’t have a strong receiving corps.

Jared Cook and Emmanuel Sanders are gone. Michael Thomas is injured and won’t be on the field. Who does that leave? Well, nobody that many people may know about. Hence, Trautman is a fine candidate to enjoy some success if he can take advantage. He’s entering the season as the TE1 and his biggest competition for targets--Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, and Deonte Harris-- are all unproven guys. There’s reason to believe this preseason Trautman hype.

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