It's always a good time to trade for breakout players in dynasty. Whether prepping for rookie drafts or looking to make moves, now is the time to find value in overlooked or undervalued players heading into their second or third NFL season. We teamed up with JJ Zachariason to spotlight nine dynasty breakout candidates you should consider acquiring before their price spikes. Here's who made the list and why.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR - ARI) - [5:00]
- Elite ZAP score (98.9) places him among the top prospects since 2011.
- Arizona added minimal target competition this offseason.
- Should see high target volume in a pass-heavy offense.
- Compared to Sammy Watkins as a prospect, early breakout potential.
2. Trey Benson (RB - ARI) - [10:13]
- Tale of two seasons: slow start but strong finish in 2024.
- Cardinals may transition from aging James Conner in 2025.
- If he gets the workload late in the season, he could spike in value.
3. Ricky Pearsall (WR - SF) - [17:19]
- Strong opportunity with Deebo Samuel Sr. gone and Brandon Aiyuk recovering.
- Versatile route tree and used creatively in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
- End-of-season surge bodes well for sophomore breakout.
4. Drake Maye (QB - NE) - [23:07]
- Major ecosystem improvement in New England (OL, weapons).
- Quietly averaged more rush yards/game than Josh Allen in 2024.
- Fantasy ceiling boosted by sneaky rushing upside.
5. Roschon Johnson (RB - CHI) - [31:11]
- Bears didn't invest heavily in RBs, only added 7th-rounder Kyle Monangai.
- More efficient than Swift in key rushing metrics last year.
- Opportunity to play the "Montgomery" role in Ben Johnson's offense.
6. Roman Wilson (WR - PIT) - [38:46]
- Steelers cleared a path with George Pickens trade.
- Tomlin emphasized how hard it is to "jump on a moving train" as a rookie.
- Profile fits well as a possession receiver next to DK Metcalf.
7. Ray Davis (RB - BUF) - [44:33]
- James Cook is explosive but rarely dominates the RB workload.
- Davis has three-down skill set and strong production profile.
- Great late-round handcuff in a high-powered offense.
8. Brenton Strange (TE - JAX) - [48:05]
- Tight end-friendly system under Liam Coen (see: Cade Otton in 2024 & Tyler Higbee in 2022).
- Performed well in limited action when Evan Engram missed time.
- High snap share correlates with top-10 TE fantasy finishes.
9. Isaiah Davis (RB - NYJ) - [53:06]
- Small sample, but very efficient when he touched the ball.
- Coaching change in New York could shift depth chart dynamics.
- New staff have no allegiance to Breece Hall or Braelon Allen.