Top 10 NFL Breakout Candidates for the 2021 Season

Around this time last year, I wrote about ten possible breakout players for the 2020 season. Let’s revisit that list:

10. John Ross III (NO - played in just three games, openly feuded with the team)

9. Isaiah Oliver (NO - had a decent season in a new role, far from a breakout one, though)

8. Josh Allen (YES - leaped into the upper echelon of QBs and was selected All-Pro)

7. Devin Bush (NO - season ended prematurely to injury)

6. Terry McLaurin (YES - upped receptions by almost 30, first career 1,000-yard season)

5. Mecole Hardman (NO - production nearly identical to 2020)

4. Miles Sanders (NO - incredibly productive but injuries + lack of touches limited him)

3. Drew Lock (NO - arguably the worst QB in the NFL in 2020)

2. Diontae Johnson (YES - struggled with drops, but added 29 catches and 243 yards)

1. Sam Darnold (NO - refer to Drew Lock)

3/10 isn’t bad I guess (3.5 depending on how you view Miles Sanders) for an exercise like this, but this year we’re going for 5. Without further ado…

10. Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals

A dual-threat back made for today’s game, Edmonds has a chance to make some serious noise in the Arizona backfield this year. He had just 97 carries last season, but his 53 receptions were good for seventh among all RBs. Kenyan Drake, the man who was above him on the depth chart, has departed, leaving Edmonds and James Conner as the Cardinals top two backs. After already recording 850 total yards last season, he could soar over the 1,000 mark with increased touches.

9. Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints

Jameis Winston has one of the funniest career arcs in NFL history. He is somehow still awaiting a breakout even after amassing nearly 20,000 career passing yards and over 120 TDs. He even has a 5,000-yard/30 TD season to his name! Winston’s issue has never been talent, but decision-making. In his aforementioned 5,000/30 season, he also threw THIRTY INTERCEPTIONS. The idea behind his appearance on this list is that he wins the starting job in New Orleans and becomes a smarter passer under the tutelage of Sean Payton. He even has a new set of eyes to assist him! Ryan Tannehill 2.0?

8. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Fantasy football enthusiasts massively overrated CEH last year, causing people’s expectations to be much higher than they should’ve been. It didn’t help when he went buck wild in his first career game, going for 138 yards and a score in a win over Houston. The rest of the way, KC turned away from the rookie, giving him more than 16 carries just twice after Week 1. In one of those games, he exploded for 161 yards, marking his only other 100-yard outing of the year. The Chiefs are very much a passing team, but as we’ve seen in the past with Kareem Hunt and Damien Williams, they have no problem feeding quality backs. If CEH can stay healthy and build off of a rocky first year, Andy Reid will reward him.

7. Cam Dantzler, CB, Minnesota Vikings

In 2020, the rookie Dantzler was the best corner on a team that desperately needed help at the position. Although undersized weight-wise, his long arms, and physicality made up for it. The Vikings went after Patrick Peterson in free agency, bringing in a former All-Pro veteran that can show Dantzler the ropes. Dantzler also appears to have put on some weight himself in an effort to keep up with the bigger, stronger receivers in the pros. With a new running mate across from him and the perennial Pro Bowler Harrison Smith behind, Dantzler could become the piece Minnesota needs to get back into playoff contention.

6. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

As the #1 overall pick, Burrow was never going to be in an ideal position as a rookie. He was thoroughly outshined by fellow first-rounder Justin Herbert, but Burrow actually did alright for himself. He completed 65% of his passes and tossed 13 touchdowns to just five picks. Following Cincy’s selection of Burrow’s college teammate Ja’Marr Chase, they now have a formidable receiving trio of Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Chase. Burrow won’t lack for weapons, but the Bengals very questionable offensive line could stand between him and a coming-out party.

5. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Arizona Cardinals

Draftniks raved about Isaiah Simmons last year, citing his incredible versatility as the main reason for him being a can’t-miss prospect. His rookie season did not see him live up to the hype. He barely saw the field at all, and when he did, it was clear that he had nowhere near mastered the intricacies of being an NFL MLB. His talent hasn’t left him at all, but after being lined up everywhere at Clemson, there was sure to be a learning curve. With a year in the books and some notable improvement towards the conclusion of said year, Simmons is in a position to break out in a big way.

4. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team

Gibson is good, any fan of the WFT will tell you that. He was so good last offseason that Washington decided to cut ties with Adrian Peterson, a player who had been pretty productive the two seasons prior. As a rookie he rushed for just under 800 yards on 170 carries, averaging a more-than-solid 4.7 YPC. He also scored 11 times. His workload is what will determine Gibson’s success. If the WFT gives him the carries he deserves, he will be amazing. If not, we could see a Miles Sanders-like situation where the player keeps eating but the coaching staff refuses to feed them.

3. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

After a seriously dysfunctional 2020 season, the Eagles actually got themselves in decent shape for 2021. They brought in an offensive-minded head coach, drafted a Heisman-winning receiver, and are hoping for injury luck and development with young studs such as Miles Sanders, Dallas Goedert, and possibly Jalen Reagor. The beneficiary of all these moves is, of course, 2nd-year man Jalen Hurts who had a rough rookie year after being tossed into the fire. He’s shown flashes and the players seem to love him, but it’s now time for him to turn potential into production.

2. Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams

Although he didn’t become a full-time starter until very late in the season, Akers put together a string of impressive performances that had fans optimistic about the post-Todd Gurley era. In his first game as the new starter, he racked up 171 rushing yards against Bill Belichick’s Patriots. Just a few weeks later, in his first career playoff game, he recorded 131 yards and a score on 28 carries to lift LA over Seattle. With the Rams bringing in a QB that defenses actually have to respect, could Akers capitalize and have a monster sophomore campaign?

1. Sam Darnold, QB, Carolina Panthers

That’s right, even after flailing out in 2020, Sam Darnold tops this list again. I refuse to blame any quarterback that plays under Adam Gase for falling flat on their face, and it’s no different with Darnold. This year, he joins a talented Panthers team featuring the NFL’s premier dual-threat RB, two 1,000-yard receivers, and another young receiver picked up in April’s draft. All the pieces are in place; can Sam come through?

Writer

-By: Micah Jimoh