I told y’all I was going to lock in. If you know me personally you know my football knowledge and excitement always goes into fifth gear around late July/early August. Most importantly, it is fantasy football season. You’re listening to a back-to-back fantasy league champion right now.
You know what’s crazy. This article has nothing do with fantasy football. I just wanted a reason to flex my back-to-back championships. Yanni Sports Nation (cough, cough, a.k.a YSN) will always remain victorious. What this article is actually about is highlighting five players that I think will have a breakout season in the NFL. Let’s get into it.
1. Mecole Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
When a team trades away a valuable player, they do it for one of two reasons. One, they believe that they have the means to go get someone that can fulfill the role for a cheaper price. Or two, they believe that they already have someone on the team that can step into the former player’s shoes. Mecole Hardman fits the criteria for the latter. Obviously Hardman isn’t Tyreek Hill, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been contributing in the high-flying offense that the Chiefs run. After trading away Hill to the Dolphins, the Chiefs need Hardman to be that extra offensive spark that Hill was for them. Hardman is coming off a career-high year in both catches (59) and receiving yards (693). The pressure won’t all be on Hardman though, as he will be accompanied by All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce and former Pro Bowl wideout Juju Smith-Schuster on the outside. Keep your eyes on the speedster in the AFC West this year.
2. Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
The 2021 first-round pick has some unfinished business to take care of. After starting last year on the bench due to injury, Bateman came in and played well for the Ravens (46 catches for 515 yards and a touchdown). However, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher ended up only playing five full games with his MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. With the departures of both Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins, it’s now Bateman’s time to step up and be the #1 option on the outside. Getting both running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards back from season-ending knee injuries will help ease the pressure off of Lamar Jackson as well.
3. Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
People seemed to have forgotten about Travis Etienne. Let me remind you that this man had 78 total touchdowns in four years down at Clemson. He is an explosive running back who is a threat in and out of the backfield. With James Robinson rehabbing an achilles injury, the Jags beefing up Trevor Lawrence’s protection and Christian Kirk coming to town, this is the perfect time for Etienne to showcase his true talent on the field. Without the fraudulent activities of Urban Meyer, I think both Etienne and his college teammate Trevor Lawrence will benefit greatly.
4. Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
Kadarius Toney is a special football player. In his fourth ever game in the league, he recorded 10 catches for 189 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. And then proceeded to get ejected in the fourth quarter. Despite the fact that he didn’t score a touchdown last year, I think he has the ability to one day be a top 10 receiver in the league. Two things need to occur in order for him to reach those levels though. First, he has to be able to play a full season without any injury hiccups, which were a huge problem last year. And lastly, he might have to have a different quarterback besides Daniel Jones. Toney dealt with several ankle and knee problems last season and just this past May he had a minor arthroscopic procedure on his knee. If he can play a full season and see consistent touches game in and game out, he is going to be dangerous. We’ll have to see how new head coach, and former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll uses him in the offense.
5. Kwity Paye, DE, Indianapolis Colts
I love Kwity Paye’s athleticism and explosiveness off of the line. The 2021 first-round pick had a decent rookie season with the Colts, but I think he can reach even bigger heights under new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Paye finished off last year strong, even going on a three-game sack streak through weeks 10-12. With the addition of Yannick Ngakoue to a line that already has All-Pro DeForest Buckner, Paye will have more opportunities to get to the quarterback without seeing a double team. And with Kenny Moore and newcomer, former Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore locking it down on the outside expect to see some coverage sacks for the boys in the trenches in Indianapolis.
My work ethic is absolutely through the roof right now. I will be doing a “breakout season” article for the NBA and for football/soccer as well. Let me just make this clear now though, whenever I say football or futbol I’m talking about soccer. Saying soccer just doesn’t feel right. Nonetheless, there is always more on the way here at YSN industries. All I ask is that you sit back and enjoy the content. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.
