5 Late Breakouts

Your draft isn’t over after Round 8. Read on today to find out about my 5 favorite breakout players going after pick 100 in fantasy drafts… in two minutes or less.

5. Emeka Egbuka (TB), ADP 120, WR47

Egbuka was selected 19th overall in April’s draft, and has been Tampa’s most impressive camp performer, already stepping into Chris Godwin’s big-slot role. But both starting WRs come with real fragility: Evans is 32 with a long hamstring history, and Godwin is rehabbing from another major injury. That matters in an offense that plays fast and can put points up in a hurry, with the NFL’s 3rd-easiest rushing creating more clean looks off play action. In two of his last three college seasons, Egbuka ranked top 20 in receiving grade and YAC, and top 40 in yards per route run.

So if either Evans or Godwin misses time, you’re looking at an every-week fantasy starter going in the double-digit rounds. That’s a steal for someone with this talent and contingency upside.

4. Jordan Mason (MIN), ADP 118.6, RB38

Mason ranked 3rd in explosive run rate, 6th in yards per carry, and 3rd in runs of 10+ yards among RBs with 100+ carries last year. But now he’s in Minnesota, where Kevin O’Connell has openly praised his “hard-nosed style” and the team projects for a run-heavy plan with a top-half rushing schedule. In games where he played 64%+ of snaps, he averaged 21.3 touches and 111.8 total yards, posting RB1 numbers in half of those starts. Jones is entering his age-30 season and has already missed time in 3 of the last 5 years.

So at cost, Mason gives you stand-alone flex value plus true top-12 upside if Jones misses any action… exactly the kind of late-round back that wins leagues.

3. Colston Loveland (CHI), ADP 115.6, TE12

Loveland posted a 40% route target rate in his final college season, the highest ever for a TE prospect. Now Ben Johnson makes him the 10th overall pick, the first selection of his head-coaching tenure. But he enters a crowded target room with D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden, plus the Bears face the NFL’s 5th-easiest passing schedule. Johnson has already engineered a TE1 rookie year in the NFL, and Loveland’s per-route efficiency ranked top 5 in yards per route run in both of his final two seasons.

So even with Cole Kmet still around, if Loveland carves out red-zone work early, his upside at TE12 ADP is massive. You’re betting on elite talent in one of the league’s most favorable pass-game setups.

2. Justin Fields (NYJ), ADP 108.6, QB13

Fields has finished QB7, QB9, and QB5 in fantasy points per game in his last three seasons as a starter. But now he’s locked in as the Jets’ Week 1 starter with zero threat to his job and a favorable passing schedule to boot. In six starts last year, Fields averaged 9.2 carries and 38.5 rush yards per game, which would’ve ranked 5th among QBs over a full season. That rushing accounted for 43% of his fantasy points, and he even took a step forward as a passer, ranking 9th-lowest in turnover-worthy throw rate through Weeks 1–6.

So if you want a cheap top-10 QB with top-5 ceiling who can beat his ADP on rushing alone, Fields is the late-round QB that fits every build.

1. Michael Pittman (IND), ADP 129.4, WR51

Pittman still commanded a 22.6% target share (27th) last year despite playing through a back injury and catching passes from one of the league’s least efficient QB rooms. But Anthony Richardson’s run-heavy style could cap passing volume. Even so, Pittman’s been the WR1 in this offense, with six games of 12.5+ PPR points last year. Five of those came with competent QB play. His separation and route win rate dipped in 2024 because of the injury, but in 2023 those metrics ranked top-third of the league.

So at WR51 cost, you’re paying for a flex but still getting a clear alpha who can deliver WR2 weeks if QB play stabilizes, and that’s an easy late-round bet.

Draft these players late and you’re well on your way to winning your league.

As promised, in two minutes or less.

Over 12,000 players used this to prep last season. My 2025 Draft Kit is open now, but only a few dozen spots are available this year. I’m keeping it limited so I can give members my full attention.

See you tomorrow,

-Joe