🏈 Second-Year Breakouts - Wide Receivers

When searching for types of players who can significantly outperform their ADP, second-year receivers are one of the best places to start. In Year 2, players enter the league with a better understanding of their competition, what it takes to be successful in the NFL, and are typically in a position for more stable volume. The circumstances create a rich ground for fantasy breakouts.

Last season, several second-year wideouts dominated the landscape, highlighted by top-20 per-game finishes from Rashee Rice, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jordan Addison.

Here are four second-year receivers we love for breakouts in 2025, with cases for targeting them in drafts:

1. Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR - Cardinals)

Current ADP: WR17 (Round 2-3)

Marvin Harrison Jr. enters Year 2 as the number two pass-catching option behind tight end Trey McBride in Arizona’s offense. But do not let this scare you off! Arizona was 11th in scoring and seventh in total yards last year; volume should not be a problem.

Harrison was the WR10 in air yards and faced double coverage at an extremely high clip among all rookies last year. Now, with no true wide receiver competition, his ceiling is elite. His ADP is still a bit rich, but there is no question he will take a leap forward.

2. Rome Odunze (WR - Bears)

Current ADP: WR36 (Round 5+)

Last season, Rome Odunze averaged just 8.8 PPR fantasy points per game (WR61). But the Bears’ offense was brutal, ranking last in yards and 28th in scoring. Odunze was also victimized by a very scattershot rookie in Caleb Williams. He led the league with 37 targets that were underthrown or overthrown (next highest was 27).

Enter new Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who is already "extremely impressed" with Odunze and should give the offense a scoring boost. Odunze will need to be cleaner in Year 2 and improve his chemistry with Williams, but the increased opportunity in a better offense could allow him to skyrocket from his preseason WR36 ADP. We may be able to tell early on in training camp if the ingredients for his breakout are there.

3. Ricky Pearsall (WR - 49ers)

Current ADP: WR45 (Round 7)

Deebo Samuel is gone. Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a gruesome knee injury. Jauan Jennings is having contract drama. Suddenly, there is a path for 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall to be a top-two target in this offense.

The 49ers were third in total yards last season and have proven again and again their ability to sustain multiple significant fantasy weapons. Pearsall averaged 18.4 PPR fantasy points per game over the final three games last year. This was after returning from a gunshot wound that caused him to miss the first few weeks of his rookie campaign.

Pearsall has the pedigree and opportunity for an explosive breakout in 2025.

4. Keon Coleman (WR - Bills)

Current ADP: WR50 (Round 8)

Keon Coleman, the often forgotten 33rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has nothing but opportunity and potential in this Josh Allen-centric Bills offense in 2025. Amari Cooper is gone. Dalton Kincaid has yet to flash elite traits. Competing primarily against Josh Palmer and Khalil Shakir, Coleman has an opportunity to become the most explosive weapon in a top-10 scoring offense.

Coleman’s rookie year was marked by middling volume (WR36 in air yards share), but he flashed with some big plays. His 9.8 yards per reception was fourth amongst all wide receivers, and he clocked 12 passing plays where he gained 20 yards or more (WR30).

Any kind of jump in volume should allow him to outperform his eighth-round ADP. Buy in now.