NFL 2024 preview: 10 potential breakouts include a couple of young Detroit Lions

Not every NFL player can be C.J. Stroud or Puka Nacua.

Those two were fantastic right away as rookies and became instant stars. It takes other players more time. Sometimes injuries set them back. Others just need the chance to play before they shine.

We see veteran breakouts every season in the NFL, and here are 10 players in a great spot to break out this NFL season.

This list should be dedicated to Williams. Nobody is in a more obvious spot to break out. Williams was the 12th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft whose career got off to a slow start due to his recovery from a torn ACL at Alabama and a suspension for betting. He came on late last season, showing the game-breaking speed that made him a high draft pick. The Lions are thin at receiver after Amon-Ra St. Brown, and their offense will be very good once again. If Williams doesn’t break out this season it’s on him because the situation for it is ideal.

Jameson Williams of the Detroit Lions had a strong finish to his second NFL season. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Did Achane break out already? He had 997 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns as a rookie. But what if there’s a much higher level coming in his second season? Achane has electric speed, which is why he averaged an astounding 7.8 yards per carry. He won’t repeat that number but could be well above 5 with a much bigger role. Go back to the primes of Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles for a comparison to Achane. On top of Achane’s ability, the Dolphins under head coach Mike McDaniel have shown that’s a great situation for any running back. Achane had a very good rookie season and he could blow past that in his second year.

Patrick Queen left in free agency for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Ravens always seem to have a backup plan. Simpson was a third-round draft pick out of Clemson last season and didn’t play much because he had Queen and Roquan Smith ahead of him. With Queen gone, Simpson is projected as a starter. He had a team-high 11 tackles in…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-2024-preview-10-potential-breakouts-include-a-couple-of-young-detroit-lions-130100826.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-08-28 13:01:00

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