Finding the top fantasy football breakout can make all the difference in your league. Who are this year's top breakout candidates? We had a summit to tackle that question and many more.
The ESPN Fantasy Football virtual summit highlighted many key storylines as we look forward to 2020 fantasy football drafts. Our composite rankings, which will be updated throughout the offseason, are always a great starting point for fantasy owners as they prepare for draft day.
To give you a peek behind the curtain of some of our best discussions, we introduce our fantasy football roundtable series. Each entry will feature members of our ESPN Fantasy team offering their analysis on the hottest topics that came out of this year's summit, which hopefully will get you thinking about how you want to approach your drafts in the months ahead.
Who is your favorite breakout candidate for 2020?
We all saw evidence of Murray's talent, but it was subject to desperate attempts for offensive production in an effort to match what the Cardinals' defense was giving up each week. A complete offseason overhaul on defense will allow Murray to be more measured on offense, plus he has additional protection up front via the draft and a superstar pass-catching weapon via trade, all of which set him up for a second-year leap into being an upper-echelon quarterback.
Matthew Berry: QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants
I hate that I can choose only one, but for this exercise let me go Daniel Jones, currently being drafted as QB15 and whom I have as QB11. As a rookie who ascended to the starting role during the season, he was top-three in games with at least 28 fantasy points and games with at least four TD passes. And he did that with Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, Darius Slayton and Evan Engram playing ZERO snaps together. They are now healthy, the Giants have an improved offensive line and a defense that should make the offense keep throwing (the Giants were fourth in overall pass percentage last season). Danny Dimes has a chance to be an elite fantasy QB as early as this season.
Matt Bowen: RB Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
As a rookie, Sanders rushed for 818 yards -- on 4.6 yards per carry -- while catching 50 of 63 targets. He's a dual-threat talent in an offense that will scheme open running backs in the pass game. And with an anticipated bump in overall volume, Sanders is a prime candidate to post breakout numbers in 2020.
Mike Clay: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
I'll play the Mr. Obvious role and go with the first running back drafted in the first round by an Andy Reid regime. Elusive, great after contact and a good receiver, Edwards-Helaire was already atop my rookie running back rankings prior to being drafted by the Patrick Mahomes-led, high-scoring Chiefs. The LSU product will be pricey on draft day, but he has immediate RB1 upside.
Tristan H. Cockcroft: RB Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills
Touchdowns might be a problem for Singletary, with Zack Moss being drafted and Josh Allen an option in that department, but there's little question that Singletary is primed for a 250-carry, high-volume type of season with the Bills. In his final eight games played in 2019, Singletary managed 603 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 131 carries, while adding 20 catches for 136 yards.
Daniel Dopp: TE Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins
I'm officially doubling down here. Gesicki's third season in the NFL should prove to be his best with new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey utilizing Gesicki's ability to play the slot. Last season, Gesicki was a top-10 TE in points from the slot, as well as being tied for seventh at the position in TDs. He's currently being drafted as TE14, which means you'll have plenty of chances to snag him in the later rounds of your drafts.
Eric Karabell: WR Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders
I will let others choose the obvious quarterbacks in Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones and go a bit off the board with the Raiders sophomore wide receiver, who sure reminds me of Julian Edelman as a supreme slot option. Renfrow closed his rookie season with a pair of 100-yard receiving games and a touchdown in each, and while I might not recommend his quarterbacks, he sure gets open and should flirt with 75 catches and 1,000 yards from a somewhat-forgotten, late-round pick.
Field Yates: RB David Johnson, Houston Texans
This might be stretching the term "breakout" a bit, but I'll go with David Johnson. Yes, he has been a fantasy superstar before, but he was left for the bench last season following the Cardinals' trade for Kenyan Drake. The Texans had a need for a high-volume back like DJ and I'm a firm believer he has the goods needed to be a major force for them both as a runner and receiver, with top-eight running back upside.