In order to win a fantasy football championship, identifying breakouts is crucial. If you can spot which players are about to take the next step in their career, then the opportunity is there to draft players who could turn out to be a tremendous value in fantasy drafts.
To help you do that, we have identified one player from each NFC South team who we believe could break out in 2024.
Which NFC South Players Could Breakout for Fantasy Managers in 2024?
Atlanta Falcons: Drake London
I’ve got a message for fantasy managers who have been disappointed by the first two years of production from Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London… Help is on the way.
Don’t let London’s WR37 and WR31 overall fantasy finishes, respectively, over his first two seasons in the league fool you. He has all the makings of a future star.
When you combine London’s elite physical tools, underrated win rates against both man and zone coverage, and excellent ball skills with the additions of quarterback Kirk Cousins and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson — then the table could be set for London to have a career year in 2024.
Carolina Panthers: Jonathon Brooks
The Carolina Panthers’ remodeled offense certainly makes this unit a bit of a fantasy mystery entering the 2024 season. Yet, whenever Jonathon Brooks does manage to get on the field during his rookie year, I could see him potentially having the biggest fantasy impact from this offense.
Brooks’ knee will see him start the season on the Non-Football Injury list, but that doesn’t mean he still can’t be a big-time fantasy contributor in an offense that wants to run the ball.
New head coach Dave Canales showed last year he’s willing to stay with a running back who struggles with efficiency if he believes he’s the best option for the team. Canales force-fed Rachaad White 272 carries despite him averaging a putrid 3.64 yards per carry behind an offensive line that had all kinds of issues.
This new staff made Brooks the top running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, which should give him the inside track to a feature role at some point this year.
Brooks’ contact balance, sudden and efficient footwork, and burst for a back with a solid, compact frame give managers reason to believe he could be a great fantasy asset in 2024.
New Orleans Saints: Rashid Shaheed
Rashid Shaheed’s jump in production to 75 targets, 46 receptions, 719 yards, and five TDs (all career highs) suggest he is a receiver who is trending in the right direction, entering his third year in the NFL.
To be clear, I don’t think he is a threat to Chris Olave’s alpha target share in this offense, but his production opposite of Olave with a healthy 14.6-yard average depth of target makes Shaheed an intriguing big-play candidate who could emerge as the clear-cut third receiving option behind both Olave and Alvin Kamara in 2024.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalen McMillan
One of the biggest risers through the beginning portions of training camp has been Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Jalen McMillan — who has been regularly running as the WR3 in 11-personnel sets with the starters throughout camp.
McMillan’s knee injury last year cost him most of the 2023 college season, which likely contributed to his fall to the third round. However, his 2022 production showcased his ability to serve as a very effective option with his formation versatility and RAC ability entering the NFL.
McMillan’s 79 receptions for 1,098 yards and nine scores in 2022 was actually right there with Ja’Lynn Polk’s 2023 production of 69 receptions for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns.
McMillan is a smooth operator as a route runner. His curvilinear acceleration allows him to bend around second-level defenders while getting to his landmarks in a hurry to optimize separation over the intermediate portion of the field.
McMillan’s run-after-catch skills should complement Chris Godwin and Mike Evans in Tampa Bay’s passing attack in 2024. This could make this rookie a bit more productive than fantasy managers realize when also factoring in new coordinator Liam Coen’s offense, which is expected to deploy 11-personnel sets frequently.