What NFL players do you feel are primed for a breakout season?
My rankings are as follows:
QB: Matthew Stafford - With his young supporting cast now a year wiser, I can see him taking the next step....if he can stay healthy. Stafford was on pace to be a top 10 QB early last year before a shoulder injury ended his season. Teammates have said that after going through shoulder rehab during the offseason, his arm looks better than ever, and throwing to Megatron doesn't hurt either. Sam Bradford deserves a mention here too.
RB: A lot of people are probably expecting to see Darren McFadden or Knowshon Moreno here, but I'm gonna go with a slightly younger AFC running back, Ryan Mathews. The former Fresno State star was the most hyped rookie running back coming into last season, however, injuries derailed what otherwise would have been a strong start for the young Charger. With a year of experience under his belt, and Phillip Rivers calling the shots, mark him down for 1200+ yards and 9 TD's.
WR's: Although DeSean Jackson is considered by many to be the Eagle's top receiver, I have a feeling Jeremy Maclin will inherit that title this season. With his physical play and blazing speed (runs a 4.3, almost as fast as Jackson), Maclin is the perfect compliment to Andy Reid's system. While not what one would necessarily consider a "breakout player", Maclin is in prime position to top his 2010 totals. Honorable mention goes to Mike Simms-Walker, who now suits up for the St. Louis Rams.
TE: Everyone who watched Dustin Keller's play during the first third of the 2010 season knew the guy had talent. Unfortunately, he faded as the season wore on, and finished with only 687 yards and 5 TD's for the year. After venturing deep into the playoffs last year, the Jets look for Mark Sanchez to improve in all aspects of his game, which can only means good things are to come for Keller, as he was clearly Sanchez's security blanket in tough situations. I can see him possibly finishing as a top 5 TE this season.
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