The third-year breakout represents a significant milestone in the development of many fantasy football careers. Consider Josh Allen’s 2020 season when he finally escaped the “long-term risk” category into the QB1 conversation. In 2023 we had Nico Collins, who climbed to WR9 on the year — scoring over 100 more fantasy points in just 15 games than he had combined in his first two seasons.

A player’s third NFL season often marks a crucial turning point. By this stage, most players have fully mastered the playbook, honed their skills, and face the pressures of upcoming contract negotiations or free agency. They may also gain new opportunities via teammates or coaches offering an improvement around them.

It’s a window where talent becomes more consistent, roles can expand, and future stars begin to separate themselves from the pack.

Below are four third-year players with the talent, situation, or opportunity poised for a breakout in 2025—making them ideal targets to acquire now before their values rise.

KTC Ranking: QB20

Cost to trade for: 2025 1.10 or Xavier Worthy or Jameson Williams

As fantasy football managers look ahead to the 2025 season, one quarterback who stands out as a potential third-year breakout candidate is Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers. After a challenging start to his NFL career, Young demonstrated significant improvement in the latter half of the 2024 season, showcasing the traits of a rising fantasy asset.

After a brief midseason benching, Young was given a second chance, one that surely would’ve been his last had he not shown any signs of life. From Week 12 through Week 18, Young delivered consistent and impressive performances, averaging approximately 21.2 fantasy points per game. During this stretch, he threw for over 1,400 yards, totaled 11 passing touchdowns (to only 3 interceptions) and 4 rushing touchdowns. His dual-threat capabilities became a bigger part of his game, making him a more versatile and reliable fantasy option.

Notable Performances

• Week 12 vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 263 passing yards, 1 TD, 20 rushing yards – 16.5 fantasy points
• Week 13 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 298 passing yards, 1 TD, 17 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD – 23.6 fantasy points
• Week 16 vs. Arizona Cardinals: 158 passing yards, 2 TDs, 68 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD – 27.1 fantasy points
• Week 18 vs. Atlanta Falcons: 251 passing yards, 3 TDs, 24 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs – 36.4 fantasy points

The 2025 season marks Bryce Young’s second year under head coach Dave Canales, who has a strong track record of maximizing quarterback efficiency.

His work with Geno Smith in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay are prime examples of quarterbacks flourishing under his system after early-career struggles.

Carolina also made a bold move to upgrade its offensive weapons by selecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the 8th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. McMillan brings a combination of size and contested-catch ability that immediately raises the ceiling of the Panthers’ passing game.

With a full offseason of continuity under Canales and the addition of a true alpha target in McMillan, Bryce Young is positioned to take a significant leap forward in both real-life performance and fantasy production.

KTC Ranking: TE21

Cost to trade for: Tyrone Tracy or Jakobi Meyers or 2025 2.10 or 2026 2nd

Tight Ends often take longer to develop than other skill positions, and Brenton Strange fits the mold of a classic third-year breakout candidate.

We’ve also seen the Tight End position feature breakout candidates stuck behind veterans. Trey McBride and Dallas Goedert had Zach Ertz, Jake Ferguson had Dalton Schultz, and Jonnu Smith had Kyle Pitts.

Okay, maybe not that last one.

Drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Strange spent his first two seasons behind veteran Evan Engram, seeing limited snaps – but flashing in spurts when given opportunities. In Week 15 of 2024 (with Engram sidelined) Strange delivered a standout performance of 11 receptions (12 targets) for 73 yards, marking career highs and highlighting his ability to be a reliable option in the passing game.

Enter Liam Coen, the Jaguars’ new head coach and a creative offensive mind with a proven track record of maximizing Tight End production (Tyler Higbee, Rams & Cade Otton, Bucs).

While Strange slots in behind the emerging Brian Thomas Jr. and newly-drafted Travis Hunter, tight ends accounted for over 120 targets last year in Jacksonville and there’s no one in the way of Strange picking up that change (bars, I know).

Strange will certainly not lead the Jaguars in volume, but he’s all alone at the top of the depth chart and stands to benefit from red zone usage and an offense roaring to get its playmakers into space.

KTC Ranking: WR64

Cost to trade for: Jaylen Wright or Jatavion Sanders or 2025 3rd round pick 

Cedric Tillman is quietly one of the most intriguing third-year breakout candidates for 2025 — and savvy dynasty managers should be paying attention.

After a quiet rookie year and limited involvement in Year 2 outside of one incredible stretch of production, the path is clearing for Tillman to make a significant leap in Year 3. 

The third year is the traditional breakout window for wide receivers, and Tillman fits the mold: talented but raw prospect, minimal early production, stuck behind veterans on the depth chart (Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore are both gone), but with increasing opportunity.

This is the same arc we’ve seen from players like Chris Godwin, Davante Adams, and Nico Collins.

Tillman’s 2024 season was cut short due to a Week 12 concussion against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was placed on IR and didn’t play the rest of the season, but prior to that had a handful of standout games: 

• Week 7 vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 8 receptions for 81 yards
• Week 8 vs. Baltimore Ravens: 7 receptions for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns
• Week 9 vs. LA Chargers: 6 receptions for 75 yards and 1 touchdown

Despite the injury setback, Tillman’s performance in 2024 demonstrated his capability as a reliable target and his potential for a breakout season in 2025.

Coupled with the Browns not adding a single WR of consequence in free agency – or the draft – and the path is there for Tillman to emerge.

KTC Ranking: WR85

Cost to trade for: 2026 3rd or Tank Dell or Mike Gesicki

This may not be the sexiest name among a third-year WR class that includes Rashee Rice, Zay Flowers, and Jordan Addison. The purpose of this practice is try to find players that can break out and provide increased value cheap for your dynasty rosters – and Michael Wilson can do just that.

Over his first two seasons, Wilson has shown steady improvement, amassing 1,113 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 29 games.

Recently, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray discussed the idea of Wilson getting to 1,000 yards in 2025.

Back in April, Murray appeared on the PHNX Cardinals podcast and talked a little bit about draft prospects with hosts Bo Brack and Johnny Venerable. Murray said he hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the receivers in the draft. Why?

“I don’t think that’s an area of need,” he said. “I truly believe Mike [Wilson] can have a thousand yards and be very comparable to the guys that we see doing it year after year after year…,” Murray said. 

Similar to Cleveland, the Cardinals elected not to add a WR to their corps, leaving Wilson as the third target and deep threat in a Cardinals offense that hopes to take the next step in 2025. At a price of a low draft pick, Wilson represents a deep threat you can slot in to your flex role and pray it’s a week he catches a long bomb. Similar to the Darius Slaytons and Alec Pierce archetype, Wilson represents a high-ceiling weekly floor you can acquire at a very reasonable cost.

Conclusion 

These third-year breakout candidates represent some of the best “buy low” opportunities in dynasty fantasy football right now.

They combine proven flashes of talent with growing roles in their respective offenses – and have not yet commanded the premium value of established stars.

Young, Strange, Tillman, and Wilson offer promising upside and clear opportunities, making them worthwhile additions as you look ahead to 2025 and beyond.