Loading summary
Jonas Brothers
This is an iHeart podcast.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
Guaranteed Human.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
It's smart to always have a few financial goals and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discover, you can get this. Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. I mean, after all, you listen to this show, see terms@discover.com credit card. Welcome in everybody to fantasy pros. This is the fantasy football podcast. It's me, Joey P, Joe P. Zappia and today I'm here with my two best friends, Dbro, Derrick Brown, the King of Bros, and Andrew Erickson, Mr. Big Pot Energy himself and the Three Amigos are here again. That's right, because you can't get enough of us here on the channel. We are the straw that stirs the drink. And we're gonna talk about four second year breakout candidates. That's right. Sometimes it doesn't always happen year one for people. Just ask Andrew Erickson. That first year, his rookie season was really tough. He was falling over his words. He was forgetting player names, who guys played on different teams did that.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
Any, any running routes falling on the ground.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
The off season. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, that first plant foot still a struggle bus for him. But after that he put his nose to the grindstone and he really pushed forward and look at what he's become now. A superstar in the world of fantasy sports. Now we're still waiting for the breakout for Derrick Brown. He's in year five. Still hasn't happened, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. So we're going to talk about some second year guys here that are on the precipice of maybe some great things in fantasy football before we get to it. Subscribe to the channel right now. Drop your comments below about your favorite second year breakouts. We love to hear from our people here, but let's start here with Andrew Erickson. Why don't you give us your big second year breakout performer number one for 2026.
Andrew Erickson
Speaking of superstars, I think O' Marian Hampton can have a superstar level jump in year two. Last year he had to overcome a lot as a rookie in the Chargers offense that was really hurt by injuries all over the place. The offensive line was gutted by injuries. Hampton himself missed a lot of games. He only played in nine games as a rookie. And I think that things are going to improve in year two. You have Mike McDaniel coming in as the new offensive coordinator for The Los Angeles Chargers. And what I like about him is how often he targeted his running backs as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Three of the four seasons he was head coach, they were top three in running back target chair. So last year Hampton flashed as a receiver. I believe he had five games with at least four or more receptions. So I think Hampton, especially with what he did as a rusher in the second half of the season when he was playing, he was 11th in yards after contact per attempt. PFF ranked him as the 8th best graded rusher. He, he showed that he could handle a full workload. He played four games with at least 79% plus snap share, averaged 17.5 fantasy points per game and overall averaged 17.3 touches per game. Tied for top 12 at the position. So although it wasn't a complete rookie year, a lot of the running backs as rookies underwhelmed last season. I think in year two he is set to take a big step forward. I love this Chargers offense because number one, they have a brutal schedule. So I think it's going to be a lot of shootouts and losing Jesse Minter as their defense coordinator. I think that defense is going to get exposed against this tough schedule. I think Hampton, whether they're winning games or they're losing games, is going to be involved heavily throughout. He's explosive, he catches passes, he's big, he's got the size. Basically checking off all the boxes of a year two breakout at the running back position.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah, I am uncomfortably all in on Amari and Hampton right now.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
I raised my ranking based off of the, the conversation we had on the running back show we just recorded.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I had to bump him up the
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
ranks as Erickson was talking about.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
And I don't think it's wrong to do that. And you know, I don't, I don't want to get it out of control. I don't want him being a top five overall player or something like that. But I, I always like to think about where we're going to be in 2027. We're having these conversations about what the ranks look like and I find it really difficult to believe that Omarion Hampton is in that top five running back conversation. I just, I just from the setup. So therefore I'm going to be the best part about it is I don't think he's ever going to get quite there in the ranks this year, but I'm going to be drafting him as though like that's my approach and what I think of him in terms of how much he means to my roster. So, Debro, let's talk about one of your second year breakouts who kind of made the grade for you.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
Oh, you're gonna love this, Joe. It's facial Tootin, baby. Am I? You're gonna love it.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Look, I want Basho Tootin to be good. Oh, you're gonna be happy then. Here, you're gonna be very happy. Okay, good. I wanted to be good. I'm just afraid of it. I'm fearful.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
Well, we want to bet on town. Putin definitely has the freaking down, man. Like amongst 55 qualifying backs last year, 5th in rushing success rate, 11th missed tackle rate, 17th in yards of the contact per attempt. I, I know everybody is talking about Liam Cohen and all the, the strings we can, you know, draw all the parallels we could draw to Chris Rodriguez about all this kind of stuff. Can we also talk about Liam Cohen and that front office drafted Basel Tutin and so talk about wanting running backs? Well, they went out and added Tutin to this roster before getting Chris Rodriguez on the team. So we're talking about hierarchy of needs here. I put Tutin above Rodriguez and Rodriguez is a fine player for what he offers an offense, but he, we also can agree collectively that he's basically a zero sum player in the passing game. So Tutin at worst would be the passing down compliment to this offense. But I think he's gonna be so much more than that because the early down talent is there, the, the physical specimen that he is as a player. We talk about the athleticism, so the ability to rip off those long runs. Chris Rodriguez does not have that. So the risk is being baked in for Bashel Tutin and rankings and where he'll go in draft season. And I'm sure there's still going to be a talking point for everybody throughout the entirety of the summer. I'm going to continue to bet on the talent of BAAL Tuton and we didn't see, we were robbed of it, honestly guys, because the finger injury that he sustained in his rookie season, we want to see these guys get utilized more in the stretch run of their rookie season. We were robbed of that because of the finger injury that Bashel Tootin sustained last year. If we would have gotten that down the stretch and it wasn't just all Travis Etienne, then Bashel Tootin wouldn't be getting. I'm not going to say hate, but all of the questions about his role in this backfield would not be as present entering this year if Tutin had played more, which we were starting to see during the middle of the season. If that would have increased in the back half of last year, we wouldn't have all these questions about him entering 2026.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, so those are two names that I, I know I am very excited about. I'm very aggressively in on Amari Enhanced it. I'm very tentatively in on Bash Alt and I want it to work. I'm just a little bit more concerned about all this stuff going around Jacksonville first. But that's okay because there's more names to get to on this list before we get to them. Just a shout out to and a reminder, our draft simulator is available for you right now. You can run full mock drafts in just minutes, right? No waiting in between picks. I hate waiting. All right. It's the worst thing. You can customize every single setting to match your league's exact format. And if you're an MVP or Hall of Fame subscriber to Fancy Pros and and you should be by now, you can even test out trade scenarios you can mock with all the actual trade draft picks, which is incredibly important. And right now we're doing a special here. If you go to fantasypros.com dynasty26 you can grab a 3 day full trial of the premium subscription to see what that looks like. So go sync your leagues for free, download the app, go to fancy bros.com dynasty26 and then you can go ahead and try out that three day free trial right before your drafts or during your drafts, however you want to use it, and then just go premium the rest of the season, man. Get get all of your ducks in row for all of your teams. You can set all your lineups from the app, from all the different sites that you're playing on. You can make all the trade analyzer usage. You could do all the waiver wire stuff. The tools are amazing. Don't be a tool. Use the tools at Fantasy Pros.
Podcast Advertisers/Hosts
Let's be honest. Buying cannabis shouldn't be complicated, sketchy or low quality. That's why I want to tell you about Mood.com that's M-O-Ood.com Mood ships federally legal cannabis straight to your door. No medical card, no hassle. And here's the the quality is better than anything you'll find at your local dispensary. Yeah, I said it. Whether you're into edibles, concentrates, flour, or just looking to explore, you'll find it all at Mood. And it's not just the variety that makes them stand out. Every product is sourced from Small American owned family farms that care deeply about what they grow. It's cannabis you can trust. Delivered discreetly and ready to elevate your mood. And because you're a listener, you get 20% off your first order. Just head to mood.com, that's M-O-Ood.com to get started.
Jonas Brothers
Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news? Huge news. We created our own podcast called hey Jonas.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
We invented a podcast.
Jonas Brothers
Well, we didn't invent it, we just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty. Yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how did we, how do we actually come up with the name hey Jonas? Guys, I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it and, well, we were thinking. I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes, I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing a
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
bit for the podcast.
Jonas Brothers
People could call in and say, hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, hey Jonas. And offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that. Guys, listen to hey Jonas on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, let's go to the next guy on our list here. And we've got not one, but two Chicago Bears. Now one of these guys, I can already tell you all the shares I can get this year. I want the other guy. I'm not so sure. So Luther Burden Erickson, that's your guy that I'm not so sure about yet. Sell me. Let's go.
Andrew Erickson
Well, I'm not so sure either, but I think that he's player worth having the conversation about as a breakout candidate because that's the name of the show. It's not breakout locks, it's breakout candidates. And Luther Birdie, if you look at him in the ECR, wide receiver 21, I mean, that is a breakout candidate worthy position. And it's because of what he did in his rookie year. Yards per out run off the charts, third among qualifying wide receivers last year behind Puka Nakua, Jack Smith and Jigba. Maybe you've heard of them. They're pretty good. They're pretty good in fantasy last year as well. So a lot of the hype and excitement about Luther Burton stems from he was super efficient as a rookie. You look at what he did yards after the catch per reception, he was 4th at 7.2. 10th enforced missed tackles. Ben Johnson has been very vocal about we got to find ways to get the ball into Luther Burns hands because last year every time they did good things happened and that should continue to happen with now a big opportunity opening up in this offense. With D.J. moore no longer on the team, this team is second in vacated wide receiver targets, fifth in targets inside the 10 heading into the 2026 season. So when we're talking about who could potentially step up, take on a bigger share of the targets in an offense that look, maybe Caleb Williams is just the answer, right? You just draft him and you just. You don't have to guess where the targets are going to go because he's going to melt faces in his second year with Ben Johnson that's kind of how I like playing it. But with Luther Burden, if he ends up being that Amon Ross St. Brown in Ben Johnson's offense where he's getting a lot of the layup targets out of the slot, he had the highest target rate or catchable target rate per Fantasy points data last year at 90%. So while Roma dunes a also a player that should be able to capitalize on some of these vacated targets, he's seeing more of the tougher targets. There's a reason why him and Caleb Williams haven't been able to connect the last two seasons because he's running the harder routes where it's not as easy. But Luther Burden, he's getting the layups, the underneath targets where he can just create yards after the catch, which is what he is best at. And coming out of college I always felt that he was very dependent on his landing spot and where he is in Ben Johnson's offense where he can be the underneath eater, rack up p PPR points. Yeah, this is the bull case for Luther Burton as a breakout candidate. The bearish case is, well, what if he doesn't play more snaps? He only played 60% of the snaps three times last year. And when the Bears go heavy tight ends, is Luther Burton even on the field? Like who's the number one wide receiver on the offense? We know Cole's lovin is going to be on the field. So is it really about is it Roma Dunes A or is it Luther Burton? And I agree with ECR ranking Burden ahead of Odunze because well, Ben Johnson, I think he made it very clear who he wants to be featured in his offense when he drafted Colston Loveland and Luther Burden with his first two picks when he became the head coach of the Chicago Bears. So that's my long winded answer of saying Luther Burton is a breakout candidate. Am I fully there with the draft price because it's all baked in? I'm not so sure. But I can definitely see the appeal and why people are excited about the Bears wide receiver.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
And you see that thing again too, where they put A, Dunes A and Burton kind of close to each other in the ECR because what does that tell everybody? Nobody knows, nobody's sure exactly. I was going to shake out. So they just put them all together because everyone's got a question mark. Now, you mentioned Colson Loveland. That's the guy that I think on a weekly basis that I want. That's the one that I'm investing heavily in. Because Debro, to Erickson's point, you don't know who's going to be on the field or what the scenario is going to be. But there's one guy that I know is going to be part of the game plan every week because at the end of the year, through the playoffs, Colson Loveland was an absolute freaking rock star. And it just very clear to me that that is the guy where the offense is really going to run through, not necessarily the receivers, which is an interesting scenario. But we even saw, you know, back when Ben Johnson had Sam laporte in his rookie year, how good that can look potentially. So let's talk about Colson Loveland. Why you agree with me that he could absolutely be a big breakout this season.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
I want to be very clear that I think both of these breakouts for these Bears players that can happen with DJ Moore being gone, this con, this, this target tree getting consolidated more and kind of how Erickson alluded to Roma Dunes, they could be the guy that's on the outside looking in. I look at Colston Loveland as I think he's going to be their clear wide receiver, one for that team. And we already saw this happen, guys like week 16 on last year he had a 25.6% target share, 2.49 yards per route run, 81.6 receiving yards per game and a 34% first reach here. If you zoom out and look at those numbers in the totality of the season amongst tight ends with at least 25 targets that would have ranked first, fourth, first and first. I will be drafting Colston Loveland everywhere this year. I think he has the upside to be the tight end one overall and I want to be very specific about this, I was all in on Trey McBride last year. I'm not saying that Brock Bowers will not be good. I'm not saying. But you look at the quarterback play, you look at this offense, you look at the usage that we've already seen in a small sample for Colston Loveland, I think he can be the tight end one this year. I don't think the conversation is Trey McB, Trey McBride versus Brock Bowers. The conversation should be Brock Bowers versus Colston Loveland.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I don't think that's a hot take and, and people are going to hate it.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
I don't think it's hot either, but
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
people are going to think that it's hot at all. So what do you all think about some of these breakouts? Do you think it's a hot take? Because I don't know. D Row doesn't. I don't know. Erickson, you think it's a hot take? I don't know.
Andrew Erickson
No, I don't think it's a hot take. I guess my spin on it is I'm looking for the rookie version of Brock Bowers, the rookie version of Sam Laporte, like looking for the late round tight end as opposed to the tight end one. Again, I want to find the guy that we're talking about as Colston Loveland this year.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah, that's why we've been spoiled the last couple years at tight end. We got.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
I will easily take last year's Trey McBride. I will happily take that.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
But that's the thing. It's like the last, the trend. The last couple years been really good for the Titan position. I think where the tight ends landed in the rookie class this year doesn't make them super redraft exciting. At least not, you know, right away. So that means we're just going to be stuck with all these super talented guys that have come to league last two and three years, which is I think a renaissance at the tight end position, to be honest. But again, we love to hear your thoughts. So subscribe to the channel. Drop your comments below heading to fantasypros.com for all the articles and all the information you need to prepare for all of your drafts of all kinds all year round. And of course, you know, hang out with us here at the tailgate too if you enjoy the three of us bantering and talking football. Our new channel tailgate NFL on YouTube is for you. So go over there. Subscribe. We're giving away a Jamar Chase jersey right now for someone who's subscribing and dropping comments. So go check it out because we got some really fun content. It's just football. It's not fantasy. It's not wagering. It's just everything. It's just us hanging out, talking ball, friends, friendship and football. What more do you need than that? That'll do it for us. But the story of the game goes on. For Derek Brown and Andrew Erickson, I'm Joey P. We'll see you next time, kids.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football Podcast. If you love the show, the best free way to support us is by leaving a positive review on apple podcasts@fantasypros.com review or on Spotify. Follow us on X Instagram and TikTok at fantasypros and subscribe to our YouTube channel at YouTube.com fantasypros. Tired of overpaying with DirecTV?
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Dish offers a reliable low price every month without surprises. Get the TV you love and start watching live sports news and the latest
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
movies, plus your favorite streaming apps all in one place. Switch to Dish today and lock in the lowest price in satellite TV starting at $89.99 a month with our two year price guarantee. Call 888 add dish or visit dish.com today.
Jonas Brothers
Hey guys, it's us, the Jonas Brothers.
Andrew Erickson
I'm Joe.
Jonas Brothers
I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called hey Jonas.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
We invented a podcast.
Jonas Brothers
Well, we didn't invent it, we just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
We get to ask other people questions
Jonas Brothers
because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to hey Jonas on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy not quite on Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier this week. My guests SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an acapella band with their between songs Banter.
Andrew Erickson
Where the where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and friends on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Advertisers/Hosts
Will Ferrell's Big Money players and iHeart podcast presents soccer Moms.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
So, I'm Leigh Ann. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hip since high school.
Andrew Erickson
Absolutely.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip.
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Just a little bit bigger hips.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey with all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got em.
Podcast Advertisers/Hosts
Listen to soccer moms on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Derrick Brown (Dbro)
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
In this episode, the "Three Amigos"—Joey P., Derrick Brown, and Andrew Erickson—break down four top candidates for a breakout in their second NFL season, examining data, team context, opportunity, and skillsets. The conversation hits on promising running backs and the changing dynamic within the Chicago Bears receiving corps, including an extended discussion about the tight end Colston Loveland’s potential rise.
The hosts bring their signature blend of sharp analysis and friendly banter, setting up listeners for success in their upcoming fantasy football drafts.
Time: [01:47] Erickson’s Analysis
Context & Rookie Year Struggles:
Hampton had a turbulent rookie campaign limited to nine games due to injury and a “gutted” Chargers offensive line. With Mike McDaniel stepping in as offensive coordinator (not head coach), expectations are shifting.
What’s New?
McDaniel frequently featured RBs in the passing game while in Miami (three out of four seasons in top-3 RB target share).
Advanced Metrics & Usage:
2026 Outlook:
Hampton “checks all the boxes” – explosive, big, receiving chops, likely high usage in a fast-paced, shootout-prone offense (weakening defense, brutal schedule).
Quote:
“He’s big, he’s got the size… basically checking off all the boxes of a year two breakout at the running back position.” —Andrew Erickson [03:22]
Host Responses:
Both Joey and Dbro agree they’re raising Hampton in their ranks, with Joey noting,
“I am uncomfortably all in on Amari and Hampton right now.” —Joey P [03:24]
Time: [04:12] Dbro’s Analysis
Talent Case:
Tootin flashed in limited rookie work, hampered by a finger injury. Among 55 RBs, he ranked:
Role & Opportunity:
The Jaguars front office and OC Liam Cohen “chose” Tootin—drafting him before Chris Rodriguez. Rodriguez remains “a zero-sum player in the passing game,” so Tootin’s floor is passing-down work, but Dbro sees “so much more than that” given Tootin’s athleticism and big-play ability.
Potential & Uncertainty:
If not for the injury, Tootin’s stock would be much higher.
“If we would have gotten that [late-season usage]… we wouldn’t have all these questions about him entering 2026.” —Derrick Brown [06:26]
Joey’s Take:
Joey is “tentatively in” on Tootin, citing concerns about the Jaguars offense but acknowledges the appeal.
Time: [10:06] Erickson’s Analysis
Breakout Candidate… Not a Lock:
“I’m not so sure either, but he’s a player worth having the conversation about.” —Andrew Erickson [10:06]
Efficiency & Opportunity:
Coaching & Scheme:
Ben Johnson has been “very vocal” about getting Burden the ball; new offensive system after DJ Moore’s departure opens opportunities.
QB Impact:
If Caleb Williams “melts faces” with Ben Johnson, “maybe you just draft him and not guess where the targets go.”
Concerns:
Quote:
“It’s not breakout locks, it’s breakout candidates… if he ends up being that Amon-Ra St. Brown… that’s the bull case for Luther Burden.” —Andrew Erickson [11:35]
Host Response:
Joey notes ECR ranks Burden and Odunze closely, signaling uncertainty, but puts his chips on Loveland.
Time: [13:49] Dbro’s Analysis
Top Breakout Pick:
Joey calls Loveland his “weekly want,” highlighting his consistency late last season (esp. playoff run).
Workhorse Usage:
Comp & Context:
Dbro compares Loveland’s rookie trajectory to Sam LaPorta or Trey McBride’s breakout path; sees him as a weekly difference-maker in the Bears’ new offense.
Argument:
"I think he’s going to be their clear wide receiver one for that team." —Derrick Brown [13:49]
Notable Debate:
Conversation shouldn't be Trey McBride vs. Brock Bowers; it "should be Brock Bowers vs. Colston Loveland."
Agreement:
All hosts agree Loveland could be the true breakout value, even if Bowers is more hyped.
"Sometimes it doesn't always happen year one for people… we're going to talk about some second year guys here that are on the precipice of maybe some great things…" —Joey P [00:45]
“I love this Chargers offense because… they have a brutal schedule. So I think it’s going to be a lot of shootouts…” —Andrew Erickson [02:59]
“Last couple years have been really good for the tight end position… I think a renaissance at the tight end position, to be honest.” —Joey P [15:41]
| Player | Position | Team | Rationale | Host Attribution (Timestamp) | |-----------------------|----------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------| | Omarion Hampton | RB | Chargers | Dual-threat skills; new OC boosts outlook; strong usage and efficiency metrics | Erickson [01:47] | | Bashael Tootin | RB | Jaguars | Explosive metrics; more skilled than committee peers; injury hid breakout potential | Dbro [04:12] | | Luther Burden | WR | Bears | Hyper-efficient rookie year; huge vacated targets; great fit for new OC/slot role | Erickson [10:06] | | Colston Loveland | TE | Bears | Strong late-season usage; target hog; possible positional #1 (TE1) in fantasy | Dbro + Joey P discussion [13:49] |
This episode gives fantasy GMs four breakout names to target as value picks in 2026 drafts, diving deep into roles, upside, risks, and new coaching fits. The hosts blend actionable player analysis with genuine chemistry and audience interaction, laying a strong foundation for successful redraft and dynasty seasons.
For continued insights, strategy, and league-winning advice, subscribe to the FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast and head to FantasyPros.com for up-to-date rankings and tools.