Podcast Summary: FantasyPros - High-Upside Fantasy Football Draft Picks | Wide Receiver Breakout Candidates (Ep. 1678)

Date: August 30, 2025
Host: Ryan Wormley
Analysts: Derek “Debro” Brown & Tom Strachan

Episode Overview

This episode of the FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast dives deep into wide receiver breakout candidates for the 2025 NFL season. Host Ryan Wormley is joined by fantasy experts Derek Brown and Tom Strachan to analyze players poised to outperform their draft slot and potentially win leagues for fantasy managers. The show is structured around several archetypes: second-year breakouts, players emerging from behind an “alpha” WR, and league winners "hiding in plain sight." Insightful stats, film study, and sharp debates guide listeners through a dozen WRs to target in fantasy drafts.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Second-Year Breakout Candidates

Ricky Pearsall (San Francisco 49ers)

• Debro's Must-Have WR: “The guy that I want to make sure I’m leaving almost every single draft with is Ricky Pearsall.” [01:38]
• Reasons to Buy: Flashed late last year (WR7, WR14 weeks). Showed off-season growth, crispness, and a remarkable rapport with Brock Purdy seen in preseason film. “He’s going to be the guy that is competing with George Kittle for the team lead in targets.” [02:25]
• Consensus & Ranking: Real-time ADP: WR35; Debro’s rank: WR26. Tom isn’t as aggressive, citing lack of alpha target share last year but notes that first-round draft capital and a healthy offseason point to improvement. [03:31]

Xavier Worthy (Kansas City Chiefs)

• Tom's Pick: Suspension of Rashee Rice opens the door. Worthy’s ADP hasn’t rebounded after initial dip. “He’s primed…by the time Rice comes back, he’ll have missed 23 straight games. That’s a huge amount of time for Worthy to establish himself.” [05:55]
• Debro’s Hesitancy: "Mahomes has been a bottom 10 level deep ball thrower over the last two years... If this wasn't the Chiefs and he wasn't tied to Mahomes, that is writing a lot of checks for Worthy I don’t know if he can cash." [09:11]
• Debate: Tom is betting on Andy Reid and Mahomes’ emphasis on the deep ball; Debro doubts Worthy’s pure WR skills, especially in red-zone and post-Rice return.

Jalen Coker (Carolina Panthers)

• Mutual Selection: Both experts insist on including Coker due to conviction and lack of superior alternatives. [14:20]
• Tom’s Argument: “Coach Dave Canales: ‘We’re going to play the best guys. Jalen has really showed to be one of the more reliable guys...’” [14:52]
• Role & Value: Adam Thielen’s trade increases snaps; Coker was productive on significant snaps down the stretch last year. "Coker is a better player than Xavier Leggett. He had better yards per route run, was a better separator, and turned targets into more production." [15:48]
• Debro’s Upside: "He is the Carolina Panthers’ WR2 from the word go... The upside? To be a weekly wide receiver three." [17:08]
• Practicality: “He's basically free…a 14th or 15th round pick.” [16:24]

2. Breakouts Behind an Alpha / Situational Upside

Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

• Debro’s Choice: “Everything has come up aces for Egbuka. The runway has been cleared—no Godwin for maybe most of the season, and first-round pedigree.” [20:20]
• Real-Time Momentum: ADP surging, now WR33, moved up 7.5 spots in a week.
• Role: Potential to lead Bucs in targets/yards with injuries and aging vets.
• Tom’s Add: “Wouldn’t be surprised if he leads the Bucs in catches and yards.” [22:49]

Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins)

• Tom’s Take: "It's so easy—Waddle averaged 4.8 more PPR points per game with Tua than without. He led in yards per target and per reception. He just needs the ball more—and he’ll get it." [25:17]
• Debro’s Endorsement: “I have Waddle ranked ahead of Tyreek Hill. You cannot force me to draft Tyreek this year.” [26:49]
• Key Points: Dolphins’ defense is weak, passing volume will surge, and Hill’s off-field/age risk bakes upside for Waddle.

Joshua Palmer (Buffalo Bills)

• Debro’s “Squint-and-Bet” Pick: “There’s a big lane for Joshua Palmer. In Buffalo, separation and route win rates are elite. The Bills see man coverage more than almost anyone—Palmer beats man.” [28:08]
• Tom’s View: “Not hard to imagine Palmer ends up most valuable in the Bills’ passing attack, especially at cost...if Josh Palmer becomes the red zone weapon for Josh Allen, that’s huge.” [30:39]

Darnell Mooney (Atlanta Falcons)

• Tom Names Mooney: “Averaged 12.1 PPR points per game last year, five games ≥17 points. Full-time player in an offense poised to pass a lot. I can wait out his injury and take the value." [32:01]
• Debro: “If Mooney can separate down the field, whether injured or not, he’ll have big spike weeks.” [33:23]

3. League Winners Hiding in Plain Sight

Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens)

• Debro’s Plea: "Please, Baltimore. Just feature your best players. Zay is elite on a per-route basis, especially vs man, but needs red zone targets. If you feature him, good things will happen!" [34:53]
• Tom’s Hope: “He had seven end zone targets, only turned two into TDs. I’m betting on positive regression and the lack of other red-zone threats...even if he's boom/bust some weeks.” [36:41]
• Ryan's Skepticism: “I do not see a path to significant red zone usage given the offense’s priorities—it really caps the ceiling regardless of his real-life skills.” [38:16]

George Pickens (Dallas Cowboys)

• Tom’s Pivot: “Now he’s in Dallas, not stuck in a miserable offense. Dallas led the league in passes and points per game. The benefit of CeeDee Lamb to George Pickens is massive.” [42:47]
• Debro: “I have Pickens ranked as a top 15 WR. The Cowboys will be the Bengals of the NFC. He’s got talent, volume, and it’s a contract year.” [44:51]
• Consensus: All panelists would favor Pickens over Tyreek Hill and DK Metcalf at cost.

DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles)

• Debro’s Value Play: “He’s been a Top 20 WR 3 years running, but people are sleeping. If AJ Brown misses time, Smith is a league winner. Even if not, he pays value as a WR3 or WR2.” [47:29]
• Tom: “He gives you high-ceiling, high-floor play—and the Eagles’ passing volume will rebound.” [50:20]

Travis Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars)

• Tom’s Upside Swing: “He may play defense, but Travis Hunter represents exactly the kind of guy who can win your league—especially in home leagues. Liam Coen will maximize him, and his screen/speed skillset fits.” [51:33]
• Ryan: “He may be the perfect ‘league winner hiding in plain sight’: #2 pick, superstar talent, and that defensive uncertainty holds down ADP.” [53:17]
• Debro: “I have him at WR25, 52 overall—aggressively ahead of market. The Jags need his firepower; he’s a difference-maker.” [55:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He’s going to be the guy that is competing with George Kittle for the team lead in targets. Second year breakout is here, boys.” — Debro on Ricky Pearsall [02:25]
• “Sometimes we got to bet on the talent of these guys. And the talent can dictate a lot of different things because as the season goes along, injuries do happen.” — Debro, on why he takes shots on WRs like Zay Flowers [41:50]
• “I’m not quite there in terms of talking about a Top 15 receiver... but I’m very in on the Cowboys for fantasy production.” — Ryan, about George Pickens and Cowboys offense [45:31]
• “If you feature this guy, good things will happen. I just don’t know if Baltimore will do it. But I’m asking, I’m pleading: please do it.” — Debro, Zay Flowers plea to the Ravens [36:39]
• “Some people are afraid to take risks and some people are afraid to have fun. And it’s Travis Hunter. Particularly in home leagues, I want to take swings.” — Tom on Travis Hunter’s upside [51:33]
• “Tell me, what helps this team more? A part-time WR/CB, or adding firepower to outscore teams like the Bengals, Chiefs, Rams? They need a WR and they made that trade for Travis Hunter for that reason.” — Debro, on Hunter’s offensive role [55:24]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment/Player | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|-------------| | Second-Year Breakout: Ricky Pearsall | 01:38–05:52 | | Second-Year Breakout: Xavier Worthy | 05:55–10:26 | | Second-Year Breakout: Jalen Coker | 14:03–19:41 | | Breakout Behind Alpha: Egbuka | 20:00–24:57 | | Breakout Behind Alpha: Jaylen Waddle | 25:17–28:04 | | Breakout Behind Alpha: Joshua Palmer | 28:08–31:56 | | Breakout Behind Alpha: Darnell Mooney | 32:01–34:08 | | League Winners: Zay Flowers | 34:46–42:27 | | League Winners: George Pickens | 42:45–47:27 | | League Winners: Devonta Smith | 47:29–51:29 | | League Winners: Travis Hunter | 51:33–56:49 | | Mailbag (Cedric Tillman, Pure Hype WRs) | 57:02–60:18 |

Conclusion

This episode is packed with actionable insight, forward-thinking debate, and deep analytics to help listeners identify higher-upside wide receivers who could define fantasy seasons. The hosts emphasize tiers, ADP value, situational context, and especially, talent — urging listeners to double-dip in breakout ranges and swing for wins, not safety.

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