Fantasy football - 12 players who could be this season's breakout stars

It's one of the questions I get asked most often during the offseason.

«Who is this year's (enter breakout player from last season)?»

It's not a simple question to answer, because no two scenarios are exactly alike. But there are obviously comparable players in similar situations. And if the people want comparisons, comparisons they shall receive!

The process here was simple: I jotted down each of 2021's top breakout players and came up with a short list of guys who have a similar pedigree as they enter 2022. Below is an analysis of each player who best fits the bill, as well as the others who landed on the short list.

Note that this is not my way of definitively predicting these players will definitely break out this season. Again, it's simply those positioned to do so as a product of landing in a similar situation to the players who burst onto the fantasy scene last season.

This season's Joe Burrow: Trevor LawrenceThe 2020 first overall NFL draft pick emerged into a QB1 in his second season.

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Carson Wentz (2017), Patrick Mahomes (2018), Lamar Jackson (2019), Kyler Murray (2020) and Burrow (2021) are recent examples of first-round quarterbacks who broke out in their second seasons. None was as productive as a rookie, which is notable here as Lawrence certainly had his struggles — granted, under poor circumstances — in his first season. Weak efficiency isn't a major concern for first-year signal-callers, who generally make a big leap in Year 2. Lawrence, who ranked seventh in pass attempts and fifth in carries among quarterbacks, will also benefit from an improved supporting cast led by Christian Kirk, Travis Etienne Jr., Evan Engram and