AFC Breakout Players

Yesterday was the NFC Breakout Players. Today is the other conference.

Baltimore Ravens
Marquise Brown, WR

It feels like it's only a matter of time before Marquise Brown breaks out. With his speed, a quarterback like he has, and a running game like his team has, Brown could break out big.

Cincinnati Bengals
Jessie Bates III, S

Truthfully, Jessie Bates has already broken out. But he plays in Cincinnati so few knew that he broke out.

Cleveland Browns
Greedy Williams, CB

The Browns have a pair of talented corners with a lot of potential in Greedy Williams and Denzel Ward. Williams should see a lot of passes come his way with the more established Ward on the other side of the field. Williams has the length, speed, and talent to make quarterbacks pay for coming his way.

Pittsburgh Steelers
James Washington, WR

The Steelers were probably hoping that James Washington would break out as soon as Antonio Brown departed. Sometimes it takes a little time and Steelers quarterback situation didn't help. With a healthy Ben Roethlisberger this feels like the time for Washington.

Buffalo Bills
Devin Singletary, RB

I didn't see much of Devin Singletary as a rookie last season until the playoffs. He was impressive in the playoffs. So impressive that he was the only player that I considered for the Bills breakout player.

Miami Dolphins
Christian Wilkins, DT

Christian Wilkins was one of my favorite players in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has the talent, leadership, and character to be a franchise cornerstone.

New England Patriots
Jarrett Stidham, QB

Is it a breakout season if a quarterback in his first year as a starter guides his team to season-long playoff contention. If so, I think that Jarrett Stidham breaks out this year.

New York Jets
Quinnen Williams, DE

A lot was expected of Quinnen Williams as a rookie last season. If he can put his rookie season behind him as a learning experience I think that he can reach, or exceed, expectations in his second season. I don't trust Jets' defensive coordinator Gregg Williams at all. He shouldn't be coaching football at any level. But I trust Quinnen Williams as a football player.

Houston Texans
Tytus Howard, OT

It's nice to include some offensive linemen on a breakout list. Tytus Howard might've been selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft to be the Texans' cornerstone left tackle. Then they traded for Laremy Tunsil. That took some pressure off of Howard but it didn't take away his importance in the improvement of a bad offensive line.

Indianapolis Colts
Parris Campbell, WR

Injuries wrecked Parris Campbell's rookie season. Hamstring, sports hernia, broken hand, broken foot. Three surgeries. Who has three surgeries in a single season? For several years, the Colts' receiver group was TY Hilton and the rest. Now, the depth chart is topped by Hilton, Campbell, and rookie Michael Pittman Jr. That's a lot of wide receiver talent for Philip Rivers. Campbell might be the most physically gifted of the group. If he can avoid the injuries, his breakout seems certain.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Allen, DE

It can be argued that Josh Allen broke out last year as a rookie. I still can't believe that the Jaguars lucked into Allen with the seventh pick. He shouldn't have made it past the fifth pick. His 10.5 sack rookie season is only a start.

Tennessee Titans
Jeffery Simmons, DE

If Jeffery Simmons hadn't torn his ACL during pre-daft workouts, he probably would've been a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Titans benefited as they lucked into one of the draft's best players with the 19th pick. His rookie season was expected to be a redshirt season. Instead, Simmons played in nine games. He has some NFL experience going into his first healthy season. He should look more like the player that was supposed to be one of the first few picks of the draft than the player that was still still rehabbing during his rookie season.

Denver Broncos
Noah Fant, TE

Noah Fant had a prodcutive rookie season. It still felt like just a glimpse of the player that he has the potential to be. The Broncos have a nice collection of talented, young, offensive playmakers. Including second-year quarterback Drew Lock. A tight end is often the best friend of a young quarterback. Fant is a very talented friend.

Kansas City Chiefs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB

With multiple turbo-charged receivers blasting their way through opponent's secondaries and Travis Kelce finding open spaces, I think that I would be a running and receiving threat out of the Chiefs backfield. Andy Reid brought up former Eagles back Brian Westbrook as a comparison for Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Westbrook was a nightmare for defenses. I imagine Edwards-Helaire will be a similar sort of nightmare for defenses.

Las Vegas Raiders
Darren Waller, TE

Most consider last year to be Darren Waller's breakout season. After all, 90 catches, 1145 yards is a breakout season. I think that he's just getting started. It's tough to improve on those numbers. The Raiders have added more playmakers to the offense. Josh Jacobs is probably going to get better. Waller might never again hit the statistical benchmarks that he set last season. Mostly because he won't have to hit them. There were times in which he was the Raiders' only offensive threat. He's now part of an offense with several threats. I think that will help him develop into an even better football player.

Los Angeles Chargers
Uchenna Nwosu, DE

I just have a feeling about Uchenna Nwosu. I was intrigued by him at USC. I was curious about him in advance of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has impact edge rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram ahead of him. Perhaps Jerry Tillery is a better choice for a breakout player from the Chargers' defensive line. There's just something about Nwosu. I think that he's going to break out this year.