The 2024 NFL Draft class was loaded with talent, and while stars like Brock Bowers, Jayden Daniels, and Malik Nabers made immediate fantasy football impacts as rookies, some of their classmates are just beginning to hit their stride. As we look ahead to the 2026 fantasy football season, here are two third-year players poised for a breakout campaign.
First up is Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, who showed flashes of brilliance in 2025 despite battling a foot injury. Even with the ailment, Odunze led the Bears with 90 targets in just 12 games—averaging 7.5 targets per game, ranking 20th among all players. Before the injury hit in late October, he was on a tear, averaging 67.5 receiving yards per game with two 100-yard outings in his first seven contests. Post-injury, that number dipped to 37.6 yards per game. Now, with DJ Moore traded to the Bills and entering the second year of head coach Ben Johnson's offense, Odunze is primed to be the top target. His big-play ability is undeniable: among 182 qualified pass catchers, he ranked 28th in explosive catch rate (14.4%), ninth in average depth of target (13.9 yards), and tied for seventh in yards per reception (15.3). With the Bears averaging 25.9 points per game (ninth-best) and 369.2 yards per game (sixth-best) in 2025, there's every reason to believe Chicago can crack the top five in both categories in 2026—and Odunze will be a major reason why.
On the ground, keep an eye on Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum. After a quiet rookie season with just 58 carries, Corum saw his workload nearly triple in 2025, rushing 145 times for an impressive 5.1 yards per carry. While teammate Kyren Williams dominated with 259 attempts, Corum's role grew significantly as the season wore on. He averaged just 5.85 carries per game over the first two months, but that number jumped to 10.0 carries per game over his final 13 contests, including the playoffs. With that kind of efficiency and a clear upward trajectory, Corum is positioning himself for an even larger share of the backfield in 2026, making him a potential fantasy steal.