3 Second-Year NFL Breakouts to Target in DFS Pick’em This Season

A rookie season in the NFL doesn’t always go according to plan. Although some college stars or overlooked draft picks can take the league by storm, others might require a year to find their footing.

For established Pick’em Daily Fantasy Sports players, these second-year players frequently become value picks. Thanks to lackluster Year 1 performances, projection lines should be set lower, which means a sophomore player can potentially be a good option if they can bounce back.

Thanks to accessibility and welcome offers such as an Underdog promo code, the mode is poised to increase in popularity once again. For new or returning players who want to gain an edge when the NFL season begins, here are three candidates who could be worth targeting.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Although Ashton Jeanty made a promising start to his rookie season, his production dropped off in the second half of the year. Across the first nine games, he managed four touchdowns and 547 rushing yards, statistics which dropped to one TD and 428 yards in games 10 to 17.

That sluggish end to the season could weigh on platforms when setting projection lines, but a lot is going in Jeanty’s favor heading into Year 2. Klint Kubiak employed a run-heavy offense in Seattle, while he also helped transform the Seahawks’ offensive line. Fans should see a similar scheme in Las Vegas from their new head coach, and the Raiders have added Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and Spencer Burford at guard, which should improve their blocking, thereby benefiting Jeanty’s production.

He is also a prime target for combined rushing and receiving lines. Jeanty had at least five targets in eight games last season, as he recorded 346 receiving yards, including 40+ in four games. Kubiak utilized screen passes to Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in Seattle, so the 22-year-old’s receiving projections offer a secondary avenue for Pick’em players.

Cam Ward, QB, Tennessee Titans

The 2025 number-one overall pick didn’t exactly have a bad season, managing 15 touchdowns for 3,169 yards on a struggling Tennessee team, but it wasn’t a statistically great year for Cam Ward. Finishing 28th for QBR, he was sacked 55 times in his rookie season, which could mean platforms open the season with conservative passing projections for the quarterback.

Should that be the case, there are multiple reasons to target “Higher” on his Pick’em line. For one, he’s got more weapons – the Titans brought in Wan’Dale Robinson in the offseason and then drafted Carnell Tate, two players who should provide a greater threat downfield.

Then there’s the change to the coaching staff. Brian Daboll’s appointment as offensive coordinator is a huge positive, and head coach Robert Saleh will hope that the OC can impact Ward in a similar way to Josh Allen in Buffalo. That, plus a year of acclimating to the speed of the NFL, should see Ward’s passing numbers improve drastically.

Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers

Wide receivers can often make the biggest jumps in Year 2 as they learn the nuances of NFL route running. There are a few options for Pick’em players, but none could be more tempting than Matthew Golden.

Green Bay’s wide receiver didn’t exactly make a splash as a rookie, recording just 361 receiving yards from 29 receptions and no touchdowns in the regular season. Those low totals should mean low receiving yard lines, which would make him an enticing target as he is likely to be targeted more following Romeo Doubs’ departure.

Golden gave fans a glimpse of what he might offer the Packers in Year 2 during their Wild Card loss to the Bears. He recorded 84 yards on four receptions (averaging 21 yards per catch) and scored his first career touchdown. That playoff performance points to a major Year 2 leap at Lambeau Field, making him a prime candidate to clear his weekly receiving projections.