Fantasy football: Brandon Aiyuk, 4 other wide receivers who break out
By Peter Panacy
Fantasy Football Breakout No. 3: Denzel Mims, Jets
In all honesty, the New York Jets aren’t likely to be very good this season, and there’s a strong chance first-year head coach Robert Saleh has to be patient with Gang Green’s top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, quarterback Zach Wilson.
But fantasy football owners aren’t necessarily concerned with a team’s overall record. They just want production, and there’s a fair reason to assume second-year wideout Denzel Mims breaks out in a big way over the course of the upcoming season.
Mims, who had just 23 receptions for 357 yards and no scores last year on an abysmal Jets offense, should get some reinvigoration under Saleh and his offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur, who’ll help install what’s been a successful 49ers-type passing offense in New York.
While it’s likely veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder winds up getting the bulk of Wilson’s targets, it’s important to note many first-year quarterbacks prefer to go to bigger-bodied pass-catchers.
This is where Mims’ 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame comes into play.
As a large target, Mims could easily become one of Wilson’s favorite receivers in year one, which is a bonus in PPR leagues, and considering Mims’ ADP is 14.10, he classifies as both a sleeper and breakout candidate heading into fantasy draft season.