{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/fantasy_football_sleepers.jpg","caption":"

Every year we see several players make the jump to NFL stardom, and finding those guys in your fantasy football draft is crucial to winning your league's championship.

These players are often found in the middle to later rounds of fantasy drafts, and they include rookies, players primed for a sophomore leap and veterans eager to take advantage of a great opportunity on a new team.

Which players are poised to become household fantasy football names next season? Check out our list of the top 10 candidates.

Photo via USA TODAY Sports

"},{"index":3,"title":"Drew Lock, QB, Broncos","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13850325_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 15-16
Projected stats: 4,100 yards, 26 TD, 13 INT

Lock played quite well as a starter (4-1 record, 7 TD, 3 INT) in the last quarter of the 2019 season, and expectations are high entering his sophomore campaign. Denver did well to bolster Lock's passing attack in the 2020 NFL Draft, highlighted by the selection of Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy with the No. 15 pick. Jeudy, fellow wide receiver Courtland Sutton and second-year tight end Noah Fant give Lock a solid foundation to work with in Year 2.

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"},{"index":5,"title":"Calvin Ridley, WR, Falcons","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13767793_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 4-5
Projected stats: 89 receptions, 1,200 yards, 9 TD

Ridley missed three games last year due to injury and still put up good stats. Julio Jones remains the best wide receiver in Atlanta, but he's also 31 years old. If Ridley is going to be Atlanta's top pass-catcher in the near future, this is the year to make significant progress toward that goal. Ridley also benefits from having a prolific passer in Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan targeting him. If healthy, Ridley should set career highs across the board.

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"},{"index":7,"title":"Devin Singletary, RB, Bills","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13872135_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 3-4
Projected stats: 1,100 yards, 6 TD

Singletary ranked among the best rookie running backs in 2019 and is ready to break out as the primary player at the postion in Buffalo following veteran Frank Gore's departure in free agency. Singletary also benefits from a very good offensive line and an improved Bills passing attack. He needs to score more touchdowns -- only two rushing TDs in 2019 -- to be a top-tier fantasy football running back, but he should get those goal-line chances right from the start next season.

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"},{"index":9,"title":"Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Panthers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13881278_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 14-16
Projected stats: 3,900 yards, 23 TD, 9 INT

Bridgewater went 5-0 as a starter for the New Orleans Saints last season after Drew Brees went down with an injury. The veteran QB has another opportunity to start, and he should take full advantage of an offense led by elite running back Christian McCaffrey. Bridgewater also is among the most accurate passers in the league, both in terms of his low interception totals and high completion percentages.

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"},{"index":11,"title":"John Ross III, WR, Bengals","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13365888_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 13-14
Projected stats: 60 receptions, 900 yards, 7 TD

Ross played well last year but was hampered by injuries. There's no question Ross has a ton of talent -- there's a reason why Cincy took him with the No. 9 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He's fast, he runs great routes, he's able to win 50-50 balls against defensive backs, etc. Health is, and might always be, the key to Ross establishing himself a star player. Another positive factor in Ross' chances of breaking out center around the arrival of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow to the Bengals offense. Burrow's ability to make any kind of throw, especially deep down the field, should be a huge help for the speedy wide receiver.

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"},{"index":13,"title":"Sony Michel, RB, Patriots","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13695763_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 6-7
Projected stats: 1,175 rushing yards, 9 TD

Sony Michel, and the Patriots' rushing attack as a whole, had a disappointing 2019 season, but there are reasons for optimism entering 2020. For starters, the team's offensive line should be healthier, and the return of center David Andrews (missed all of 2019 due to blood clots) should be a tremendous boost to the unit. Dan Vitale was signed to play fullback, a position of great importance in the Patriots' run game that was lacking when James Develin suffered a season-ending injury early in the 2019 campaign. Michel also has shown plenty of potential in two pro seasons, most notably his rookie year when he ran for 336 yards and six touchdowns through three playoff games en route to a Super Bowl LIII win.

Free-agent quarterback signing Cam Newton could cut into Michel's carries, but Newton's threat to run also could open up more rushing lanes for the third-year running back.

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"},{"index":15,"title":"O.J. Howard, TE, Buccaneers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13824120_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 10-11
Projected stats: 55 receptions, 900 yards, 7 TD

Fantasy owners have been waiting for Howard to break out for a few years now, and we might finally see it in 2020 thanks to the arrival of Tom Brady as the Buccaneers' new quarterback. Howard has all the physical talent and measurables to be a top-tier tight end. Now, he's got to put in the work with Brady and develop a strong chemistry. The tight end depth chart in Tampa Bay is crowded with Cameron Brate and Rob Gronkowski also competing for Brady's passes, but there's no question Howard is among the top breakout candidates. He should consistently find favorable matchups while opposing defenses focus the majority of their efforts slowing down wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

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"},{"index":17,"title":"Terry McLaurin, WR, Redskins","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13799453_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 6-7
Projected stats: 80 receptions, 1,200 yards, 9 TD

McLaurin had an underrated rookie season despite some awful quarterback play from the Redskins. With former Ohio State teammates Dwayne Haskins now the starter at QB, McLaurin should see even more targets -- well over 100 -- in his sophomore campaign. His speed and Haskins' powerful arm could create some huge plays down field, too.

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"},{"index":19,"title":"Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13850881_133468180_lowres.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 5-6
Projected stats: 4,800 yards, 30 TD, 14

Murray had a strong rookie season after the Cardinals made him the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he's the most popular breakout candidate for 2020. The primary reason for the optimism comes from the Cardinals acquiring elite wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans via trade in March. Hopkins is a top-three wideout in the league and gives Murray a reliable target everywhere on the field. Murray also is a threat to score fantasy points with his legs, and he tallied 544 yards and four touchdowns on the ground as a rookie. His dual-threat skill set could make him a top 10 fantasy QB next season.

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"},{"index":21,"title":"Daniel Jones, QB, Giants","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/10/usatsi_13849984_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

Projected round: 10-11
Projected stats:

The hiring of Jason Garrett to be the Giants' new offensive coordinator could be a huge deal for Jones. Garrett, as Dallas Cowboys head coach over the last 10 seasons, helped develop Tony Romo and Dak Prescott into top-tier quarterbacks, and he has plenty of talent to work with in Jones. The 2019 first-round pick threw just as many touchdown passes as Tom Brady (24) in three fewer games last season, and that total could approach 30 in his sophomore camapaign. Jones has a fantastic running back in Saquon Barkley to target in the passing attack, too. The Giants also fortified their offensive line in a major way during the 2020 NFL Draft by selecting Georgia left tackle Andrew Thomas with the No. 4 overall pick to protect Jones' blindside.

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"}]}

2020 Fantasy Football: 10 breakout candidates to draft at key positions