Every year, there are players that exceed expectations and have a huge season. It could be a move to a new team, an increased role, or a young player elevating their game to a new level.

Getting a breakout on a fantasy basketball team can pay big dividends. Here are some players that could break out this season.

Breakout Guards for Fantasy Basketball 2024

Cam Thomas (BKN): The Nets are rebuilding and will be an awful team. Thomas will be unleashing a lot of shots with one of the top usage rates in the NBA. The offense runs through Thomas. Volume won’t be an issue and he'll be scoring often. The shooting percentage might not be ideal. Thomas, in 31.4 minutes per game last season, averaged 22.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.2 threes, while shooting 44.2% from the field. Down the stretch, he became more of a playmaker and started to get more assists. He shot 86% from the free-throw line. 

Immanuel Quickley (TOR): Once Quickley was traded from the Knicks last season, he took over the point guard role in Toronto and shined in a starting role. There were glimpses of what he can do in New York and he showed why he is a starting point guard in the NBA. In 38 games with Toronto, Quickley averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 three-pointers, and 0.9 steals and shot 84.1% from the foul line in 33.3 minutes per game. Some of that came without Scottie Barnes, but Quickley still put up good numbers with Barnes on the floor. Quickley can help in most categories outside of shooting percentage and blocks. The Raptors showed their faith in him by signing him to a five-year, $175 million contract.

Keyonte George (UTA): George spent most of the first half coming off the bench in his rookie year. The second-year guard started more in the second half and played well. After the All-Star break over 25 games, George averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 three-pointers. He only shot 39.2% from the field, but went 90% from the foul line. George is expected to start at point guard and is a good playmaker. Opportunity is important in fantasy and George will have it this year. If he can improve his shooting from the field, it will help him take a big step up.

Scoot Henderson (POR): Henderson will be the starting point guard to open the season. His rookie season wasn’t ideal and the shooting percentage will determine if he can have a breakout season, but the ADP isn’t high and is worth the shot and can fit a build in a head-to-head build of punting field goal percentage. Henderson didn’t do much in the first half last season, but finished his rookie season strong. In the final seven games of the season, the 20-year-old averaged 19.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 2.9 three-pointers, and 1.1 steals and shot 41.7% from the field and had the same percentage from beyond the arc.

Breakout Forwards for Fantasy Basketball 2024

RJ Barrett (TOR): Barrett enters his seventh year in the NBA and is only 24 years old. After being traded from the Knicks midseason last year, Barrett flourished in Toronto. He averaged 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 three-pointers, and shot 55.3% from the field. It will be difficult to maintain that efficiency, but the Raptors will rely on Barrett to be a big piece of the offense.

Bilal Coulibaly (WAS): Coulibaly put on 10 pounds since the end of last season and helped France win a silver medal in the Summer Olympics. His rookie season ended in March due to a wrist fracture. He admitted feeling awkward on the court and feels comfortable after one season in the NBA. Coulibaly is expected to initiate the offense more. He averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, one three-pointer, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks and shot 34% from three-point range last season.

Evan Mobley (CLE): Mobley has the skills and talent to take his game to a higher level. The Cavaliers believe it after giving Mobley a five-year, $224 million extension. Mobley is 23 years old and with Kenny Atkinson taking over as coach, it can help Mobley improve. When Atkinson coached the Nets, the team played fast and shot a lot of three-pointers. If Mobley takes a few more threes, it can help the leap after Mobley improved to 37.9% last season from beyond the arc. Atkinson has said he wants more shots from Mobley. After playing 69 and 79 games in his first two seasons, Mobley was limited to 50 games last season after he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in December. He was limited when coming back from the injury and missed nine games in March with an ankle injury. The third overall pick in 2021 averaged 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1,4 blocks, 0.9 steals, and shot 57.9% from the field and averaged 30.6 minutes per game last year.

Jalen Johnson (ATL): Johnson had a mini-breakout last season, but was limited to 56 games due to wrist and ankle injuries. Johnson barely contributed in his first 92 games through his first two seasons before becoming a key player for the Hawks. He averaged 16 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks, and shot 51.1 % from the field. The stats will take another jump. Johnson turns 23 in December and will be asked to do more with the departure of Dejounte Murray. Johnson can help in all categories outside of free throw percentage, but he only averaged 2.6 free throws last season. The usage rate was 19.1% last season and will uptick significantly.

Breakout Centers for Fantasy Basketball 2024

Jalen Duren (DET): Duren enters his third year in the NBA and doesn’t turn 21 until December. The 6-foot-10 center improved last season, averaging 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 blocks, shot 61.9% from the field, and improved at the foul line going from 61.1% as a rookie to 79% last season. J.B. Bickerstaff takes over as coach and it’s possible Duren sees an increase in minutes to the mid-30s after averaging 29.1 minutes last season. Increasing the blocked shots will be key.

Dereck Lively (DAL): It doesn’t take long watching Lively to figure out he has a fantasy-friendly game. When it mattered most in the postseason, Lively played at a high level. Even if Daniel Gafford remains the starter, Lively will see more minutes and fill up the box score. In 55 games, he averaged 23.5 minutes, 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.1 steals and shot 74.7% from the field. When Lively played at least 30 minutes last season, he averaged 14.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.

More 2024 Fantasy Basketball Analysis