NFL Season 2015: Derek Carr Leads Top Breakout Candidates
By Erik Lambert
Dec 14, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright (50) at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Not every rookie player tears out of the gate like Odell Beckham Jr. or C.J. Mosley did last season. Usually it takes a year for them to get on track. So who are some names fans can expect to break out in 2015?
QB: Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders)
An honest evaluation says from a pure talent standpoint that the Oakland Raiders got the best quarterback in the 2014 draft. Derek Carr has that rare mix of size, mobility and big arm with the accuracy to deliver at any level of the field. Despite playing on a bad team last year, he still finished with decent numbers and now has an offensive coordinator in Bill Musgrave who has tons of experience developing young quarterbacks. Together with a new weapon in Amari Cooper, Carr seems poised for a big year.
RB: Carlos Hyde (San Francisco 49ers)
Frank Gore has finally relinquished the reins, leaving the running back job squarely in the hands of Carlos Hyde. It was for precisely this moment that the San Francisco 49ers drafted him. He’s got all the tools from the size to the power running style and enough versatility to stay on the field. He produced well in spurts last season, averaging 4.0 yards per carry and scoring four touchdowns on 101 touches. That figures to increase quite a bit under the defensive-minded Jim Tomsula.
Next: WR and TE