Five NFL players primed for breakout seasons in 2023

Seemingly every year there are Geno Smith- or Jonathan Taylor-type players who come out of nowhere to put up head-turning numbers and establish themselves as legitimate Pro Bow-caliber players.

Here are five players to watch in 2023 who could have breakout seasons:

Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears

Herbert rushed for 731 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per carry last year, and he had just 70 fewer yards and one fewer touchdown than 2022 starter David Montgomery despite having 72 fewer carries. 

The 25-year-old tailback forced 47 missed tackles in two seasons, per Pro Football Focus, and his elusiveness and ability to change direction should pay off in spades if he gets the lion’s share of carries ahead of D’Onta Foreman, Travis Homer and Roschon Johnson. Herbert reached double-digit carries just six times last year, but if he’s a true 20-carry-per-game back next year, he should have no problem topping 1,000 yards, and he could even finish in the top 10 in rushing.

Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings

With Dalvin Cook out of the picture, there’s seemingly nothing holding Mattison back except himself. He’s never had more than 134 carries in any of his four seasons, but head coach Kevin O’Connell recently expressed confidence in Mattison to handle starting duties, stating the 25-year-old has shown glimpses of being a “three-down back.”

Mattison ran for 430 yards or more in each of his first three seasons while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. If Minnesota gives him the same workload it gave Cook as the lead back, then there may not be much of a drop-off in the run game, if any at all.

George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Although he finished with just 52 receptions for 801 yards and four touchdowns, Pickens showed flashes during his rookie season of Odell Beckham Jr.-like potential. He averaged 15.4 yards per reception and he established himself as a reliable, chain-moving option in the pass game.