2016 Fantasy Football Breakout Candidate: Eric Ebron

TE Eric Ebron | Detroit Lions | 3rd Year

2015 Stats: 47 receptions for 537 yards, 5 TD

After a highly disappointing rookie season in 2014 (25 catches for 248 yards and one touchdown), Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron basically doubled his catch and yardage production last season. He also missed two games, after missing three contests during his rookie season, but Ebron has an opportunity in front of him heading into a make-or-break third season.

Calvin Johnson’s retirement has left a significant void in the Lions’ passing game. To be precise, 88 receptions (on 149 targets) for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns from last year are gone. Marvin Jones was signed in free agency to help things, and Golden Tate will pick up some extra opportunities, but depending on how you feel about running back Theo Reddick (99 targets in 2015) Ebron is either third of fourth in line for targets from Matthew Stafford.

Ebron only has 15 red zone targets over his first two seasons, but at 6-foot-4 he looks like a viable weapon in that area of the field. Johnson, as could be expected, is also leaving behind 18 red zone targets from 2015 and he averaged 1.2 red zone targets per game he played from 2008-20015.

Via Fantasy Pros.com, Ebron is currently the 17th tight end being drafted at No. 175 overall. Durability has to be a bit of a concern, and it’s reasonable to expect a missed game or two that hopefully won’t come at a bad time. But Ebron has legit potential to finish as a top-10 fantasy tight end this year, and if his current draft position holds up he’s also a potential steal.

2016 Projection: 57 receptions for 630 yards, 6 TD

Breakout Percentage: 65%

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