15 Players Who Could Break Out in 2015

Around this time every year, sports fans can’t help but think about what lies ahead and what players are going to shine. After all, wild speculation is at the heart of pretty much every fan debate. Often in these sorts of conversations, fans take the safe route when projecting how the next year is going to go. While it’s easy to say that LeBron James or Kevin Durant are going to win the NBA MVP, or that Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady will be among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, there’s also not a whole lot of skill in that argument.

The truly informed fan doesn’t just look at the present—he or she can look at a player and see into the future, envisioning the growth and development that can take that player to the next level. Whether it’s an unknown bursting onto the scene, a young player realizing his potential, or a very good player becoming a star, a small number of athletes step their games up every year and announce their presence to the entire sports-watching world.

With the new year underway, it’s time to think about who we’re going to be talking about 365 days from now. Here are 15 Players Who Could Break Out in 2015.

It looked like Manny Machado was on the cusp of superstardom when he made the 2013 All-Star team and won a Gold Glove for his work at third base. However, a freak knee dislocation in September of 2013 ended his season just before the playoffs, and he did not fully recover until May 2014. In August—after playing in just 82 games all year—he partially tore a ligament in his other knee, requiring another season-ending surgery. Now fully healthy as he heads into 2015, Machado figures to take the next step in his career and finally blossom into the perennial MVP candidate he seems destined to become. At just 22 years old, his best days are clearly ahead of him.

A highly touted prospect whose offense has sometimes lagged behind expectations, Eric Hosmer looked like he was blossoming into the power-hitting corner infielder the Royals had dreamed of during Kansas City’s run to the World Series. After posting a .716 OPS during the regular season (and a .747 mark for his career), Hosmer exploded in the postseason and put up a .983 OPS over his 15 games played. Like Machado, Hosmer has youth on his side as well; he only just turned 25 years old, meaning that he still has a couple seasons before he even hits his prime. After his strong postseason performance, though, he appears ready to make the leap into the top echelon of MLB first basemen.

The Rays’ Alex Cobb hit a career high in starts and innings pitched in 2014, showing no ill effects after a scary 2013 incident in which he was drilled in the head with a line drive and missed about two months. In particular, Cobb’s finish to last season was outstanding; over his final 15 starts, the 27-year-old posted a 1.86 ERA and struck out 88 hitters in 97.0 innings. While the Rays may struggle in 2015 in the tough AL East, as long as he can stay healthy, Cobb is primed to contend for the league’s Cy Young award.

While the Dolphins fell short of the playoffs yet again this year, the play of third-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill was a major reason for hope. Initially a wide receiver in college, Tannehill continued his evolution into a well-rounded QB as he set career highs in completions (392), passing yards (4045), touchdown passes (27), and quarterback rating (92.8), as well as a career low in interceptions (12). He even used his legs effectively, setting a career high in rushing yards too. Tannehill’s decision-making ability under center continues to improve with every season, and it would not be a surprise to see him finally get the Dolphins over the hump and into the playoffs.

A year ago at this time, practically nobody had heard of Jamie Collins. Really, there wasn’t much reason to; the rookie linebacker barely played until injuries forced him into a starting role late in the season. However, after an outstanding performance in the Patriots’ playoff win over the Colts, people began to take notice. He made another leap this year, recording 115 total tackles, 4.0 sacks, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles as he moved into the starting outside linebacker spot. A freak athlete who, despite his 250 pound frame, can cover wide receivers like a cornerback, the 24-year-old Collins figures to continue to refine and develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber player heading into the future.

It’s funny how a bad pro day can totally change everything about what we think about a player. Despite a fantastic college career at Louisville, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater plummeted in the NFL draft after a poor showing at what was supposed to be his skill showcase. Originally forecasted to be possibly the top QB taken in the draft, he dropped all the way down to No. 32, where the Vikings happily snatched him up. Their faith in the rookie was rewarded, as Bridgewater showed in his 13 starts that he is more than capable of being a quality NFL quarterback. His mature decision-making and excellent accuracy (64.4 completion percentage this year) will translate into a big season next year after a full offseason of workouts and further indoctrination into the offense.

Though his first three NBA seasons, Jimmy Butler has been a defensive stopper and a very effective, high-minutes type of player. As we hit 2015, though, the soon-to-be free agent has become something else: a dominant scorer. The 2014-15 season has been all Jimmy, as the shooting guard has reaped the benefits of Derrick Rose’s return to the lineup and is scoring almost 22 points per game while shooting a career-best 48.3 percent from the field. While he’s also playing an unsustainably high number of minutes per game (40.0 as of Jan. 15), Butler has proven that he can handle a high workload while still playing at a very high level. The 25-year-old figures to continue his amazing run as he makes a push towards this summer, when he’ll undoubtedly get a max-level contract from somebody.

The “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most wildly entertaining 12.0 points-per-game scorers in NBA history. He’s 20 years old, plays shooting guard, and stands 7’ 0” tall. He has flourished under new coach Jason Kidd, running the length of the floor in just a few steps and finishing a number of breathtaking breaks at the rim. His game is still very much a work in progress, but his incredible blend of size and athleticism along with his youth makes him a prospect that is going to rise meteorically over the next year.

With the trade of Rajon Rondo a few weeks ago, the Celtics sent a message that they are firmly behind Marcus Smart, the No. 6 overall pick in last year’s draft. A combo guard who has already shown his signature tenacity and excellent defensive acumen, Smart is now getting a chance to show what he can do on the offensive end. After battling injuries through the first month of the season, Smart has shown flashes of his high ceiling; in a double-overtime loss to the Wizards, he poured in 23 points and looked at times like the Celtics’ best player on the floor. With his newfound increased level of responsibility, he’ll use 2015 to cement his status as a future franchise cornerstone.

2014 was certainly good to Deandre Yedlin, who parlayed his outstanding performance at the World Cup (especially against Belgium) into an offer from Barclays Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. A team desperately in need of defenders, Tottenham has summoned Yedlin with an eye towards potentially using him this season as they attempt to return to the top four of the Premier League. The lightning-quick, offensive-minded Yedlin is just 21 years old and figures to be a dynamic force on the right side of Tottenham’s back line, and could become huge in North London if he can fulfill the promise that he showed when lined up for Team USA against the world’s best this past summer in Brazil.

It has already been a breakout season for David De Gea, who has emerged as an absolute force in the net for Manchester United. After fighting inconsistency early in his career, the 24-year-old Spaniard is in absolute peak form and looks to be one of the top goalkeepers in the world. Not only does he figure to be the favorite for the 2015 Goalkeeper of the Season award in the Premier League, but he is also mounting an increasingly unassailable campaign to displace captain Iker Casillas as the first choice goalkeeper for Spain’s national team during Euro 2016 qualifying.

Nick Chubb entered the 2014 season with few (if any) expectations placed upon him. Todd Gurley was the star, and Chubb was merely an anonymous backup. After Gurley was suspended and later injured, however, Chubb rattled off eight consecutive 100-plus yard rushing performances—including 266 yards in the Belk Bowl—to close out the season. The sophomore running back will now carry the burden of expectations heading into 2015, but he will also have a full season in which to show what he can do.

While TCU ended up on the outside looking in at the first-ever college football playoff, quarterback Trevone Boykin appears poised to make sure that doesn’t happen again next season. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 after throwing for 3901 yards and 33 touchdowns and running for 707 yards and 8 TDs, some felt before the season that playing quarterback might not even be in Boykin’s future. Next season, you can expect him to make the leap into the Heisman conversation all season long (he finished fourth in voting this year but was not considered a finalist) and to take home many major individual awards.

Heading into this season, everyone expected Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor to be a beast. But this good, this fast? No way. Okafor has been absolutely dominant thus far, and as conference play gets going, he figures to cement himself as the surefire No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft. He’s already averaging 19.5 points per game this season on a crazy 68.2 shooting percentage, and while it will be tough to improve on those numbers in ACC play, it’s impossible to ignore his incredible ability to get it done in the blocks. Expect to only hear more and more about this guy in 2015.

Some feel that 18-year-old Emmanuel Mudiay should be the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, and given the point guard’s breathtaking talent it isn’t hard to see why. Indeed, a big reason why Mudiay’s name does not resonate as much as some of his fellow prospects is likely because he isn’t playing college basketball; after academic issues rendered him unable to play for Larry Brown at SMU, Mudiay decided to sign a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. Those who have seen him have said that his performance has been worthy of the hype, and prior to suffering an ankle injury in November that he is currently rehabbing, Mudiay was posting terrific averages of 17.7 points, six rebounds and six assists per game.