10 NFL players who could break out in 2021

Joe Burrow's season was unfortunately cut short by injury
Joe Burrow's season was unfortunately cut short by injury

#6 Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins took a gamble on Tua Tagovailoa and it seems to be paying off

Miami Dolphins would select quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with their fifth pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Tua would suffer a horrific injury in his last season at Alabama. This injury would scare off a lot of NFL teams but the Dolphins felt good about Tua.

Tua Tagovailoas Career Stats at Alabama:

  • Completion Percentage: 69.3%
  • Passing yards: 7,442 yards
  • Touchdowns: 87
  • Interceptions: 11

Tua would also contribute to the Alabama rushing attack recording 340 rushing yards nine touchdowns on 107 attempts. Tagovailoa would make a big splash when he entered the National Championship game against Georgia and fired the game winning touchdown. He would continue that success throughout his time in Alabama which led to the Miami Dolphins wanting him to be their franchise quarterback even after the injury.


Tua Tagovailoas NFL Rookie Season

Tua Tagovailoa would make his first start of the 2020 NFL Season against the Los Angeles Rams. The former Alabama quarterback would only pass for 93 yards in his debut but he led the Dolphins to a 28-17 victory over the Rams. This was one of the greatest days in Tua's life as he completed something that no one thought would be done after his injury. He started an NFL game.

Tua would lead the Miami Dolphins on a three game winning streak. During that winning streak he would not record a single interception in those three games. He would start his NFL career with five straight starts without throwing an interception.

Tua Tagovailoas 2020 NFL Season Stats:

  • Completion Percentage: 64.1%
  • Passing yards: 1,814 yards
  • Touchdowns: 11
  • Interceptions: 5

Tua would take it a step further to prove to the Miami Dolphins that they made the right move by picking him. He would rush for 109 yards and 3 touchdowns on 36 carries. Tua's injury has not impacted his play in the NFL and the Miami Dolphins are starting to look like geniuses for selecting him.

Tua Tagovailoa will most likely start the beginning of the 2021 NFL Season for the Miami Dolphins. He has more than half a season under his belt and improved in each start that he made. Miami Dolphins' rookie quarterback will have a breakout 2021 NFL Season and should lead the Dolphins to the NFL Playoffs.


#5 J.K. Dobbins (Baltimore Ravens)

Wild Card Round - Baltimore Ravens v Tennessee Titans
Wild Card Round - Baltimore Ravens v Tennessee Titans

J.K. Dobbins has put together a great rookie season in the NFL

Baltimore Ravens would select running back J.K. Dobbins with their 55th pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Dobbins would spend three years at Ohio State before leaving after his junior year to enter the NFL Draft. J.K. Dobbins would be dominant in all three years at running back for the Buckeyes.

J.K. Dobbins Career Stats at Ohio State:

  • Rushing attempts: 725
  • Rushing yards: 4,459 yards
  • Touchdowns: 38

Dobbins would add the Ohio State Buckeyes passing game catching 71 passes for 645 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He would record over 1,000 rushing yards in all three seasons with the Buckeyes. Dobbins would have his best season in his junior year rushing for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns on 301 attempts.


J.K. Dobbins NFL Rookie Season

J.K. Dobbins would play in 15 of the 16 games in his rookie season for the Baltimore Ravens. Dobbins has made it clear that he is in Baltimore to compete to be the main running back. He has done a great job stepping in for veteran running back Mark Ingram II.

J.K. Dobbins 2020 NFL Season Stats:

  • Rushing attempts: 134
  • Rushing yards: 805 yards
  • Touchdowns: 9

Dobbins would fall short of 1,000 yards rushing in his rookie year. Missing the 1,000 yard mark by 195 rushing yards. He would finish the 2020 NFL season behind Lamar Jackson.

J.K. Dobbins would record his best rushing game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 of the 2020 NFL Season. He would record 160 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Dobbins would finish third in rushing yards by rookies in the 2020 NFL season. He would only trail James Robinson and Jonathan Taylor, who both went over 1,000 yards rushing.

In the 2021 NFL Season we could see J.K. Dobbins' work load increase. He has done enough work in the 2020 NFL Season to show that he should start over Mark Ingram II. Either way the Baltimore Ravens have a scary rushing attack with Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram II and J.K. Dobbins.

Dobbins would score his first career NFL Playoff rushing touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the NFL Wild Card Playoff game. The former Ohio State Buckeyes running back will have a good opportunity to have a break out year in the 2021 NFL Season.

Quick Links