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Sheldon Rankins Predicted for Break Out 2017 Campaign

An injury got his season off to a slow start last year, but big things are expected for the second year defensive tackle.

by Chris Dunnells@dunnellz Aug 8, 2017, 11:13am CDT



Mike Triplett wrote a blurb for ESPN.com predicting the breakout star for the New Orleans Saints in 2017 (no pay wall! yay!). Tripletts pick for the Saints? 2016 First Round Draft Pick Sheldon Rankins.

Even after missing the first portion of the 2016 season, Rankins still had a solid year. In our Year in Review piece earlier this offseason, we day-dreamed about what Rankins’s numbers could look like over a full season: 35 tackles, 7 sacks and 9 QB hits.

With a solid rookie year, a (hopefully) healthy season in 2017, and an increase in playing time due to the absence of the aforementioned Fairley and another year in the system, Rankins is a solid safe-money bet for a breakout in 2017.

On the offensive side of the ball, look for TE Coby Fleener to have a breakout of his own in 2017. After a lackluster first year in New Orleans and chemistry between Fleener and Drew Brees not developing as quickly as everyone had hoped, Fleener is primed for an increase in targets after the Brandin Cooks trade for the Patriots.

Other honorable mentions for breakout 2017 years: RB Adrian Peterson, DE Alex Okafor, DE/LB Hau’oli Kikaha, WR Willie Snead and OL Andrus Peat.

In the ESPN piece, predicted breakouts in the NFC South: DT Grady Jarrett (Falcons), WR Devin Funchess (Panthers), and LB Kwon Alexander (Buccaneers).

hagan714

last year was a break out so lets try a different approach

Seer1

FIFY

K Major

For me, not having the production of Nick will hurt. Hopefully one of the younger guys (Rankins included) develop quicker than any of us expects. We need some luck to go our way for a change.

Wildcard here is Coach Nielson.