The fantasy football season is off to a fast start and with Peyton Manning already on pace for over 100 touchdowns, owners are looking for breakout players that can help them the rest of the way this year and after Week 1 there are a number of options, including Jordan Cameron, Brian Hartline, Jerome Simpson and Joique Bell, who all broke out in their first games.
Cameron was looked at as a prime fantasy football sleeper coming into the season and he delivered on that potential despite the Browns losing to the Dolphins on Sunday. Cameron was targeted 13 times by Brandon Weeden and that already is a good sign with Norv Turner running the offense, as the last time he had a tight end with a basketball background, he made Antonio Gates into a solid fantasy and NFL option for the Chargers. Now with the Browns, Turner can use Cameron in similar sets and it's clear that head coach Rob Chudzinski wants him to get in on the action.
Cameron finished the game with nine receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Dolphins and he should be looked at as a very solid receiving option at tight end for the rest of the season. The Browns did not sign a new tight end after letting Benjamin Watson leave as a free agent and the athletic ability of Cameron makes him a prime scoring target as well, something that is very valuable in fantasy. Cameron is even more valuable early in the season, as Josh Gordon is out for two games with a suspension and should become a big play threat when he returns.
Making Cameron and interesting starting option is the fact that he is playing the Ravens next. While Baltimore likely won't look as bad as they did against the Broncos, they did give up over 100 yards to TE Julius Thomas and Cameron could be the next big one to put up numbers in Week 2. Thomas was also considered a fantasy breakout candidate in 2013 and he delivered on that big time as well on Thursday against the Ravens, making five catches for 110 yards and catching two of Manning's seven touchdowns and now he looks like a prime starter in fantasy as well.
Thomas was targeted seven times in the game and even though the team has two other tight ends in Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme, Thomas may now be the main starting option, as he has more athletic ability and is younger than both players. From here on out he should be considered a strong start and with Manning always liking to use his tight ends, like Dallas Clark in Indy, Thomas could be a surprise top 10 player at his position by the end of the year and so can Cameron.
Brian Hartline, Jerome Simpson and Joique Bell also added some production on Sunday, with Hartline making nine catches in the game for 114 yards and a score, out shadowing big free agent signing Mike Wallace. Simpson also had a nice day and Bell still put up numbers despite Reggie Bush having a big day, a welcome sign after he made five catches for 67 yards and scoring two rushing touchdowns.
