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ESPN's Breakout Fantasy Players include Ryan Tannehill

The NFL season is still months away, but that doesn't mean we can't talk fantasy football. ESPN did just that recently, taking a look at five potential breakout players for fantasy football this season. Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill made the list.

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It's June. The NFL season starts in September. Sounds like the right time to start talking fantasy football. ESPN's KC Joyner took a look recently at five potential breakout players for fantasy football this season. Who could break out this season, and give you the extra points you need to win your fantasy league? Why not Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill?

Joyner thinks that's possible.

If one measures Tannehill on the entirety of his 2012 season, he doesn't hold up well, as he tallied only 171 fantasy points.

If the measurement is done for Weeks 12-16, his prospects start to look a lot better. He posted 77 fantasy points during that five-week period, a total that was tied for 13th among fantasy quarterbacks, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

That type of performance places him into consideration for midrange QB2 status, and that was before the addition of speedy wide receiver Mike Wallace in free agency. The Dolphins are going to go all out to help Wallace get back to his peak levels and justify their big contract expenditure.

Miami also added tight end Dustin Keller and re-signed underrated wideout Brian Hartline, two moves that were key in giving the Dolphins one of the best AFC free-agent grades this offseason.

Mix it all together and Tannehill looks like a low-end QB2/high-end QB3 draft-day prospect who could end up providing a fantasy team with mid- to upper-range QB2 numbers during the season.

That seems about right for Tannehill. He's not someone you can make your top quarterback, but he could end up being a second QB on your roster, filling in for an injury in the season, or waiting for him to gain chemistry with Wallace, Keller, and Brandon Gibson.

Tannehill may be someone to keep an eye on in the middle rounds of your draft.

If you have ESPN Insider, you can see who else made the potential breakout list by checking out the link above.

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