ones to watch
- rising starsEmerging promising talents
- breakoutSudden escape from restraint
- promisingShowing signs of success
- emergingComing into view
- talentInborn aptitude
spotlight · buzz · potential · newcomers · breakout stars · phenoms · prodigies · up-and-coming · radar · next big thing · contenders · dark horses · rookies · tipped · predicted · sleepers · underdogs · trending
future potential/relevance
ones to watchhas-beens
Former notables past relevance
yesterday's news · washed up · over the hill · on the way out · washed-up
attention worthiness
ones to watchnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
nonentities · beneath notice · not worth mentioning · also-rans · forgettable
establishment status
ones to watchold guard
Conservative faction within organization
known quantities · veterans · incumbents · mainstays · stalwarts