12 Bounce-Back Fantasy Football Players to Target in 2026

Aug 11, 2026

12 Bounce-Back Players to Target in 2026

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Taking advantage of your league mates' recency bias is a perennial tradition in the fantasy football world and one I can always get behind. We’re all guilty of associating one bad season with the next regardless of the cause surrounding a player’s dip in production.

Players can underperform for many reasons, including injury, poor system fit, off-the-field issues, or even an early-season fumble that derails their usage. Unless it’s a huge name like Christian McCaffrey, a “bust” player’s draft stock typically takes a hit, allowing us to grab them with some built-in capital. Chasing the upside on these guys with depressed ADPs can have league-winning ramifications, so here’s a look at some bounce-back candidates for the 2026 season.

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Quarterbacks

Jayden Daniels, Commanders (ADP: QB5, 6.04)

As a rookie, Jayden Daniels put up QB6 numbers wth 20.9 fantasy points per contest on the strength of his legs. The Commander QB posted a 148-891-6 rushing line with zero fumbles, second only to Lamar Jackson in total yards and to Josh Allen in rushing touchdowns. However, last year was a different story, mainly due to injury, as Daniels dealt with a knee sprain, hamstring strain, and a dislocated elbow in 2025, with just one legitimate healthy game coming in Week 1, where he ran the ball 11 times on his way to 20.1 fantasy points.

If he can stay on the field (the latest injury to LT Laremy Tunsil doesn't help), Daniels has a revamped set of pass catchers to pair with Terry McLaurin in Stefon Diggs, rookie Antonio Williams, and former Titan TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, plus the addition of Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to reshape the backfield. He's leaving draft boards as the QB5, which seems fair considering the massive rushing potential Daniels comes with.

Kyler Murray, Vikings (ADP: QB17, 11.03)

Let's just forget about 2025 for Kyler Murray, as the Cardinals were a mess, and he only played in five contests before a foot injury, and Arizona shut him down. Murray gets a fresh start for the Vikings, and we can't forget that in 2024 he played the entire season, ending as the overall QB10, QB14 in fantasy points per game. Minnesota has plenty of receiving talent and a solid coaching staff, so outperforming his current value is within the realm of possibility.

Others worth mentioning but you're drafting anyway: Lamar Jackson, Ravens (ADP: QB2, 5.01)