On our newest Fantasy Football Today podcast, we talked about gamers we’re hoping to see rebound in 2026 after they struggled in 2025. Whether due to harm, poor play or simply hoping for a change of surroundings, these are guys we anticipate to get higher subsequent yr.
Three wonderful choices from Heath Cummings have been Lamar Jackson, Justin Jefferson and Terry McLaurin. And, as you may hear within the present, Adam Aizer expects three offenses that struggled in 2025 to get higher in 2026 with Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and the Chargers.
I’ll cowl my guys right here with a bonus in Brock Bowers. As of now, these are all gamers I plan to target in 2026.
BOUNCEBACK CANDIDATES
Jayden Daniels
In 2024, Daniels was the No. 5 Fantasy quarterback as a rookie at 23.9 factors per recreation. His Average Draft Position in 2025 was the No. 4 quarterback, however he struggled with accidents and was restricted to simply seven video games. He additionally averaged solely 18.6 Fantasy factors per recreation. But he averaged 22.4 Fantasy factors in his first 5 outings, and it is easy to see him getting again to a excessive degree in 2026 if he can keep wholesome. He handed for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions in 2024, together with 891 dashing yards and 6 touchdowns. His dashing potential is elite, and the Commanders will hopefully add some expertise within the passing recreation, particularly since Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz are pending free brokers. I like Daniels as a top-five Fantasy quarterback in 2026.
Justin Herbert
Herbert had a strong season in 2025 at 21.8 Fantasy factors per recreation, however I’m hoping he’ll get again to the extent of manufacturing he had within the first two years of his profession when he averaged no less than 26.3 Fantasy factors per recreation over that span. For starters, getting tackles Rashawn Slater (knee), who missed all the season, and Joe Alt (ankle), who was restricted to six video games, again wholesome for a full yr can be enormous. With Alt wholesome, Herbert averaged 25.1 Fantasy factors per recreation in 2025. Along with a wholesome offensive line, Herbert ought to profit with the addition of latest offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who helped Tua Tagovailoa lead the NFL in passing yards in 2023. This may very well be an enormous season for Herbert in 2026, and he has top-five upside if issues go proper.
Kenneth Walker III
We’ll see how Walker finishes the 2025 marketing campaign since he is taking part in in opposition to New England in Super Bowl LX. But issues are wanting up for Walker in 2026 if he decides to return to Seattle. Zach Charbonnet (ACL) was injured within the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs in opposition to San Francisco, and it is uncertain he’ll be prepared for the beginning of subsequent season. Including the sport in opposition to the 49ers, Walker performed almost three full video games with out Charbonnet in 2025 and averaged 24.9 Fantasy factors over that span. Walker is a free agent this offseason, so we’ll see the place he performs in 2026, however I’m hopeful he returns to the Seahawks. He may very well be price drafting as early as Round 2 within the majority of leagues, relying on how a lot time Charbonnet would possibly miss subsequent yr.
Bucky Irving
In the primary 4 video games of the 2025 season, when Irving was wholesome, he regarded like a star when he averaged 18 PPR factors per recreation. He then missed seven video games due to harm, and he struggled down the stretch by scoring 10.8 PPR factors or much less in every of his remaining 4 outings. Tampa Bay modified offensive coordinators this offseason, with Zac Robinson taking up, and he was simply the play-caller in Atlanta with Bijan Robinson, which is a plus for Irving. Rachaad White can also be an unrestricted free agent and is not anticipated to return, and Sean Tucker is a restricted free agent. Most doubtless, Irving will share touches with Tucker, however I nonetheless have excessive hopes for Irving in 2026. Along with what he did to begin 2025, he additionally closed the 2024 marketing campaign by scoring no less than 16.3 PPR factors in seven of his remaining 9 video games. Depending on what occurs this offseason, I plan to draft Irving no later than Round 3 within the majority of leagues.
Breece Hall
I assumed Hall would wrestle in 2025, and he averaged a career-low 13.1 PPR factors per recreation. He had respectable stats with 243 carries for 1,065 yards and 4 touchdowns and 36 catches for 350 yards and a landing on 48 targets, however we all know he is able to extra. He averaged no less than 15.1 PPR factors per recreation within the first three seasons of his profession, and I can see him getting again to that degree of manufacturing — or higher — in 2026. He’s a free agent this offseason, however Jets normal supervisor Darren Mougey has already stated the crew would really like to retain Hall, whether or not that is on a brand new deal or the franchise tag. Ideally, he would depart the Jets and be a part of a greater offense, particularly with a longtime quarterback, after which we are able to see simply how good Hall actually is in a greater surroundings. But if he stays with the Jets, he can nonetheless be a standout Fantasy choice, and hopefully the crew retains constructing on offense for 2026. I’m prepared to draft Hall as early as Round 3 within the majority of leagues.
CeeDee Lamb
Lamb had the worst Fantasy season of his profession since his rookie marketing campaign when he averaged simply 14.4 PPR factors per recreation in 2025. In 14 video games, he had 75 catches for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns on 117 targets. Lamb was overshadowed by George Pickens, who led Dallas with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns on 137 targets, and he averaged 17.2 PPR factors per recreation. The best path for Lamb to rebound is that if Pickens leaves the Cowboys since he is a free agent, after which Lamb could be a top-three Fantasy receiver within the majority of leagues. But I nonetheless worth Lamb as a top-five Fantasy receiver even when Pickens returns. Dak Prescott nonetheless favors Lamb, who averaged no less than 17.7 PPR factors per recreation in every of the 2 earlier seasons prior to 2025. That’s the extent of manufacturing I’m anticipating for Lamb, and he needs to be a first-round decide in all codecs in 2026.
A.J. Brown
Brown had a down season in 2025 when he averaged simply 15.1 PPR factors per recreation, which was his lowest whole since becoming a member of the Eagles in 2022. But it wasn’t as dangerous as you would possibly suppose. From Weeks 12-17, which incorporates the Fantasy playoffs, Brown averaged 19.8 PPR factors per recreation, which is standout manufacturing. He had 4 video games with no less than 10 targets over that span, and he was again to being the alpha of the passing recreation. The Eagles simply employed Sean Mannion to be their new offensive coordinator, and hopefully that may make Brown comfortable. We do not know if Philadelphia plans to commerce Brown, though that appears unlikely given his contract. I’m nonetheless planning to draft Brown as a borderline No. 1 Fantasy receiver within the majority of leagues if he stays with the Eagles, and I’ll target him as early as Round 3.
Ladd McConkey
McConkey, together with Herbert, ought to profit with the addition of McDaniel because the offensive coordinator, particularly if Keenan Allen leaves as a free agent. McConkey simply had a horrible season in 2025 at 11.7 PPR factors per recreation, which was an enormous drop-off from his 2024 manufacturing when he averaged 15.1 PPR factors. But in 2025, McConkey had 11 video games with no less than six targets, and he averaged 14.2 PPR factors per recreation over that span. McConkey needs to be the No. 1 receiver for McDaniel, who helped Tyreek Hill have consecutive seasons with no less than 119 catches, 1,710 yards, seven touchdowns and 170 targets in Miami in 2022-23. McConkey will not try this, and he’ll compete for targets with Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris and Oronde Gadsden II even when Allen is gone. But I’m excited for McConkey coming into his third season within the NFL, and I might draft him as early as Round 3.
Brock Bowers
Bowers was the No. 2 PPR tight finish final season at 14.7 factors per recreation, however he was far behind Trey McBride, who averaged 18.6. Bowers missed 5 video games due to a knee harm, however he performed damage for three video games after initially getting injured in Week 1. He missed three video games after that and returned in Week 9 in opposition to Jacksonville and scored 43.3 PPR factors. He has the potential to produce like McBride, if not higher, however we nonetheless have questions for Bowers in 2026. We know he’ll have a brand new quarterback (doubtless Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 total decide) and a brand new head coach, and each of these guys ought to characteristic Bowers in 2026. I’m excited to see what occurs in Las Vegas this offseason, and Bowers is price drafting towards the tip of Round 2 or starting of Round 3 in all leagues.
Sam LaPorta
LaPorta missed the ultimate eight video games of the season in 2025 with a again harm, however he is anticipated to be superb for the beginning of 2026. And I just like the addition of latest offensive coordinator Drew Petzing for LaPorta. Petzing was on Cleveland’s offensive employees from 2020-22 (tight ends coach and quarterbacks coach), and the Browns tight ends had a target share of no less than 26.2 % over that span, with Austin Hooper twice being second on the crew in targets. Then, Petzing went to Arizona because the offensive coordinator from 2023-25, and McBride led the Cardinals in targets for three years in a row. Arizona tight ends additionally had a target share of no less than 32.4 % in all three seasons. LaPorta averaged 14.1 PPR factors per recreation as a rookie in 2023 and scored no less than 13.3 PPR factors in six of his remaining seven outings in 2024. He solely averaged 11.9 PPR factors per recreation in 2025 earlier than getting damage, however I plan to draft him as a top-seven Fantasy tight finish with a mid-round decide in all leagues in 2026.
