It’s starting to become that time of year again. As we inch closer to August, fantasy football drafts will begin popping up across leagues everywhere. There is no better way to kick off a new season than by identifying potential bounce-back players for 2026.
These are players who underperformed in 2025 compared to expectations or the level of production they showed in previous seasons. Whether it was due to injuries, changing situations, or simply a disappointing year, fantasy managers may be overlooking them heading into draft season. These five players have a strong chance to return to form and provide significant value in 2026 fantasy football drafts.
Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC
2025 Finish: QB11
Our first bounce-back player for 2026 is Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs quarterback obviously has some major question marks surrounding him after suffering a torn ACL late last season. It is fair to wonder whether the injury could impact his play or even cause him to miss games. However, Mahomes has always been known as one of the hardest-working players in the NFL and carries a significant amount of responsibility as one of the faces of the league. Because of that, I have little doubt that he will do everything possible to be on the field for Week 1.
While there is uncertainty surrounding his health, there are also some encouraging signs for Mahomes heading into 2026. Most notably, he has been reunited with former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who was with the Chiefs from 2018 through 2022. Just look at Mahomes’ averages with and without Bieniemy:
| Period Average | Passing Yards | Passing TDs |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Years With Bieniemy | 4,791 | 38.5 |
| 3 Years Without Bieniemy | 3,899 | 25 |
Clearly, Bieniemy played a significant role in Mahomes’ production. His return could help spark a resurgence and push Mahomes back toward the elite fantasy levels we became accustomed to earlier in his career.
Mahomes may also have the best supporting cast he has had in years. The addition of Kenneth Walker gives Kansas City much-needed stability in the backfield. The Chiefs have lacked a consistent rushing threat in recent seasons, and Walker’s presence should help take some pressure off Mahomes and create more opportunities for the passing game.
The hope is that Mahomes gets a full 17 games from Rashee Rice, a productive Travis Kelce, and a healthy Xavier Worthy to lead the receiving corps. If everything breaks right in 2026, Mahomes has a realistic path back into the top five fantasy quarterbacks after failing to reach that mark since 2022.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, CAR
2025 Finish: RB40
We move over to a running back in Chuba Hubbard, who seems to have lost some of his appeal heading into the 2026 season. Hubbard had a breakout campaign in 2024, rushing for over 1,000 yards and finishing as the RB15 in half-PPR formats. The Panthers leaned heavily on him as a bell-cow running back, as they lacked a strong second option in the backfield.
In 2025, Carolina signed Rico Dowdle, and through the first four games, Hubbard remained the clear lead back, averaging 12 fantasy points per game despite not scoring a touchdown during that span. Unfortunately, an injury forced him to miss Weeks 5 and 6, which ultimately derailed much of his season. During Hubbard’s absence, Dowdle took advantage of the opportunity and produced two strong performances, leading to what felt like a split backfield for much of the remainder of the year.
Looking ahead to 2026, Hubbard is expected to be healthy for Week 1. While much of the offseason hype has centered around young running back Jonathon Brooks, it’s still unclear how quickly the Panthers will trust him with a major workload. Carolina may choose to ease Brooks into action and continue relying on the veteran who has already proven he can handle significant touches and remain productive.
The Panthers are also replacing a significant amount of rushing volume after losing a back who handled 231 carries last season. That could leave enough work available for Hubbard to once again approach 200 carries while still allowing Brooks to establish himself. Hubbard should have a strong opportunity to maintain the 1A role in Carolina’s backfield, and with his current draft cost continuing to fall, there is value in betting on a rebound season. If he can reclaim a larger share of the workload, Hubbard has a realistic path back to RB2 production in fantasy football.
Saquon Barkley, RB, PHI
2025 Finish: RB14
Next up is another running back in Saquon Barkley, who finished outside the top 12 RBs last season.
Barkley had plenty of factors working against him entering 2025. He was coming off a massive workload after handling over 350 touches, had to deal with the infamous Madden cover curse, and was being drafted near his absolute ceiling after an RB1 overall season. The Eagles themselves were also a mess for much of the year. Injuries along the offensive line, questionable play-calling, and ongoing issues between the coaching staff all contributed to the offense taking a step backward. We also can’t forget how often Jalen Hurts used the tush push near the goal line, limiting Barkley’s touchdown upside. Looking back, Barkley having a down season in 2025 almost feels obvious.
Entering 2026, Barkley has a strong chance to bounce back. A healthier offensive line alone could go a long way toward helping him return to the dominant form we saw in 2024, when he recorded 11 games with at least 100 rushing yards compared to just three in 2025. He still does not face significant competition for touches, with Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley being the next two men on the depth chart.
It will also be interesting to see what new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion brings to Philadelphia after coming from the Matt LaFleur coaching tree in Green Bay. The Packers have consistently been one of the more run-heavy offenses in the NFL, finishing inside the top seven in rushing attempts in recent seasons. Meanwhile, the Eagles dropped to 11th in rushing attempts during 2025 after ranking inside the top six in each of the previous four years.
We could also see the Eagles rely on Barkley more in the passing game without A.J. Brown on the roster. Considering the discount fantasy managers are getting compared to where he was drafted a year ago, Barkley still possesses RB1 upside even at 29 years old.
Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS
2025 Finish: WR54
One receiver who should be able to bounce back in a big way in 2026 is Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. After a disappointing 2025 season, McLaurin has a strong chance to return to WR2 value for fantasy managers.
Several things worked against McLaurin last season. He dealt with his own injuries, missed valuable offseason time because of a contract dispute, and played only three games alongside star quarterback Jayden Daniels. The contract situation was not resolved until late August, forcing McLaurin to miss a large portion of the offseason.
McLaurin then got off to a slow start and played in only four games through the first 11 weeks of the season. However, he showed that he could still produce once he returned to the lineup. McLaurin surpassed 50 receiving yards in each of his final six games, proving that the veteran receiver still has plenty left in the tank. The 2025 season was also the first time in his career that injuries significantly impacted his availability.
Heading into 2026, both McLaurin and Daniels should be fully healthy, allowing them to recapture the success they had together in 2024. McLaurin produced the best fantasy season of his career during Daniels’ rookie year, finishing with more than 1,000 receiving yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns.
The Commanders also did not add many established weapons around Daniels this offseason outside of third-round rookie Antonio Williams. Washington lost 171 targets from last year’s offense, leaving McLaurin in position to absorb a significant portion of those opportunities. He could easily return to the 130-target range that he reached several times earlier in his career.
Outside of McLaurin, the Commanders’ receiving room consists mostly of young, unproven players and journeymen competing for the WR2 and WR3 roles. That lack of established competition should allow McLaurin to command a massive target share in 2026. With improved health, a full season alongside Daniels and limited competition for targets, McLaurin is in a great position to bounce back as a reliable fantasy WR2.
Mark Andrews, TE, BAL
2025 Finish: TE16
Our final bounce-back player for 2026 is Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews.
Andrews has been on a decline over the last few seasons, seeing only around 70 targets in each of the past three years. However, there is a path for Andrews to bounce back and take on a larger role in the offense in 2026.
One of the biggest factors will be Lamar Jackson‘s health. We are hoping to get a full 17-game season from Jackson after missing games, and he attempted just 302 passes in 2025. In the previous two seasons, Jackson averaged around 470 pass attempts. An increase in passing volume would naturally benefit Andrews and give him a better opportunity to see more targets and production.
Andrews also gets a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle, who comes from the Ben Johnson coaching tree. Doyle spent the second half of last season in Chicago, where the Bears leaned heavily on the tight end position during Colston Loveland‘s breakout campaign. That background could help rejuvenate Andrews’ role within the offense.
If the Ravens’ passing attack gets back on track, Andrews has a realistic path to approaching 100 targets once again. The departure of Isaiah Likely also opens the door for Andrews to reclaim a larger share of the workload. The backup role now belongs to a group of young rookie tight ends who will likely need time to develop, allowing Andrews to remain the primary option at the position.
For fantasy managers looking for a cheaper tight end who still offers legitimate upside and has already proven he can produce at an elite level, Andrews stands out as an intriguing target. Outside of Zay Flowers, Andrews has a strong chance to finish second on the team in targets during 2026, making him one of the better bounce-back candidates at the position.
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on Instagram & Threads | @kuwasemiller.bksy.social on BlueSky)