Every season, fantasy championships are won by managers who buy low at the right time. In early 2026 fantasy baseball drafts, several players are already emerging as classic bounceback or buyback targets — veterans whose price has dropped due to injury, regression, or bad luck rather than declining skill.
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Bounceback Players to Target in 2026 Fantasy Baseball Drafts
Here are the key buyback profiles from our latest fantasy baseball mock draft.
What Is a Buyback Player?
A buyback player:
- Has previously shown elite or near-elite production
- Fell in ADP due to health or context
- Still owns the underlying skills to rebound
These are high-leverage picks when drafted as SP3s, bench bats, or depth starters.
Pitcher Buybacks to Watch
Jacob deGrom
- Velocity adjustments
- Improved pitch mix
- Drafted outside elite SP range
Draft him for innings quality, not volume.
Zac Gallen
- Second-half rebound was real
- Strong underlying metrics
- Drafted as an SP5 instead of SP1/2
This is exactly where buybacks become league-winners.
Shane McClanahan
- Injury-discounted
- Ace-level ceiling
- Minimal opportunity cost at current ADP
If healthy, he breaks drafts.
Hitter Buybacks to Monitor
- Veterans with stable plate discipline
- Players coming off BABIP-driven downturns
- Multi-position hitters whose value rebounds with health
These players don’t need to return to peak form — they just need to beat cost.
Drafting Buybacks the Right Way
Do not:
- Stack multiple buybacks at the same position
- Draft buybacks as cornerstones
Do:
- Pair buybacks with stable floor players
- Treat them as upside amplifiers, not safety nets
