It’s important to identify who to trade for in dynasty fantasy football leagues, but it’s pivotal to know the right time to make the dynasty trade. The end of an NFL season often presents a great buying opportunity. While there are obvious candidates that will be coveted by dynasty managers, these players are often more difficult or expensive to acquire. Buying low often doesn’t feel great, as the player can have real questions surrounding their future performance. However, this is what makes it a buy-low situation and an opportunity for real profit. On a recent dynasty podcast we explored 12 bounceback candidates for 2026 that present great dynasty trade targets for managers early in the NFL offseason.
- 2026 NFL Draft Guide
- Best Fantasy Football Tools
- 2026 NFL Mock Drafts
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
Dynasty Bounceback Candidates to Target
Dynasty managers love a clean storyline: breakout or bust, up or down, buy or sell. Real life is messier. This podcast hit the sweet spot: players whose 2025 felt disappointing (or downright chaotic), but whose talent, role, or situation still screams “bounce-back” in 2026.
Below is one consolidated cheat sheet covering potential buy-low opportunities and bounceback candidates for dynasty managers.
Chiefs: The post-Travis Kelce (TE – KC) target tree and the Xavier Worthy (WR – KC) bet
The case for Xavier Worthy (WR – KC) is simple: we already saw a ceiling stretch, and he’s still 22 with first-round juice. The pushback is also simple: Rashee Rice (WR – KC) exists, and Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC) health is at least a storyline after the knee injury mentioned on the show.
If Travis Kelce (TE – KC) is truly gone, the middle of the field and “easy button” targets have to land somewhere. Worthy probably isn’t a pure volume hog, but he doesn’t need to be. He needs a cleaner weekly role and a few more high-value looks. If Rashee Rice (WR – KC) winds up facing a suspension, Worthy’s range of outcomes gets a lot more fun.
Vikings: Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) as the easiest rebound call in dynasty
The show basically treated Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) as the poster child for “the outlier year.” The QB carousel was brutal: JJ McCarthy (QB – MIN), then Carson Wentz (QB – MIN), then Max Brosmer (QB – MIN), then back again. That kind of instability wrecks timing, red-zone rhythm, and weekly consistency even for elite players.
Jefferson’s rebound doesn’t require a magical outcome. It just requires competence and continuity. Even a modest step forward from JJ McCarthy (QB – MIN) is enough to pull Jefferson back into the top-tier fantasy WR conversation.
Texans: C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU) and the offensive line accountability test
The pro-Stroud argument wasn’t “he’s blameless.” It was “the environment has been a tire fire.”
The bounce-back hinges on Houston putting real resources into protection. And if the weapon room stabilizes, there’s enough juice to get Stroud back to “prolific passer” territory, especially with Tank Dell (WR – HOU) expected back and Christian Kirk (WR – HOU) flashing late.
49ers: Why Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF) is the sneaky upside play
The pitch on Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF) was less “he stunk” and more “he couldn’t stay healthy.” The dynasty angle is really about available targets and who’s left standing.
- Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF) as effectively done in San Francisco
- Jauan Jennings (WR – SF) as not an alpha and potentially gone
- George Kittle (TE – SF) coming off a late Achilles tear
- Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF) as the other obvious target funne
If Pearsall stays on the field, 2026 has a realistic path to “target magnet” usage, not just splash plays.
Jaguars: The Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAX) rebound is tied to one uncomfortable question
The show’s friction point was real: do you trust Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAX) with Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX)? The argument against Jacksonville was that Lawrence has historically leaned slot/TE, with examples like:
- Christian Kirk (WR – JAX) (slot production)
- Evan Engram (TE – JAX) (heavy targets)
- Parker Washington (WR – JAX) (late-season emergence)
But the “bounce-back” case for Thomas leaned on health and context:
- ankle issues
- learning a new offense
- a suddenly crowded room with Jakobi Meyers (WR – JAX) and rookie usage chatter around Travis Hunter (WR – JAX)
- Trade speculation included teams like Buffalo, plus a tongue-in-cheek idea involving Keon Coleman (WR – BUF).
Packers: Why Matthew Golden (WR – GB) is the classic “nothing went right, but the talent’s fine” buy
The core thesis: Matthew Golden (WR – GB) didn’t faceplant because he’s bad. He faceplanted because he didn’t get enough chances. A playoff flash matters in dynasty because it often previews next year’s usage.
Running backs: “bust” doesn’t always mean bad
Commanders backfield value
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS) got the “perception vs reality” treatment. He wasn’t crowned the starter, but the efficiency notes were strong, and the runway looks clearer if the team doesn’t heavily invest at RB.
Seahawks injury wrinkle
- Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA) was discussed through the lens of ACL recovery and what it means for Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA) (free agency angle).
Panthers rebound thesis
- Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR) was framed as “injury + role confusion + the Rico Dowdle (RB – CAR) heater.” Carolina also drafted Trevor Etienne (RB – CAR), and Jonathan Brooks (RB – CAR) was mentioned as a possible return.
Bucs: the Bucky Irving (RB – TB) skill didn’t vanish
- The bet is that injuries (and the mental grind around them) dragged down efficiency, not talent. Red-zone usage with Sean Tucker (RB – TB) and touches alongside Rachaad White (RB – TB) were part of the explanation.
Chargers: Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC) and the “Harbaugh ball” ceiling
The show’s stance: Hampton’s 2025 context was ugly (injury + terrible run blocking), but the 2026 thesis is volume. A possible Arthur Smith (OC – LAC) pairing with Jim Harbaugh was floated as the ultimate “run it 40 times” scenario. Kamani Vidal (RB – LAC) was also mentioned as late-season competition.
Ravens: Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL) as the “if anyone is discounting him, just buy” answer
The argument was basically: injuries and line chaos tanked the year, and that won’t be priced correctly in dynasty.
Dynasty Trade Targets & Takeaways
- Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) is the cleanest “buy the dip” elite asset: QB stability alone gets you most of the rebound.
- C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU) is the high-volatility dynasty buy: if Houston fixes protection, you get a major value swing.
- Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF) has the clearest path to a target spike if the 49ers’ depth chart turns over the way the show expects.
- Xavier Worthy (WR – KC) is a bet on talent + structural opportunity if Travis Kelce (TE – KC) exits and/or Rashee Rice (WR – KC) misses time.
- Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAX) is the “talent vs environment” dilemma: his ceiling rises dramatically if his situation changes.
- Matthew Golden (WR – GB) is a classic Year-2 value play if snaps/targets open up.
- Bucky Irving (RB – TB) and Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR) are the type of RB buys that help contenders without costing you premium dynasty capital.
- Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC) is the upside hammer if the Chargers lean even harder into the run in 2026.
- Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL) is the easiest “if the market flinches, punish it” buy among QBs.
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