Fantasy Football 2026 Bounce-Back Players Experts Love (Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Brian Thomas Jr.)

Not every disappointing season tells the full story. Injuries, bad luck, and shifting roles can sink a player’s value one year and create a buying opportunity the next. Our experts highlight fantasy football bounce-back players for 2026 who underperformed in 2025 but have the talent, usage, and situation to deliver at a discount.

Players Who Deserve A Second Chance

Which player deserves a second chance in 2026 despite a disappointing 2025?

Brock Bowers (TE – LV)

“Do not discount the talent of Brock Bowers after a disappointing 2025. After a 2024 that saw Bowers smash the rookie receptions and most yards by a rookie tight end records, Bowers crashed back down to earth. Injuries are partially to blame for Bowers’ slip in production, but the Raiders were hopeless in 2025, period. Now, factor in a fully healthy Bowers that is finally getting a quarterback? Yes, please. Fernando Mendoza will be the Raiders’ pick at number one overall in this month’s draft, and his assignment will be simple: Get Bowers the ball. If there is any situation where Bowers possibly slips in drafts, even at a top-25 cost, it will be worth the choice in 2026.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV)

“Despite a first-round ADP in most 2025 leagues, Las Vegas Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty finished as a lackluster RB16 on a points-per-game basis (14.4). The good news is that he played in all 17 games – three of which were top-five performances – boosting his overall finish to RB11. Much of that is to blame on a lackluster Chip Kelly-called offense, poor quarterback play, and an offensive line that afforded Jeanty the 62nd-best run block rating among the position. Even when facing these hurdles, Jeanty had the seventh-most yards created (1,122). Now, he gets an upgraded offensive line with OT Kolton Miller returning from injury and C Tyler Lindembaum signing in free agency. The former Baltimore Raven is a perfect fit for a Klint Kubiak-designed offense where you need an athletic center to pull and a high-IQ player to help make checks at the line. The floor remains steady, and with Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza likely joining the fold in April, Jeanty’s RB1 ceiling will officially be unlocked.”
– Seth Woolcock (FantasyPros)

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAC)

“Brian Thomas Jr. might get a second chance via trade, but even if he remains in Jacksonville, we should bet on a bounce-back year. Despite missing three games, Thomas still led Jacksonville in intended air yards. He also saw 56 targets at 10 or more yards downfield, just five fewer than his rookie year despite missing three games. The usage is there, the talent is there, so the numbers should follow.”
– Ryan McCrystal (Sharp Football Analysis)