2024 Fantasy Bounce Back Candidates
Another season is about to get underway, and players are looking to return to the grove! Some fantasy players that fantasy managers had high hopes for either didn’t play up to expectations or suffered major injuries that impaired their fantasy production. With a new league year about to start, several players will be looking to “bounce back” and put up fantasy points. I’ve been looking over a few guys that I think have the potential to bounce back from what they finished last year, whether based on average draft positions or overall fantasy finishes.
Bounce’n Back
Justin Herbert, QB – LAC
Justin Herbert was a top 10 drafted quarterback last season, coming off draft boards as the sixth overall quarterback selected. Unfortunately, things would not go his way once the season started. Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams would all miss significant time due to injuries during the season, and even then-new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore couldn’t turn that muck into wine. The Chargers finished the season with the 21st overall-ranked offense. Herbert finished with a 20:7 touchdown touchdown-to-interception ratio and barely cracked 3,100 passing yards. Herbert gave fantasy managers 18 FPPG but ultimately finished as the QB18 in total fantasy points. The Chargers flipped the script all the way around by adding new coaches and players to the offense in 2024. Herbert’s bounce-back season may even come at a discount as his current ADP is the QB15. Herbert could be targeted later in the draft and produce a major upside for those who wait to draft quarterbacks. At a discount and with new weapons and coaches, Herbert has the ideal setup to return to the top of QB finishes for fantasy managers this season.
Kirk Cousins, QB – ATL
Atlanta Falcons’ new quarterback Kirk Cousins is another nominee on this list. Since 2020 when healthy, Cousins has finished as a top 12 quarterback for fantasy football but a torn Achilles cut his 2023 season short. Before the season-ending injury, Cousins averaged nearly 19 fantasy points per game. From weeks 1-8, Cousins was the QB6 before going down the rest of the way because of injury. With even better weapons than the ones he had in Minnesota (sans Justin Jefferson), it’s no wonder that some are calling for Kirk Cousins to come back stronger this year. Cousins is going a few spots later than Justin Herbert at the QB18 spot and I don’t expect that to change much. Cousins is returning from a torn Achilles so the apprehension in taking an older quarterback fresh off an injury is likely baked into his ADP.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB – NE
Rhamondre Stevenson is a running back I see having a bounce-back season after finishing as the RB35 overall. Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a torn ACL which knocked him out of the 2023 season. Granted, the Patriots’ offense was outright stinky last season but there is change in the air. With Mac Jones now in Jacksonville via trade, it’s up to Jacoby Brissett or the new rookie quarterback Drake Maye to lead the offense into its next chapter. Rhamondre Stevenson will still be the driving force behind the Patriots’ ground attack, and even the addition of Antonio Gibson to the backfield isn’t enough to take snaps off of Stevenson’s plate. Stevenson was considered a top 10 running back during the 2023 draft season as the RB9 in ADP but ended up finishing as the RB27 (tied with Zach Moss) in FPPG at 12.1.
Najee Harris, RB – PIT
Steelers’ Najee Harris was also considered a top-10 running back during the 2023 draft season. The Steelers’ offensive inconsistencies in total offense and lack of superb quarterback play throughout the season (and Jaylen Warren forcing a split in work) hampered Harris’s fantasy output. Harris averaged just 11.5 FPPG and had a near-even split in snap percentage with Warren 53% to 48%. Harris is working against the clock as the Steelers didn’t pick up his fifth-year option on his contract so maybe playing in a “contract year” will boost his play. Russell Wilson (another player who could make the bounce-back list) may also help as he slides in as the new quarterback for the black and yellow after being released from the Denver Broncos earlier this offseason. A new quarterback who’s willing to throw the ball downfield and looking for a new contract might be the driving piece to help Najee Harris jump back into the good graces of fantasy managers this year.
Garrett Wilson, WR – NYJ
The New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is one wide receiver a lot of fantasy managers got cheated out of high production last season. Though it wasn’t Wilson’s fault because Aaron Rodgers went down in the first offensive snaps of the game in Week 1 vs. BUF, fantasy managers who invested high draft capital to get him ended up getting a guy who struggled behind poor quarterback play the rest of the way. Wilson averaged 12.5 FPPG and was hard to keep in lineups after being drafted as a top-10 wide receiver as he finished as the WR26. Should Aaron Rodgers return to form, the sky is the limit for Garrett Wilson. Aaron Rodgers has produced great fantasy wide receivers like Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams over the years in fantasy, and the expectation is for Garrett Wilson to assume similar output under Rodgers in the Jets offense.
Jonathan Taylor, RB – IND
Taylor was an overall disappointment last season, dealing with injuries in the offseason and a contract beef with the Colts front office. Taylor showcases why he’s still one of the better running backs in the league once he returns to lineups, topping out as a top-10 back from weeks 7-12 (RB9) and averaging 17 FPPG. Taylor’s RB33 overall finish last season should deter fantasy managers from investing a top pick in a running back who has no opposition in the backfield but should continue to be the focus in the Colts’ run game. Taylor returned to the lineup averaging 4.4 y/a on 169 attempts. Taylor still has the wheels to get the job done and heading into the 2024 draft season, his RB5 ADP reflects the confidence the fantasy community has in Taylor returning to form. Don’t let him pass you by this if you can draft him.
Tee Higgins, WR – CIN
Tee Higgins is another player in a contract year who could perform well this year. Higgins finishing as the WR51 was not expected from a wide receiver in one of the best passing offenses in the league. But you could also factor in the poor play from Joe Burrow to his eventual wrist injury that knocked him out of the regular season. Higgins did pull his weight during the fantasy playoffs if you were bold enough to play him, dropping two huge 20+ fantasy point games in weeks 15 and 16. Higgins is back with the team after signing his franchise tag. Higgins will be playing for a new contract with the Bengals or showcasing his abilities for his next team. Higgins is a solid number with wide receiver one upside should he get that chance. With Joe Burrow returning and looking healthy so far during the Bengals’ offseason program, Higgins could very well return to form.
Cooper Kupp, WR – LAR
Cooper Kupp is no spring chicken and after the season fellow receiver Puka Nacua had last year, Kupp is getting tossed to the wayside. But this is a mistake. Kupp is still a highly targeted wide receiver in the Rams offense with Matthew Stafford throwing the pill. Kupp still commanded a strong target share over his last three games in 2023, averaging nine targets per game (higher than Nacua’s 8.3) and a 20% target share overall. Kupp also crushed it during the fantasy playoffs, dropping 18 FPPG from weeks 13-17. Kupp is coming off of boards a bit cheaper than usual as the WR23 but even as a WR2 for your fantasy teams, if Kupp stays on the field, he’ll be able to get back to a stronger production than a WR40 finish.
Nick Chubb, RB – CLE
Nick Chubb may be a huge take but I’m willing to stand on this one. Chubb went down early in the season last year, finishing outside of the top 50 among running backs for 2023. Why the confidence in Nick Chubb? To begin, Chubb is coming off draft boards as the RB36. While I see why fantasy managers are looking to Jerome Ford, who filled in admirably in Chubb’s absence, Chubb is just a better back even as a pass catcher if they get him the ball. When healthy Nick Chubb is a bona-fide top 20 running back and finished inside the top 15 in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022. Please give me that value all day, every day. Chubb’s status through the rest of the offseason is worth monitoring and he even stated in a recent interview that he’s not putting a timetable on his recovery. It’s also worth noting that Chubb wasn’t seen wearing a brace on the injured knee either. Chubb could be worth keeping in your back pocket.
Mark Andrews, TE – BAL
The new blood is coming into the league with Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid having good rookie seasons but we can’t forget the “old dogs” are still around. Mark Andrews is still one of Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets. Andrews averaged 13.5 FPPG over the 10 games he played before going down last season. Both Andrews and Zay Flowers were neck and neck in targets per game at nearly six a game. From weeks 2-9, Andrews averaged just over 15 FPPG and averaged seven targets per game. Don’t let a shortened season because of injury throw you off the track. Andrews’ role in the Ravens offense is cemented and his ADP reflects it. Should Mark Andrews stay healthy this season and with the amount of work that he garners in the Ravens offense, he’ll be right back to his top 5 fantasy tight end ways this season.
