A player having a poor year in the NFL can mean Fantasy football managers avoiding that player in their drafts for an upcoming season. A down year in the NFL can be the result of a wide range of variables such as coaching, game scripts, dips in production, lacking efficiency, low scoring, and other factors but typically is the result of injuries, either to the specific player or teammates that can impact production. Fantasy Football is an emotional game at times, so when a player “hurts” your Fantasy Football team that can mean avoiding that player in the future.
What truly can help your Fantasy Football team, is identifying players who had down years but can swing back up the following year. Take Dak Prescott from 2023 for example. Prescott played just 12 games in 2022 due to injury but bounced back to a huge 2023 season, throwing for 4,516 yards with 36 passing touchdowns which resulted in 20.7 Fantasy PPG (#4 for the position). Another example is Keenan Allen who played just 10 games in 2022 but exploded when healthy in 2023. Allen did miss time again in 2023, but he still managed to earn 150 targets, caught 108 of them for 1,243 yards, scored seven touchdowns, and averaged 21.5 Fantasy PPG (#3).
There are plenty of players who I am optimistic for in 2024, even after a down 2023. These are players that could be values in Fantasy Football drafts this season if people in your league are hesitant to draft them. Get ready for the Fantasy Football bounce-back of these guys below
15 Bounce-Back Players for Fantasy Football in 2024
1. Kyler Murray (QB, Cardinals)
Following an ACL tear in 2022, Kyler Murray would go on to play just eight games in 2023. Through those eight games, Murray averaged 18.9 Fantasy PPG, which marks his fifth straight season in a row averaging at least that for Fantasy Football. In two of his five seasons played, Murray has averaged 22.2 and 24.4. Fantasy PPG ranked in the top four for the position in each of those seasons (2021 and 2020).
Looking ahead to 2024, the Cardinals look like a much different offense. Arizona drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick of this year’s NFL Draft. MHJ checks all of the boxes of a future elite WR1 in the NFL. Trey McBride exploded last season once he commanded the TE1 role for the Cardinals, and his connection to K1 looked great. Michael Wilson will look to build off of his flashes from last year as a third-round rookie. Zay Jones is new in town, and has served as a solid compliment wide receiver through his career. James Conner will likely operate as a workhorse with a solid third-round rookie in Trey Benson behind him. Kyler has the upside of a true dual-threat quarterback, who has a solid set of weapons around him to elevate his Fantasy ceiling in 2024.
You can read more about Kyler Murray in my 4 Darkhorse QB1 Candidates for Fantasy Football in 2024 article
2. Kirk Cousins (QB, Falcons)
In 2023, Kirk Cousins was performing to an MVP level in Weeks 1-8 prior to his Achilles tear. During this span, Cousins ranked #2 in passing yards (2,331), tied for #1 in passing touchdowns (18), #6 in total Fantasy Points (154.9), and #8 in Fantasy PPG (19.4). Cousins has averaged 18+ Fantasy PPG for four straight seasons and was on his way to a huge one prior to his injury.
2024 means a new home in Atlanta, and although Cousins leaves behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson he is not without playmakers with the Falcons. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson present anchor talents for the wide receiver, tight end, and running back positions as former first-round selections by the Falcons. Cousins has displayed plenty of upside through the air, and this entire Atlanta offense should be elevated in 2024 because of that.
You can read more about Kirk Cousins in my 4 Quarterback Sleepers for the 2024 Fantasy Football Season article
3. Mark Andrews (TE, Ravens)
2023 meant only nine full games for Mark Andrews due to injury, but we saw a lot of what we are used to from him in those games played. Andrews finished as a top 12 Fantasy Football tight end in six of those nine games, and a top three Fantasy tight end in three of them. Across the last five seasons (2023-2019), Andrews has averaged 13.5 (#5), 12.7 (#3), 17.7 (#1), 12.2 (#4), and 13.8 (#5) Fantasy PPG. Dominant Fantasy Football tight end resume. Andrews finished 2021 with 154 targets, 107 receptions, and 1,361 receiving yards. Andrews caught 10 touchdowns back in 2019 as well.
Andrews’ resume is not the only encouraging part of his 2024 bounce-back proposal, but also the fact that Lamar Jackson finished 2023 with career-highs in passing attempts (457) and passing yards (3,678). The Jackson-to-Andrews connection has always been one of the best quarterbacks to tight end combinations in the NFL. Even with the emergence of 2023 first-round rookie Zay Flowers, there is still the shot that Andrews is a top-three tight end in 2024 for Fantasy Football.
4. Diontae Johnson (WR, Panthers)
The Steelers passing game in general has been down the last two seasons, which directly correlates to Diontsae Johnson being down for Fantasy Football the last two seasons. Back in 2021, Johnson earned 169 targets, caught 107 of them for 1,161 receiving yards, scored eight touchdowns, and averaged 17.9 Fantasy PPG (#8). Johnson has earned 147, 169, and 144 targets from 2022 back to 2020, proving to be an elite target earner.
Diontae Johnson is now a Carolina Panthers and is the new WR1 for former 2023 first-overall pick, Bryce Young, who was desperate for true #1. Young attempted the 12th most passes in 2023 (527), and Johnson is a candidate for 140+ targets in 2024. We have seen plenty of Fantasy Football production out of DJ, so be ready for it to return this year.
5. Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals)
In 2023, Joe Burrow played in just nine full games due to injury. In the two seasons prior, Burrow passed for 4,527 / 4,611 yards as well as 36 / 34 touchdowns. In these 2022 and 2021 seasons, Burrow finished with 21.7 (#4) Fantasy PPG and 20.5 (#10) Fantasy PPG. We regard Burrow as one of the best talents at the position, but two seasons (2023, 2020) playing just 10 games has caused concern.
Burrow averaged a career-high in passing attempts per game in 2023 with 36.5 and seeing the very average backfield the Bengals have in 2024 those attempts should stay high. The combination of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, one of the league’s best wide receiver duos, will elevate Burrow’s fantasy stock per usual as well. Third-round rookie Jermaine Burton and newcomer tight end Mike Gesicki will be complementary pieces as well in this Bengal’s offense. 2024 should be a lot of what we know from Joe Burrow, when he is at the top of his game.
You can read more about Joe Burrow in my 4 Darkhorse QB1 Candidates for Fantasy Football in 2024 article
6. Deshaun Watson (QB, Browns)
In 2023, Deshaun Watson played just five full games and finished as a top-10 Fantasy quarterback in three of those games. Fantasy scoring is not foreign to Deshaun Watson, but 12 total games played across the last two seasons after not playing at all in 2021 makes people forget. From 2020 back to 2018, Watson averaged 23.5 (#2), 22 (#5), and 21.3 Fantasy PPG. AKA – every full season played has resulted in a top-five season in Fantasy PPG for the position. Watson has a dual-threat resume, with examples being the 4,165 passing yards thrown in 2019 and rushing for 551 yards in 2018.
We saw Fantasy relevance in 2023 through a small window, and we have seen plenty of it in the past for Deshaun Watson. Joe Flacco thrived last season, and although him and Watson are two very different quarterbacks it still shows that the starting quarterback is in a good system. The trio of Amari Cooper, David Njoku and newcomer Jerry Jeudy are a solid supporting cast for Watson to bounce back to being a player in all Fantasy lineups for this coming season.
You can read more about Deshaun Watson in my 4 Quarterback Sleepers for the 2024 Fantasy Football Season article
7. Javonte Williams (RB, Broncos)
Following an ACL tear in 2022, Javonte Williams finished six weeks as a top 24 Fantasy running back in 2023 and caught 47 balls. Back in Williams’ rookie season he finished four weeks as a top 10 Fantasy running back, three weeks with over 20 Fantasy Points, ranked sixth in both evaded tackles and yards created, and finished 22nd in Fantasy PPG.
The Denver backfield is one of the bigger question marks heading into 2024. A lot of people are out on Williams due to a down 2023 season, and typically will not acknowledge him recovering from an ACL tear the year prior. Undrafted 2023 rookie Jaleel McLaughlin flashed some efficiency in 2023 and seems to be the off-season darling of the Fantasy Football community. The Broncos drafted Audric Estime out of Notre Dame in the fifth round, who the coaching staff speaks highly of. Javonte Williams, for me, is the clear RB1 as the only guy who profiles as that heading into 2024. We once regarded Javonte as one of the next big running backs, and people forget the reasons why. Williams can touch the ball 200-250 times in 2024 and be a value in drafts.
You can read more about Williams in my Running Back Sleepers for the 2024 Fantasy Football Season article
8. Christian Watson (WR, Packers)
In 2023, Christian Watson played just nine games but tied for the team lead in targets per game (5.9) and finished 22nd for the position in yards per reception (15.1). Watson capped off his 2023 season with WR13 and WR8 finishes in his last two games. Back in 2022 as a rookie, Watson Weeks 10-13 with Aaron Rodgers finished as the WR3, WR8, WR10, and WR8 during that span displaying receiving yard upside and scoring eight touchdowns.
4,159 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns for Jordan Love in his first season as the starting Packers quarterback is encouraging for the weapons in Green Bay. Watson has shown us upside in both yardage and touchdown scoring but has been held back by health (9 and 14 games played). A full season could mean a season filled with big plays and touchdown opportunities for Watson, who will fight for the WR1 role in 2024.
9. Christian Kirk (WR, Jaguars)
In 2023 Christian Kirk played in 12 games and averaged 7.1 targets, 65.6 receptions, and 12.5 Fantasy PPG. This comes after his career-best season in 2022 where Kirk earned 133 targets, caught 84 of them for 1,108 receiving yards, scored eight touchdowns, and averaged 14.2 (#18) Fantasy PPG. Life after Arizona in Jacksonville for Kirk has looked solid when he is on the field.
Calvin Ridley vacates 136 targets in 2024 which will be up for grabs. Evan Engram just had a career year in 2023, and the Jaguars selected Brian Thomas Jr. out of LSU in the first-round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but Kirk’s role should be solidified. There is a clear connection with Trevor Lawrence. Kirk provides a safe FLEX option for Fantasy managers as a reliable slot outlet, and should be back in your lineups for 2024.
10. Cooper Kupp (WR, Rams)
The last two seasons have not been ideal for Cooper Kupp, playing in just 12 and 9 games. Especially after the triple-crown 2021 season where Kupp earned 191 targets, caught 145 of them for 1,947 receiving yards, scored 16 touchdowns, and averaged 25.9 Fantasy PPG (#1). In 2023, Kupp averaged 7.9 targets, 4.9 receptions, 61.4 receiving yards, and 13.7 Fantasy Points (#23) per game.
Matthew Stafford indicated just recently that both Kupp and 2023 superstar Puka Nacua would be fed in 2024. If you look at the targets in weeks that both of these Rams wide receivers played (below), the signs point in that direction which would support a Fantasy Football bounce-back for the veteran.
2023 Season
Target numbers the weeks BOTH Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua played a majority (60%+) of the snaps pic.twitter.com/j9dSR1MaMo
— Skrip (@P2WFantasy) May 29, 2024
11. Jaylen Waddle (WR, Dolphins)
Jaylen Waddle played in 14 games in 2023 and averaged 14.2 Fantasy PPG which ranked 21. Not a bad year, but a down one when looking at Waddle’s previous two seasons where he averaged 15.3 (#12) in 2022 and 15.4 (#15) in 2021 per game. Waddle finished #13 in yards per target in 2023 but finished #1 in the metric in 2022 (11.7) along with #1 in yards per reception (18.1). In 2022, Waddle produced heavy receiving yards with 1,356 which shows he has that in his bag.
Tyreek Hill had a monster 2023 season, but even operating as the WR2 could mean big things for Waddle in 2024 with the passing upside in Miami. Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards with 4,624 yards and checked a ton of efficiency and accuracy boxes last year. The Hill and Waddle combination is one of the best in the NFL, and both of these guys can explode for Fantasy Football in 2024 across a full season.
12. Mike Williams (WR, Jets)
You can read more about Mike Williams in my Wide Receiver Sleepers for the 2024 Fantasy Football Season article
13. Najee Harris (RB, Steelers)
In 2023 Najee Harris finished 30th in Fantasy PPG for the position (11.5 PPG), which as a whole seems not super useful. Weeks 11-18 following the firing of the Steelers’ offensive coordinator though, Harris ranked fourth in rushing yards (571) during this span, and during the Fantasy Football playoffs (Weeks 16-18) Harris scored the third most Fantasy Points. With the change in Pittsburgh, came a much more productive Najee Harris. Harris has rushed for over 1,000 yards now for three straight seasons.
This off-season the Steelers added not one but two upgrades to the quarterback position in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers also added much-needed offensive linemen via the first, second, and fourth rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. 2024 is a contract year for Najee Harris, and if he picks up where he left off from last season we can see another top 15-20 Fantasy season for him for the position.
14. Terry McLaurin (WR, Commanders)
In 2023 Terry McLaurin finished 34th in Fantasy PPG for the position after finishing inside the top 30 Fantasy wide receivers in the four straight seasons prior. McLaurin has finished four straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and has earned 130+ targets in three of those four seasons. McLaurin has averaged 13.5 Fantasy PPG in three of his five total seasons.
An improved coaching staff along with drafting 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft are two supporting factors in McLaurin’s favor. Improvements to this offense general, with the chance Daniels is a stud in the NFL, makes McLaurin as obvious bounce-back candidate as the WR1 in Washington.
15. Jonathan Taylor (RB, Colts)
You can read more about Jonathon Taylor in my 6 Darkhorse RB1 Candidates for Fantasy Football in 2024 article.
There are only 3 RB's I would rather roster in Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues over Jonathan Taylor.
Missing time, recency bias and hype for other players of the same position can impact values. People have forgotten that Taylor is an elite RB
Via sportsreference, Jonathan… pic.twitter.com/z5V9ufdphB
— Skrip (@P2WFantasy) March 9, 2024
Which bounce-back players are you targeting in your fantasy football drafts? Drop some names in the comments below and then make sure to check out our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.