Sometimes it’s hard to get past the damage a player’s injury or poor performance can have on a previous year’s fantasy football campaign. But it’s important to remember that was then, and this is now.
Being able to get past these moments and draft a player who’s a potential value because others have soured on them is a big advantage, and there are plenty of players who are deserving of a second chance.
Fantasy Football Second-Chance Team
Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL)
Things did not go well for Lamar Jackson in 2025, but he still displayed his ceiling early on before injuries started to stack up. In three healthy games, Jackson averaged 240 passing yards per game, the sixth-most in the league. He ranked first in passer rating and added 39.3 rushing yards per game, all coming together to result in 0.90 fantasy points per dropback.
Marginal differences would have made things much rosier, particularly in the red zone, where nothing seemed to click. Due to poor interior guard play, the offensive line allowed a 62% pressure rate, 9% higher than any other quarterback faced in that area, and a 12.5% sack rate.
When Jackson wasn’t getting sacked, he also saw his pass-catchers drop 15.9% of his passes, 2.6% higher than any other quarterback. The Ravens have bolstered their interior with the re-signing of John Simpson, who enjoyed a successful spell with the team in 2023-2024, and spent the 14th overall pick on Olaivavega Ioane to play the other side.
Much is also expected from offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, who has previously gotten the best out of players. Should that happen, along with a fresh breath of air from the coaching staff, Jackson has all the tools to bounce back significantly.
We’re already starting to hear people talk about Jackson hitting a wall, but let’s be real for a minute, he is a 29-year-old two-time MVP, who could have easily had a third. Jackson is multiple rounds cheaper than Josh Allen and has just as high a ceiling.
David Montgomery (RB – HOU)
David Montgomery headed to the Texans for significant draft capital and has very little competition around him.
Woody Marks had a solid rookie season in the NFL and probably wasn’t expected to play as much as he did for a fourth-rounder, but he struggled to create much with Houston’s poor offensive line, ranking 48th among 49 backs with 100+ attempts in yards per carry (3.59). He also ranked 48th in missed tackles forced per attempt and 37th in yards after contact per attempt.
Marks is better suited to a change-of-pace role, and Montgomery has proven that he still has the juice to be a tough runner who can take the majority of touches. Montgomery is a better pass-catcher and a better goal-line back. The only advantage Marks has is youth.
Montgomery should see plenty of touches, and if the Texans are able to get better play from their offensive line and C.J. Stroud, Montgomery can easily be a top-18 running back this year. Montgomery was the RB32 in fantasy points per game last season, but he has the potential to be a top-15 back in 2026.
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)
Chuba Hubbard wasn’t great last season, maybe not even good. And now everyone has thrown him away to hype up Jonathon Brooks, who has 45 total yards and only one college season with more than 30 rush attempts.
The unknown upside is intriguing, but Hubbard still deserves some attention. He was banged up last season and lost work to Rico Dowdle, who was more explosive, but his best work came against poor run defenses, and he struggled elsewhere.
Hubbard had a four-week spell between Weeks 9-12 where he played over 25% of snaps only once, but from Week 13 onwards, he was over 37% five times and saw a 62% snap share in the team’s playoff game.
Dowdle was allowed to move on, and the team has discussed its belief that Hubbard can be a No. 1 RB. His value as a pass protector is massive — something Brooks has minimal experience with in the NFL.
Jaylen Waddle (WR – DEN)
It seemed in 2025, when Tyreek Hill got injured, that Jaylen Waddle was primed for another massive season. Sadly, it wasn’t to be, with him finishing as the WR29 in fantasy points per game. This wasn’t all down to Waddle, though, with Tua Tagovailoa regressing massively.
Tagovailoa ranked 23rd in yards per attempt, 27th in passing yards per game (190), second in interceptions (15) and 32nd in deep throw rate. The Dolphins’ offense regressed so severely that jobs were lost, including those of Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel.
Waddle is now on a team with a more aggressive passer in Bo Nix and in a far more competent offense led by Sean Payton, surrounded by other talent that will help keep the ball moving.
Last season, the Broncos ranked ninth in red-zone passing (58%), compared to Miami, which ranked 22nd (50.7%). That alone could help Waddle bounce back and potentially see him score double-digit touchdowns for the first time in his career.
Terry McLaurin (WR – WSH)
Last year’s fantasy WR37, Terry McLaurin, will be hard-pressed not to do better in 2026. Much of last year’s woes can be put down to injuries to both him and Jayden Daniels.
McLaurin went through an offseason contract standoff and missed plenty of practice time, which, by now, we’ve seen enough examples of to know should make you wary. The last time the tandem of McLaurin and Daniels was healthy — in 2024 — McLaurin had 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns, finishing as the WR7 in PPR formats.
Outside of Chig Okonkwo and third-rounder Antonio Williams, the Commanders did very little to add to their receiving corps, seemingly expecting Brandon Aiyuk to join the team, but that now seems far less likely. McLaurin should head into the season as the undeniable No. 1 WR on a team with a fresh offense thanks to new coordinator David Blough.
It’s hard not to expect McLaurin to have a much better year.
T.J. Hockenson (TE – MIN)
Last season, TJ Hockenson was the TE6 in PPR average draft position (ADP), and now he languishes as the TE23 after a lackluster year for all involved in Minnesota.
Hockenson finished as the TE27, averaging 7.5 points per game, managing a career-low 8.6 yards per game. Much of this, though, can be attributed to the awful quarterback play of J.J. McCarthy, which resulted in the Vikings ranking 28th in offensive expected points added (EPA) per game and scoring the seventh-fewest points per game.
Hockenson was coming off an ACL injury last year, but people still talked themselves into drafting him highly. Now, he gets a substantial quarterback upgrade in Kyler Murray, who will be able to keep the ball moving better, and nobody is interested in him. At 29 years old, Hockenson is a good bet to bounce back if you believe in the coaching ability of Kevin O’Connell.
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