8 Bounce-Back Players to Target in Fantasy Drafts

Aug 11, 2020

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It’s difficult to be successful at fantasy football by constantly looking into the rearview mirror. What would happen if you drive your automobile from one destination to the next constantly looking into the rearview instead of looking ahead? You’d be in a collision sooner rather than later. A poor fantasy season is not indicative of a player’s future outcome. Let’s take a look at eight players who are well-positioned to bounce back in 2020 and provide serious value in your fantasy football draft.

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Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers, Colts

Rivers’s statistical production last season was up and down like the S&P 500. He averaged 37 pass attempts, 288.4 passing yards, 1.4 passing touchdowns, 1.25 interceptions, and 18 fantasy points per game. Rivers ranked 23rd in FantasyData’s True Passer rating advanced metric. This quarterback rating factors out unpressured throwaways and dropped passes. He finished the 2018 season with the sixth-highest True Passer rating (101.7). Rivers was constantly under duress last season with the Chargers which negatively impacted his production. The only other quarterbacks who averaged more interceptable passes per game than Rivers last season (2.2) were Andy Dalton (2.5), Kyle Allen (2.6), and Jameis Winston (3.1). This is not a list of quarterbacks you want to be associated with. Rivers, however, did accumulate a high number of passing air yards (2,490) last season and finished sixth in deep-ball passing attempts (75).

Frank Reich on Philip Rivers:

“As long as he thinks he has a chance to win, he’s throwing the ball down the field. And when other quarterbacks might be taking check downs, he’s trying to make chunk plays.”https://t.co/964bGow92S

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) August 8, 2020

Rivers is now reunited with Colts head coach Frank Reich and will be protected behind the team’s stout offensive line. The unit ranked seventh in pass protection, according to Football Outsiders. Rivers has averaged nearly 272 passing yards and 20 fantasy points per game from 2008 to 2018 with positive passing fantasy points over expectation. Tom Brady (396.4), Peyton Manning (364), Drew Brees (306), and Brett Favre (290) are the only quarterbacks that have scored over 290 fantasy points during their age 38 seasons. Rivers is well-positioned to join this list with the offensive weapons he has in Indianapolis. He has top-10 upside and is an excellent late-round quarterback target in drafts.

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

All signs this offseason suggest Roethlisberger rehab from his season-ending elbow injury is going very well. The perception is that the 38-year old quarterback is injury prone. The reality is that before last season Roethlisberger hadn’t missed games with an injury since 2016. The Steelers offense was a dumpster fire with him under center as they finished 27th in points per game and 30th in total yards.

Footage of Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey (pulling a 🔥🔥🔥 move by practicing in sunglasses. Respect) and Eric Ebron from today’s workout at Heinz.

📽: Alec Balenciaga/Steelers pic.twitter.com/8SpmnxQp4a

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 4, 2020

It’s difficult to fade Roethlisberger given his statistical body of work and the skill position players surrounding him. From 2014–2018 he’s averaged nearly 39 pass attempts, 302.6 passing yards, 337 air yards, and 22 fantasy points per game. It shouldn’t surprise you if Roethlisberger finishes well inside the top-10 in 2020.