The NFL season did not go according to plan for plenty of players last season but the 2024-25 campaign offers fresh opportunities for everyone in the league.
Legends are returning from injury and there are players who were unable to perform with the players around them that will be desperate to make their mark this season.
Whether they can stop the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes from claiming a third consecutive Super Bowl is a different question, but there are certainly plenty of names to keep an eye on.
Read on as we identify five bounceback candidates ahead of the NFL curtain-raiser.
📰 Table Of Contents
Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets)
New York Jets’ star quarterback missed the entire 2023-24 season after tearing his Achilles on Week 1 having moved from the Green Bay Packers that year.
He makes this list as we have not really seen what he can do on the East Coast yet and his last campaign in Green Bay was nothing to get excited about.
Importantly for him, the Jets have made some swift additions this summer.
Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Morgan Moses and draft pick No.11 Olumuyiwa Fashanu will all act as offensive weapons for the 40-year-old.
Whether Rodgers has it in him to lead the Jets to a first Super Bowl since 1969 is another question, but he will be looking to overcome speculation that he is not fit for the NFL anymore.
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Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers)
Josh Jacobs was not bad for the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
He scored six touchdowns in 13 games and scored 1,101 yards, but it was a drop-off from the season before that.
Now at the Green Bay Packers, Jacobs will be hoping to slot straight in to a much better offence.
Two years ago, he led the NFL when it came to rushing yards with 1,653.
And as part of a team who are ranking 16 spots higher in terms of offence than the Raiders, there is space for Jacobs to thrive in his best form again.
Josh Jacobs is guaranteed double digit touchdowns this year:
🏈 2020: 12 TD
🏈 2021: 9 TD
🏈 2022: 12 TD
🏈 2023: 6 TD
🏈 2024: ??? pic.twitter.com/As19dA4gsU— NFL on DAZN (@NFLonDAZN) August 27, 2024
Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)
The Arizona Cardinals missed Kyler Murray for the best part of half a season in 2023-24.
But when he returned, Murray looked sharp and clocked over 500 rushing yards and six scores.
And with a full pre-season now under his belt, he can put his strong arm and fast legs to good use as the Cardinals push for the play-offs.
He will have No.4 pick Marvin Harrison Jr. as part of his offensive line, which could quickly turn into a deadly duo.
As a fantasy football favourite and exciting player to watch, it is certainly bounceback territory for the 27-year-old.
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Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams)
Cooper Kupp has missed 13 games across the last two seasons with injuries, severely impacting the Los Angeles Rams’ runs.
The emergence of Puka Nacua in the last 12 months has softened the blow of the wide receiver being less available, but he will undoubtedly be fired up for his return.
Kupp was able to compete with and match Robert Woods with over 1,100 yards in 2019, proving the Rams can handle having two star wide men.
Matthew Stafford will certainly be delighted to have a full fit Kupp by his side, as he looks to lead thje Rams to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2022.
The former triple crown winner is one to keep an eye on this season.
Back in 2019 @CooperKupp was on another level when he had 220 receiving yards in Wembley Stadium 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/zCJvi0ajxg
— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2024
Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts)
Jonathan Taylor is entering his fifth year in the NFL and has a point to prove with the Indianapolis Colts.
The 25-year-old was THE star in 2021, rushing for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Since then, it has not been anywhere near as good as that.
Taylor has onlyt managed 1,602 rushing yards since then and 11 touchdowns from 21 games.
Repeated ankle injuries and a thumb injury have prevented him from getting any momentum into his game.
But with fresh motivation in his mind for 2024-25, Taylor will be determined to replicate his numbers from three years ago.
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