We're deep into fantasy football draft season, a time when it's easy to look at the positives with players but crucial to consider the negatives. While players such as Jonathan Taylor have all the talent in the world, their team may hold them back from reaching previous career heights.
It's not wise to take players right after they played their best football. It's an unforgiving sport in which year-over-year success is fleeting, making players who recently underwhelmed the real ones to target.
With that in mind, here are four fantasy football stars who could take a step back in 2026.
Jonathan Taylor
Everything went right for the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of the 2025 season. Then things came crashing down and so did Taylor's fantasy production. With
Daniel Jones coming off a torn Achilles, it's doubtful this offense creates fireworks again. And with Taylor being a player who relies on a positive game script, the other running backs in the first-to-second round range are safer targets.
Drake London
London missed some time with a PCL injury last season but was dynamite when healthy. It's not worth trusting him again, however, because of the Atlanta Falcons' quarterback uncertainty. Tua Tagovailoa was so awful that Michael Penix Jr. reportedly won the competition by default, and neither can be trusted to stay healthy.
Trey McBride
The Arizona Cardinals were garbage time kings last season, with Jacoby Brissett turning McBride and Michael Wilson into fantasy football superstars. First-year coach Mike LaFleur seems committed to a more balanced approach that could lead to fewer possessions and passing attempts, however. For that reason, McBride isn't worth taking as high as he's going in drafts.
Cam Skattebo
The New York Giants' bruising running back was one of the most productive players in fantasy when healthy last season, but don't expect the same dominance. New York will prioritize Skattebo's health this season, giving Najee Harris and Tyrone Tracy some of the workload to ensure Skat can play the entire year. A three-man backfield on a bad offense is not conducive to fantasy success.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 4 fantasy football regression candidates, including Jonathan Taylor
