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NFL stars looking to rebound from a rough 2018
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

NFL stars looking to rebound from a rough 2018

Whether it was due to injury, age or just subpar play, many NFL players are looking to rebound after disappointing 2018 seasons. Here's a look at 25 players hoping to bounce back.

 
1 of 25

Ezekiel Ansah, DE, free agent

Ezekiel Ansah, DE, free agent
Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports Images

Ansah had an injury-plagued year in 2018, likely his last in Detroit. He played only seven games, recording four sacks, and he struggled to find a market as a free agent this offseason due to a shoulder injury.

 
2 of 25

Vic Beasley, DE, Falcons

Vic Beasley, DE, Falcons
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Beasley led the league with 15.5 sacks in 2016, but that production looks more like a fluke after his last two seasons. He had only five sacks in each of the last two seasons and also had just 20 tackles last year as a situational pass rusher. Atlanta desperately needs a rebound from him this year.

 
3 of 25

Randall Cobb, WR, Cowboys

Randall Cobb, WR, Cowboys
Benny Sieu / USA Today Sports Images

At one time Cobb was Aaron Rodgers' top receiver, but he's struggled in Green Bay over the last three years. After playing only nine games due to injuries last season, he signed with the Cowboys to replace Cole Beasley as the team's slot receiver.

 
4 of 25

Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals

Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals
Aaron Doster / USA Today Sports Images

Dalton's last winning season as a starter was 2015. Last year he went 5-6 in 11 starts before a season-ending thumb injury. He also threw 11 interceptions during his time on the field. Bengals fans hope new head coach Zac Taylor can help Dalton take a step forward.

 
5 of 25

Joe Flacco, QB, Broncos

Joe Flacco, QB, Broncos
Mitch Stringer / USA Today Sports Images

The writing was on the wall for Flacco in Baltimore after the team drafted Lamar Jackson. Despite adding several new receivers, Flacco went 4-5 as a starter with just 12 touchdown passes before giving way to Jackson due to a hip injury. Denver traded for Flacco in the offseason, but he's in a similar situation after the Broncos drafted Drew Lock in the second round.

 
6 of 25

Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars

Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

Jacksonville's return for selecting Fournette fourth overall in the 2017 draft hasn't been great thus far. He had more than 1,000 yards rushing in his rookie season but averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. Last season was worse, as he played only eight games mostly due to injuries and had a terrible 3.3 yards per rush attempt. Fournette also had minor legal issues during the offseason.

 
7 of 25

Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons

Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Freeman has struggled to stay healthy over the last two seasons and played only two games last year due to foot and groin injuries. He's still young enough to rebound going into his age 27 season, and the Falcons need him to be healthy after Tevin Coleman left in free agency.

 
8 of 25

Jimmy Graham, TE, Packers

Jimmy Graham, TE, Packers
Jake Roth / USA Today Sports Images

Green Bay expected big things from Graham after signing him last offseason, but he was a relative disappointment with only 636 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Graham deserves credit for gutting out a thumb injury late in the year, but the expectation that he'd replace Jordy Nelson's production didn't come to fruition.

 
9 of 25

A.J. Green, WR, Bengals

A.J. Green, WR, Bengals
Aaron Doster / USA Today Sports Images

Green has missed significant time in two of the last three seasons, sitting out seven games last year due to a toe injury. For the second straight year, Green's production when he did play was also down significantly with only 77 receiving yards per game after averaging at least 80 yards from 2012-2016.

 
10 of 25

Jordan Howard, RB, Eagles

Jordan Howard, RB, Eagles
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Howard made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season with Chicago, rushing for more than 1,300 yards and 5.2 yards per carry. His sophomore season wasn't quite as successful with 1,122 yards rushing and 4.1 yards per attempt. The transition to new head coach Matt Nagy's offense didn't go well last year with just 3.7 yards per carry, and he was shipped off to Philadelphia in the offseason. He could have a tough time finding snaps after the Eagles drafted Miles Sanders.

 
11 of 25

Carlos Hyde, RB, Chiefs

Carlos Hyde, RB, Chiefs
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

Hyde opened last season as Cleveland's starting running back but was traded to the Jaguars to replace the injured Leonard Fournette. Between the two teams, Hyde had only 571 yards rushing (3.3 yards per attempt) after rushing for more than 900 yards in each of the previous two seasons. He enters a great situation this year in Kansas City but will need to earn snaps behind late 2018 breakout Damien Williams.

 
12 of 25

Deion Jones, MLB, Falcons

Deion Jones, MLB, Falcons
Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports Images

Jones is a key part of Atlanta's run defense, but he played only six games last season due to a foot injury. He made the Pro Bowl in 2017 with 138 tackles and is likely to rebound with a healthier 2019.

 
13 of 25

Marvin Jones, WR, Lions

Marvin Jones, WR, Lions
Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports Images

Jones played only nine games last season due to multiple leg injuries after averaging a league-high 18.0 yards per reception in 2017. His per game yardage stats were down significantly when he did play, but Jones will look to rebound under new Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

 
14 of 25

Reshad Jones, S, Dolphins

Reshad Jones, S, Dolphins
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

A two-time Pro Bowler, Jones seemed to fall out of favor in Miami last year. Playing through a shoulder injury, Jones had only 72 tackles in 14 games after recording 122 tackles the previous season. He has a chance to make a strong impression on the team's new coaching staff this season.

 
15 of 25

Case Keenum, QB, Redskins

Case Keenum, QB, Redskins
Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sports Images

Keenum had a breakout year replacing Sam Bradford in Minnesota during the 2017 season, with 22/7 TD/INT and a 67.6 completion rate in 14 games. He couldn't carry that success over to Denver last year, as Keenum went 6-10 with 18/15 TD/INT and was traded to Washington in the offseason. He will have a chance to hold off rookie Dwayne Haskins in the preseason.

 
16 of 25

Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans

Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans
Robert Deutsch / USA Today Sports Images

Mariota regressed in 2017, and the results weren't much better last year while playing through a nerve issue in his arm for much of the season. While his completion rate increased, Mariota averaged only 180.6 passing yards per game with 11/8 TD/INT in 14 contests. The Titans have added Ryan Tannehill in the offseason, who could be a threat to Mariota's job if things continue to go south.

 
17 of 25

Clay Matthews, LB, Rams

Clay Matthews, LB, Rams
Jeff Hanisch / USA Today Sports Images

Matthews had the least productive season of his career as a pass rusher, recording only 3.5 sacks in 16 games for the Packers. After 10 seasons in Green Bay, Matthews signed with the Rams in the offseason as he tries to prove he has something left at age 33.

 
18 of 25

LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills

LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills
Noah K. Murray / USA Today Sports Images

McCoy had a rough year, with only 514 yards rushing and a terrible 3.2 yards per attempt in 14 games. The Bills added Frank Gore, T.J. Yeldon and rookie Devin Singletary this offseason, who could be threats to McCoy's playing time.

 
19 of 25

Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers

Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers
Jonathan Dyer / USA Today Sports Images

Foot problems have plagued Olsen during the last two seasons. He's played a total of 16 games during those two years and had just 27 catches for 291 yards in nine contests last year. It's been a frustrating go for a tight end who had three straight 1,000 yard seasons from 2014-2016.

 
20 of 25

Marcus Peters, CB, Rams

Marcus Peters, CB, Rams
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

Acquired from Kansas City last offseason, Peters had established himself as one of the league's top cornerbacks and a takeaway machine. That didn't repeat last year, likely due to a calf injury that nagged him for much of the season. L.A. is counting on Peters to produce more this year.

 
21 of 25

Golden Tate, WR, Giants

Golden Tate, WR, Giants
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

Tate was highly productive early last season before Detroit traded him to the Eagles. His performance in Philly wasn't as notable, though he did make some critical catches. After consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, Tate finished with 795 yards receiving in 15 games. He hopes to ease the loss of Odell Beckham Jr. for the Giants this year.

 
22 of 25

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Patriots

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Patriots
Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sports Images

Thomas is out to prove he has something left after a tough 2018 season. He had only 677 yards receiving, his worst production since 2011, playing 15 games between Denver and Houston.

 
23 of 25

Cameron Wake, OLB, Titans

Cameron Wake, OLB, Titans
Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports Images

Wake has been the staple of the Dolphins pass rush since he arrived in 2009, but he started to show his age last season with only six sacks in 14 games. Tennessee signed him to replace Brian Orakpo this offseason and hopes he has something left at age 37.

 
24 of 25

Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles

Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

Wentz was on an MVP pace before tearing his ACL late in 2017, and he missed time recovering from the injury early last season. After his return Wentz wasn't quite the same, particularly his touchdown pass rate, and he had to sit out the final weeks of the season due to a back injury. With Nick Foles gone, the pressure is on Wentz to stay healthy this year.

 
25 of 25

Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers

Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

Winston missed the first three games last season due to a suspension and wasn't up to Tampa Bay's expectations in his nine starts, going 3-6 with 14 interceptions in his 11 games played. The Bucs hired Bruce Arians with the hope of revitalizing the former No. 1 overall draft choice.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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