Fantasy Football Sleepers 2026

Anyone can draft the obvious stars.

Winning fantasy managers find the upside plays before they break out.

We’ve been digging through the data and studying the tape to identify this year’s hidden values.

Here are eight 2026 fantasy football sleepers who could smash their draft price.

Jump to:

• Kyler Murray
• Tyler Shough
• Jordan Mason
• De'Zhaun Stribling
• Rashid Shaheed
• Jalen McMillan
• Dalton Kincaid
• Isaiah Likely

Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Murray is a late add to our Sleepers list. Frankly, we expected his price to climb out of sleeper range once he was named Minnesota's starter.

That hasn't happened. Murray's ADP is still sitting in Round 12. That's a ridiculous price that makes him the best QB value in fantasy drafts.

The Resume Says QB1. The Price Says QB2.

Murray is priced well below his floor at a QB18 ADP. Prior to last season, when he played just 5 games, he’d never finished worse than QB12 in fantasy points per game.

Here were his finishes over his first 6 seasons:

• 2019: 11th
• 2020: 4th
• 2021: 5th
• 2022: 10th
• 2023: 11th
• 2024: 12th

Murray ranks seventh among active QBs in career fantasy points per game.

Yet he’s QB18 in ADP. Despite being in potentially the best situation of his career.

Kevin O’Connell Has Been a QB Kingmaker

Before last year’s J.J. McCarthy disaster, Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell oversaw some of the league’s most efficient passing games. Here’s where Minnesota ranked in yards per pass attempt and TD rate over O’Connell’s first three seasons:

Minnesota finished third, fifth, and fifth in QB passing points over those three seasons (omitting rushing production).

Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold handled most of those snaps. But O’Connell also coaxed big fantasy performances out of Nick Mullens and Josh Dobbs.

Murray is certainly a better passer than Mullens and Dobbs. And even if you'd take Cousins or Darnold over him as passers, neither offers Murray’s rushing upside.

Rushing Production Boosts The Ceiling

Murray’s 36.7 career rushing yards per game rank seventh among active QBs. He’s hit at least 30 rushing yards per game in all seven NFL seasons.

The production hasn’t slowed, either. Murray’s 34.6 rushing yards per game last year were the third-most of his career, and his 6.0 yards per carry sat right at his career average.

Thirty rushing yards a week is a cheat code at QB18. It gives Murray a scoring floor most mid-round QBs cannot match.

Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints

Shough only made nine starts as a rookie last season. But the fantasy returns were promising.

He finished 12th among QBs in fantasy points per game over those nine outings, flashing efficiency as a passer and sneaky rushing skills.

A deeper dive into the underlying metrics and Shough’s 2026 setup makes him a prime sleeper candidate.

Three Reasons To Buy In

Several factors from Shough's limited rookie-year sample point toward potential fantasy upside this season.

• Efficient passing. Shough ranked near the top third of the league in several key passing metrics.
• Sneaky rushing production. His mobility added meaningful fantasy value.
• An elite offensive environment. The Saints are led by HC Kellen Moore, one of the NFL’s most fantasy-friendly play-callers.

That lays a strong foundation for Shough’s fantasy value, with room to grow in Year 2.

Shough Was Better Than You Think

Shough quietly put together an efficient passing profile in his limited rookie action.

Among 42 QBs with 150+ pass attempts last year, he ranked:

• 11th in completion rate
• 12th in adjusted completion rate
• 13th in yards per attempt
• 17th in Pro Football Focus passing grade

Strong numbers for a rookie QB, especially considering he was surrounded by a subpar supporting cast.

Sneaky Rushing Ability Adds Fantasy Upside

Shough also contributed with his legs.

His 174 rushing yards over his nine starts ranked 12th among QBs. And 61 of those yards came on designed runs, the fourth-most among QBs during that span. That means the Saints were specifically designing plays to take advantage of Shough’s ability.

Shough also scored three rushing TDs on 3.9 expected TDs, third-most among QBs over those nine games.

That type of rushing usage can vault Shough’s fantasy ceiling.

Kellen Moore Has Boosted Fantasy QBs

Shough also benefits from playing in one of the NFL’s most fantasy-friendly offensive systems.

HC Kellen Moore’s offenses consistently rank near the top of the league in pace (seconds per snap) and plays.

Last year’s Saints finished first in pace and 11th in plays per game. Moore’s offenses have now ranked top-4 in pace and top-8 in plays in six of his seven seasons as an OC or HC.

That combination of tempo and play volume creates more opportunities for fantasy production. And that's helped Moore’s QBs deliver strong fantasy results.

QB Finishes Under Kellen Moore (Points Per Game)

Better Weapons, Better Protection

Shough’s supporting cast was just OK last season. The Saints ranked 19th in PFF pass-blocking grades and 20th in receiving grades.

WR Chris Olave was excellent, and TE Juwan Johnson was a pleasant surprise. But WRs Devaughn Vele and Kevin Austin were the No. 3 and 4 targets across Shough's nine starts.

Help has arrived this offseason.

The Saints tapped into the free-agent market to add RB Travis Etienne and G David Edwards.

Etienne has averaged 42 catches and 335 receiving yards per season for his career, giving Shough another capable outlet in the passing game.

Edwards ranked 14th among 63 qualifying guards in PFF pass-blocking grades last season and should help stabilize the interior offensive line.

The biggest addition came with the eighth overall pick of the draft. WR Jordyn Tyson is coming off a highly productive college career, averaging 69.2 yards and 0.7 TDs per game. He lit up the early stages of training camp.

Unfortunately, Tyson suffered a hamstring injury in mid-August that will cost him at least the first four games of the season. If he can get healthy, though, Tyson would join Olave to give Shough a high-upside WR tandem.

Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Mason Deserves More Work

Mason played behind Aaron Jones for much of 2025, but he was Minnesota’s best runner by virtually every metric:

Jones posted career lows in all five of those stats and looks out of gas at age 31 (until Dec. 2).

Mason, meanwhile, ranked top-20 in all five metrics among 51 RBs with 90+ carries. He deserves a bigger role and figures to get it in 2026.

The Athletic’s Alec Lewis called Mason one of the “standouts” of training camp, and Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller believes Mason will be the Vikings' “bell cow” this season.

Bet On A Vikings Bounce Back

Minnesota's offense cratered last year while cycling through J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer at QB, finishing 26th in points and 28th in yards.

The arrival of Kyler Murray raises the ceiling.

The Vikings finished top-12 in total yards in each of HC Kevin O’Connell’s first three seasons and ranked top-9 in scoring twice. 

If the Vikings return anywhere close to that level, there will be significantly more fantasy production available in this backfield.

New Run Scheme Fits Mason Perfectly

The Vikings also reshaped their run game this offseason by hiring Frank Smith as offensive-line coach. Expect a heavier dose of outside-zone runs.

That's exactly where Mason thrives.

He's averaged 5.6 yards per carry on 171 career outside-zone attempts, compared to 4.7 yards per carry on every other run concept.

Just as importantly, the scheme won't be new to him. Smith spent the past four seasons under Mike McDaniel, whose offense traces directly back to Kyle Shanahan's system. Mason spent his first three NFL seasons running in Shanahan's outside-zone scheme with the 49ers, averaging 5.3 yards per carry

De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers were jeered by draft (and fantasy) analysts when they selected Stribling with the 33rd pick of this spring’s draft. 

But based on what we’ve seen and heard this summer, the Niners might be right.

Better Prospect Than He Got Credit For

Stribling didn't garner a lot of attention ahead of the draft, but his profile offered plenty to like.

He ranked third for Washington State in receiving yards as a true freshman before leading the team as a sophomore. He then transferred to Oklahoma State in 2023 but missed most of the season with a broken wrist. Healthy again in 2024, Stribling led the Cowboys in receiving yards before transferring to Ole Miss, where he finished first in receiving TDs and second in catches and receiving yards.

Not a dominant production profile, but more than enough to keep the light on.

What really drives the upside is Stribling's rare physical profile. The 6'2, 207-pounder ran a blazing 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the Combine and posted a 95th-percentile Relative Athletic Score.

Stribling Impressing in Camp and Preseason

Stribling has been one of the buzziest players in the league since training camps opened.

“He’s come in and understands the route depth, the details, the alignments in our offense,” QB Brock Purdy said in late July. “He’s done a good job with the footwork and getting off the line and stuff. … He’s proving to all of us that he’s reliable and we can trust him.”

Stribling backed up the praise in the preseason opener with 6 catches for 67 yards on just 22 snaps, including an impressive contested grab for 32 yards and a bulldozing 11-yard catch-and-run to convert a third-and-6.

Here were all of his targets in that game:

Every target to De'Zhaun Stribling vs the Titans.

Big fan of what I saw. Deployed him all over the formation and targeted him on in-breakers, out-breakers, and tried a jet sweep too. Plucky hands pic.twitter.com/qxhRFxMVNg

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) August 14, 2026

Stribling was busy and productive again in his second preseason game, catching 4 of 5 targets for 46 yards.

Old, Dinged-Up Teammates Create Path To Volume

Stribling might open the season fourth or fifth in the target pecking order, but everyone ahead of him carries age or durability concerns:

• Mike Evans is 33, has missed 12 games over the last two seasons, has battled a recurring quad issue this summer, and is currently sidelined with a groin injury.
• George Kittle is 32 and coming off a torn Achilles.
• Christian McCaffrey is 30, racked up 413 touches last year, and has missed significant time in three of the last six seasons.
• Deebo Samuel is 30 and has never made it through a full NFL season.

One injury would boost Stribling's volume. If multiple veterans miss time, the ceiling climbs even higher.

Efficient 49ers Passing Game Raises The Ceiling

Even a modest role can carry fantasy value in this offense.

The 49ers have finished top-8 in yards per pass attempt and top-5 in passing yards in each of the last three seasons. They've also ranked top-4 in passing TDs twice over that span.

Rashid Shaheed, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Shaheed looks like a fantasy bust if you only glance at last year's stat line.

But his 2025 season effectively ended the day he was traded from New Orleans to Seattle.

History says we should have expected that. History also says 2026 is a much different story.

Three Reasons To Buy Shaheed as a 2026 Sleeper

• Ignore his Seattle production. Midseason WR trades almost always hurt fantasy output.
• Seattle is heavily invested. The Seahawks traded for Shaheed and then signed him to a three-year, $51 million extension.
• A bigger role is coming. Shaheed has a legitimate chance to emerge as Seattle's No. 2 receiver.

Midseason WR Trades Rarely Work

Shaheed managed just 15 catches for 188 scoreless yards across nine games after arriving in Seattle last November.

That's disappointing … but also completely normal.

Here are the notable WRs who were traded mid-season over the previous 10 seasons, along with their PPR points per game pre-trade vs. post-trade.

Only three of those 10 WRs scored more fantasy points per game with their new team than their old one.

Only four even reached 9.0 PPR points per game after the trade.

Overall, the group saw its fantasy production fall 16.3% after changing teams.

Shaheed’s lowly production with Seattle last year says more about the difficulty of changing teams in the middle of a season than it does about Shaheed's talent or 2026 outlook.

Seattle Told Us Exactly What It Thinks

The Seahawks could have viewed Shaheed as a short-term rental.

Instead, they doubled down.

Seattle first gave up fourth- and fifth-round picks to acquire him last year. Then, in March, the Seahawks signed Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million extension.

That makes Shaheed an outlier.

Among those 10 WRs who were traded mid-season, only one remained with his new team for the entirety of the following season: Amari Cooper after his 2018 move to Dallas. He responded with a WR16 fantasy finish in 2019.

Seattle's actions make it clear the organization views Shaheed as part of its long-term core, not simply trade-deadline insurance.

The Talent Has Never Been In Question

Shaheed has quietly been one of the NFL's most efficient receivers.

Among 102 active WRs with 100+ career catches, he ranks:

• 12th in yards per catch (14.7)
• 13th in yards per target (9.3)

We've already seen that efficiency translate to fantasy production.

Before suffering a season-ending injury in 2024, Shaheed ranked 24th among WRs in PPR points per game. He was sitting 39th last year before the trade to Seattle, despite scoring just two TDs. Shaheed ranked top-21 among WRs in catches (44) and yards (499) through Week 9.

Opportunity Is Knocking

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is locked in as the top dog in Seattle’s passing game. But there’s a clear path to Shaheed to overtake Cooper Kupp for the No. 2 WR job.

Kupp turned 33 in June and is coming off career lows in receiving yards per game (37.1), yards per route (1.40), and Pro Football Focus receiving grade (70.8). He finished just 52nd among qualifying WRs in yards per route.

Meanwhile, Shaheed impressed throughout spring practices.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported in June that Shaheed is expected to be a "big-time player" for Seattle this season.

Fowler added that Shaheed and Sam Darnold "are hitting it off" and that Seattle plans to expand his role beyond the vertical game by giving him more short and intermediate routes.

That type of usage would raise both Shaheed's weekly floor and his fantasy ceiling.

Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

An August neck injury torpedoed McMillan’s 2025 season.

But he was an enticing prospect coming out of Washington and flashed as a 2024 rookie.

A chance for a much bigger role this season makes McMillan a sneaky target in fantasy drafts.

A Thousand-Yard Hole Just Opened

Mike Evans bolted for San Francisco in free agency, leaving behind massive opportunity in the Buccaneers’ passing game.

Evans missed nine games and most of a 10th last season. But in the seven games he played full snaps, he averaged:

• 53 receiving yards
• 0.4 TDs
• 25.8% target share

And, in case you hadn’t heard, Evans had topped 1,000 yards in each of his first 11 NFL seasons. Over that span, he averaged:

• 130 targets
• 76 catches
• 1,153 yards
• 9.5 TDs

With Evans gone, Tampa Bay needs McMillan to step up.

Competition Loaded with Question Marks

Tampa Bay’s WR depth chart has plenty of uncertainty heading into 2026.

The Bucs are hoping Emeka Egbuka emerges as the team’s new No. 1 receiver. But that’s far from guaranteed after an uneven rookie season.

Egbuka started strong, averaging 5.0 catches, 89 yards, and 1.0 TD per game over his first five contests. But that plummeted to 3.2 catches, 41 yards, and 0.1 TDs over his final 12. His efficiency also cratered late in the year, with just 5.5 yards per target over that stretch.

Egbuka is now dealing with a sprained toe that might impact his availability for the start of the season.

Chris Godwin is coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career. He averaged just 3.7 catches and 40 yards per game while posting career lows in:

• Yards per route run (1.36)
• Yards per target (7.1)
• PFF receiving grade (68.8)

He could bounce back, with his 2024 ankle injury further behind him. But there’s no guarantee, especially considering he turned 30 in February.

The only significant addition Tampa Bay made to the WR corps was third-round rookie Ted Hurst. He's an intriguing prospect: a 6'4, 206-pounder with 99th percentile athleticism and strong production over the last two seasons. But Hurst played his college ball at Valdosta State and Georgia State, so he's making an even bigger jump in competition than your average rookie.

I like Hurst as a dynasty stash but don't view him as a strong bet to make a 2026 impact.

Don't Forget McMillan's Encouraging College Numbers

McMillan entered the NFL with a nice resume.

The Buccaneers selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft after a productive career at Washington.

An MCL sprain hampered his senior season. But McMillan had already broken out as a junior, racking up 79 catches for 1,098 yards and 9 TDs.

That production came on a Washington team that also featured Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. McMillan actually led that trio in receptions and TDs in 2022.

The 6’1, 197-pounder also tested as a strong athlete at the Combine. His 4.47-second 40-yard dash and 37-inch vertical helped him earn an 86th-percentile Relative Athletic Score.

McMillan has more than enough talent and athleticism to turn Tampa Bay’s vacated volume into real fantasy value.

We’ve Already Seen NFL Flashes

McMillan showed promise early in his NFL career.

He won the No. 3 WR job behind Evans and Godwin as a 2024 rookie and finished that season with a 37-461-8 line across 13 games. Those eight TDs ranked second on the team, trailing only Evans, and tied for 12th among WRs league wide.

McMillan was particularly good down the stretch of that rookie season, taking on an increased role with Godwin out. Over his final six games, he totaled:

• 35 targets (19.3% share)
• 26 catches
• 357 receiving yards
• 7 TDs

McMillan ranked 18th among WRs in PPR points per game over that stretch. That was largely fueled by the big TD total, but he also ranked inside the top 31 WRs in catches and yards during that span.

McMillan ranked 26th among 104 qualifying WRs in yards per route (1.90) over those final six games.

His second season was derailed when he fractured three vertebrae in his neck during a preseason game on Aug. 16. But he returned for the final four games and popped up for a 7-catch, 114-yard explosion in Week 17.

Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills

Kincaid is on plenty of “Do Not Draft” lists after a frustrating 2025.

But a deeper dive reveals plenty to get excited about as we look ahead to 2026.

Elite Per-Route Efficiency

Kincaid averaged 2.79 yards per route last year. That was tops among all 38 TEs who saw 40+ targets, nearly half a yard better than any other TE.

In fact, it was the best mark from a TE with 40+ targets since George Kittle back in 2020.

TEs with 2.5+ yards per route since 2020 (min. 40 targets):

Kincaid also led all qualifying TEs in targets per route (0.27) and fantasy points per route (0.70).

Simply put, he was the most productive TE on a per-route basis last year.

Yet he finished 19th among TEs in total PPR points and 13th in points per game.

What gives?

Playing Time Was The Problem

Kincaid missed five games last year with oblique, hamstring, and knee injuries. His playing time was limited in the other 12 contests.

Kincaid played just 37.6% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps in his 12 games. The even bigger issue: He ran a route on just 44.2% of pass plays. That ranked 40th among all TEs and 34th among those 38 TEs with 40+ targets.

Despite the strong per-route target earning, Kincaid finished just 26th among TEs in targets per game.

Is More Playing Time Coming?

Kincaid will never be an every-down TE. He’s not a strong enough blocker.

But we don’t need him out there for every snap. We need him out there for more passing snaps. And it sounds like the Bills want to make that happen in 2026.

"Our number one thing with Dalton is to see if we can get him in a healthier fashion this year, so that we don't have to A: miss games, and then B: limit how much he's playing," GM Brandon Beane said in February.

The takeaway: Kincaid’s injuries played a big part in his limited playing time last season.

Expect more routes in 2026 if his health cooperates. Kincaid registered 68.3% and 57.7% route rates in his first two NFL campaigns. A return to that level would give him plenty of fantasy upside.

Kincaid has been healthy all summer.

Josh Allen Keeps the Ceiling High

There’s plenty of fantasy production to be found in Buffalo. Although it’s been a run-leaning offense lately, QB Josh Allen’s efficiency has propelled the Bills to six straight top-7 finishes in passing TDs. Buffalo has ranked top-9 in passing yards in five of those years.

Last year’s Bills ranked fourth in total TE PPR points. They upgraded the WR corps this offseason with the addition of D.J. Moore. But there’s still plenty of room for Kincaid to carve out a big role in the attack.

Isaiah Likely, TE, New York Giants

Likely spent the first four seasons of his career stuck behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore.

But when he has gotten opportunities, Likely has consistently flashed high-end receiving efficiency and difference-making fantasy production.

Now he lands in a Giants offense where he could quickly become one of the top receiving options.

That combination makes Likely one of the more intriguing late-round TE sleepers for 2026.

Mark Andrews Hid a Talented Pass Catcher

Andrews prevented Likely from drawing big volume in Baltimore. But Likely's efficiency has been strong.

Over the past four seasons, he's posted:

• 69.6% catch rate
• 11.6 yards per catch
• 8.1 yards per target

Those latter two marks rank top-8 among 53 TEs with 100+ targets over that span.

Likely has been particularly dangerous after the catch, averaging 5.5 yards after catch per reception for his career.

And that’s despite a decline in that average last year, potentially related to the fractured foot he suffered in training camp. Likely ranked top-5 among TEs in YAC per reception in each of the previous two seasons.

When Andrews Sat, Likely Scored

Likely has flashed legitimate fantasy upside without Andrews.

Across nine career games with Andrews out, Likely posted these receiving lines:

• 1-24-1
• 8-103-0
• 1-4-0
• 4-40-0
• 5-83-1
• 5-70-1
• 3-56-0
• 2-42-2
• 2-31-1

That’s 3.4 catches, 50.3 yards, and 0.7 TDs per game, or a full-season pace of:

• 58.5 catches
• 856 yards
• 11.3 TDs

Those numbers would have made Likely the TE2 in total PPR points last season (and the TE5 in points per game).

So Likely has shown he can produce starter-level fantasy numbers when given the opportunity.

Giants Gift a Much Larger Role

Likely’s new situation with the Giants should finally give him that opportunity.

The offense probably won’t be as explosive as Baltimore’s was over the last four seasons. And the Giants are expected to lean run under HC John Harbaugh.

But there are reasons for optimism.

QB Jaxson Dart flashed as a rookie, completing 63.7% of his passes with 15 TDs vs. just 5 INTs, despite a shaky supporting cast.

The Giants’ current pass-catching depth chart still leaves a lot to be desired, giving Likely a chance to quickly emerge as one of Dart's top targets.

Likely Could Be Dart's No. 2 Target

Likely is set to operate as the Giants’ top TE. He got a three-year, $40 million deal in free agency, making him the league’s fifth-highest-paid TE in terms of average annual salary.

TE Theo Johnson returns, but he proved woefully inefficient last year. Among 49 TEs with 30+ targets, Johnson ranked:

• 35th in PFF receiving grade
• 34th in yards per route
• 39th in YAC per reception
• 49th in drop rate

The Giants’ WR depth chart behind Malik Nabers also looks shaky. They didn't land a WR in Round 1 of the draft, passed again in Round 2, and went with underwhelming prospect Malachi Fields in Round 3. He'll compete for snaps with veterans Darnell Mooney and Darius Slayton, who have produced just one 1,000-yard season and two 100-target campaigns across 13 combined NFL seasons.

Even Nabers enters 2026 with uncertainty after tearing his ACL and damaging the meniscus in his right knee last September. He needed a second surgery this offseason and remains uncertain for Week 1.

Likely has reportedly been Dart's favorite target in spring practices and training camp. He's a good bet to be a Giants focal point this year.

Harbaugh Expects Strong Production

Harbaugh, who spent the last four seasons with Likely in Baltimore, expects the TE to be more productive for his new team.

"I've seen him every day in practice. I've seen him make plays. I know how he plays the game," Harbaugh said at the NFL's annual meetings in March. "When you see a player do it every day, you got a pretty good idea what he's capable of. So, I'm certain he's going to be able to put up the numbers you're talking about, the stats. That wasn't part of the thing in Baltimore because of the supporting cast, so to speak."

Deep Sleepers: 4 Late-Round Picks With Upside Paths

Your final few picks should be reserved for players with legitimate breakout upside. These 4 could emerge as fantasy difference-makers if everything breaks right.

Emmett Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Johnson's strong preseason earned him the Chiefs' No. 2 RB job and high-upside handcuff status.

The Preseason Showed He Belongs

The rookie carried 26 times for 123 yards (4.7 YPC) and 1 TD across three exhibitions, showcasing impressive vision, agility, and burst.

Among 103 RBs with 10+ carries this preseason, Johnson ranked:

• 18th in yards after contact per attempt
• 4th in missed tackles forced per attempt
• 6th in Pro Football Focus' Elusive Rating

Johnson also caught 6 of 7 targets for 35 yards.

The Nebraska Tape Backs It Up

He looked like the same efficient, multi-faceted talent we saw at Nebraska last year. Johnson racked up 1,451 yards and 12 TDs on 5.8 yards per carry for the Cornhuskers, plus another 370 yards and 3 scores on 46 catches. His 1,821 yards from scrimmage ranked second in the FBS.

A poor Combine, including a 4.56-second 40 time, contributed to Johnson falling to Round 5 of this spring's draft. But the kid can clearly play.

One Injury Away ...

Johnson started over Emari Demercado and Brashard Smith in Kansas City's preseason finale. And then Demercado was released at final cuts.

That leaves Johnson as the handcuff to Kenneth Walker, who has missed 10 games with injuries through four NFL seasons.

We're not betting on standalone fantasy value for Johnson behind a healthy Walker. But he's one injury away from becoming a difference maker.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets

The Ball Finds Mitchell … When He’s on the Field

WRs can’t score fantasy points without drawing targets. 

That’s never been a problem for Mitchell. In fact, he’s been one of the best target earners in the league over the last two seasons.

As a rookie, he drew a target on 27% of his routes, ranking 18th among 128 qualifying WRs. Last year, despite splitting time between the Colts and Jets, Mitchell earned a target on 26% of his routes, good for 14th out of 126 qualifiers.

What's held Mitchell back is everything before and after the target. Whether it was immaturity off the field or reliability on it, he never earned enough trust to become a full-timer for the Colts.

The Jets Actually Like Him

That changed after his midseason trade to the Jets.

From Weeks 12-17, Mitchell ran a route on 80.4% of New York’s pass plays. During that stretch, he:

• averaged 8.2 targets per game
• drew a 24.9% target share
• and ranked 31st among WRs in PPR points per game (10.6).

That came without No. 1 WR Garrett Wilson, but also with QBs Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook on a team that averaged 13.8 points per game.

The environment should be better in 2026 with Geno Smith. And while the Jets spent first-round picks on TE Kenyon Sadiq and WR Omar Cooper Jr., it's Mitchell who's generated consistent buzz throughout the offseason.

He's still only 23 and has the target-earning part down. If everything else finally catches up, Mitchell has the talent to emerge as the No. 2 option in New York's passing game and dramatically outperform his late-round ADP.

Ryan Flournoy, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Flournoy looks like the rare WR handcuff worth stashing at the end of fantasy benches.

He emerged as Dallas’ No. 3 WR last year. More importantly, he flashed a lofty ceiling when given starter-level snaps.

You Might Have Missed These Huge Games

Flournoy erupted for 6 catches and 114 yards with CeeDee Lamb sidelined in Week 5. Then he turned 13 targets into a 9-115-1 performance in Week 14, after Lamb exited early with a concussion.

Flournoy is reportedly standing out consistently in his third training camp and drawing praise from Dallas media and his HC.

"Now he's one of those guys, because he does everything right,” HC Brian Schottenheimer said. “Dak [Prescott] doesn't hesitate when he looks at him. He just turns it loose. He gets to his spot."

Two Paths to More Big Numbers

Lamb and George Pickens are the clear top two targets in Dallas. But this is a bankable passing game that we want to invest in. In two seasons with Schottenheimer and a healthy Prescott (2023 and 2025), the Cowboys have ranked:

• third and first in plays
• third and second in passing yards

Dallas sits first by a comfortable margin in our 2026 Fantasy Environment Scores.

That gives Flournoy spike-week appeal in best ball. And an injury to either Lamb or Pickens would likely turn him into a starter in managed leagues.

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams

Rams TEs combined to score the second-most PPR points last season. The problem? That production got split among four different players, leaving fantasy managers without a usable option.

Ferguson has a chance to change that in 2026.

Year 2 Breakout on the Way?

Word out of Los Angeles is that Ferguson is poised for a big second-year leap. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer recently wrote that Ferguson "has had a fantastic offseason," adding that the Rams believe he can grow into one of the NFL's best TEs.

There’s no shortage of talent here: Ferguson racked up 43 catches and 591 yards in his final college season, tested as a 93rd-percentile athlete at the Combine, and went 46th overall in the 2025 draft.

Quiet Upside Signals in Rookie-Year Usage

Ferguson flashed an exciting profile last year, despite the minimal production. He ran 46% of his routes from the slot and another 24% out wide, showing the type of versatility that fantasy-friendly TEs often possess.

He also registered a huge 18.3-yard average depth of target. That led all TEs and ranked third among 244 players with at least 20 targets. Ferguson averaged a whopping 21.0 yards per catch and scored on three of his 11 receptions.

Are You Gonna Tell Sean McVay He’s Wrong?

Ferguson will need a more well-rounded role to become a reliable fantasy factor, but HC Sean McVay clearly believes he's capable. 

He called Ferguson a “total stud” back in February, adding that he can “play every skill position on our offense. That’s every receiver spot, that’s every tight end spot.”

The Rams have very little behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, giving Ferguson a legitimate shot to finish third in targets on one of the NFL's highest-scoring offenses. That's enough upside to make him one of our favorite late-round TE fliers.

Not All Sleepers Are Created Equal. Here’s How to Find Yours.

Grabbing the right sleepers can be the difference between a championship run and another middle-of-the-pack finish. The players we just covered are a great starting point.

But not all sleepers are created equal. A player who’s a steal in one league might be a reach in another, depending on your scoring system, lineup requirements, and league trends.

You could go the old-school route: endless spreadsheets, hours of research, and a headache before Week 1 even starts.

Or you could let our ADP Market Index tool do the work for you, identifying undervalued players tailored to your specific league settings.

Here’s what you get with the ADP Market Index tool:

Customized Analysis: Get player rankings and ADP insights that mirror your league's unique format.  Whether you're in a PPR league, seeking a trio of starting WRs, or navigating the complexities of superflex, both the rankings and ADP correlate to your league.

Effortless Insight: Instantly compare each player's value against the market average (ADP). Again, this is all calibrated to your fantasy platform and scoring guidelines. That means you’ll see the gaps between a player’s actual value and his ADP.

Spot the Sleepers: Next, look for green index numbers signaling undervalued players. Discovering a player underrated by 20, 30, or even 40+ spots means you've found a sleeper who could propel your championship run. 

Dive into the ADP Market Index

I know you're bombarded with fantasy content asking for your attention. But if you’re truly trying to gain an advantage by targeting sleepers in your upcoming draft, you really should spend a few more minutes checking out our ADP Market Index tool.

It could be the difference between a championship and just another mediocre season!