2026 NFL Sleeper Team

For my sleeper and deep sleeper articles, I focus on players drafted in rounds 11 to 15 as sleepers, and anyone after that range falls into the deep sleeper range. Each fantasy football draft season, there will be a couple of late quarterbacks and tight ends that climb into the top 10 in scoring at their position.

The running back position can offer the most help in the sleeper area due to the high number of injuries to backs each football season. The trick is identifying the best all-around player that develop in winning starter late in the season. The most challenging position later in drafts is at the wide receiver position.

For quarterbacks, my projections have identified Bo Nix and Kyler Murray as mispriced value quarterbacks that have a chance to rank in the top 10 this year for different reasons. Both players should draw a sleeper price tag in most formats this year.[mispriced value quarterbacks]

Quarterback

Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins

I haven’t drafted Willis in any league so far this year, but I’m intrigued to see how he develops. Miami lacks name assets at wide receiver and tight end, making it challenging to expect their new quarterback to be elite in the passing game. He brings a high floor in the run game, and his passing development could lead to him making the receivers around him better in 2026.

The Dolphins have a stud pass-catching running back (De’Von Achane), who I already put in my fade category due to not liking the structure of Miami’s passing offense. I expect many run plays by Willis, helping his floor, and there is something to be said for rostering an active ball carrier at quarterback due to scoring twice as many fantasy points per rush than via the pass (2.5X in DraftKings, FanDuel, and Underdog).

Willis’s running opportunity drives his foundation, while game score will force him to pass in many matchups, and that success will determine where he falls in the final 2026 quarterback rankings. As the 21st quarterback drafted in the NFFC in late August with a 15th-round ADP (176), I expect him to outperform his price point and offer some playable games.

In the DFS market, I see Willis helping someone win one million dollars this year in the DraftKings Millionaire Contest.

Running Backs

Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos

My number one target as a running back handcuff in round 11 is Coleman, as I fully expect to have RJ Harvey on my roster before him based on my projections. Harvey fills the pass-catching role for Denver, which was more than expected in his rookie season. Coleman brings double injuries in the Broncos’ backfield. He could easily jump to RB1 in carries if J.K. Dobbins has an injury, which has been part of his running back profile for most of his NFL career, unfortunately.

In addition, Coleman could turn into more of a workhorse back if Harvey also had an issue. For me, I’m protecting more early investment, along with offering a much higher ceiling if touches break his way due to injuries to other players.

Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

I don’t expect to get much out of Davis as a playable fantasy option in 2026 unless James Cook has an injury. I do believe that he is must handcuff for him this year. Ty Johnson was banged up this summer due to a lower leg issue. If he is removed from the Bills’ running back equation completely, Davis would have a better path to rotation snaps in games. His ADP puts him in the sleeper range, but I only view him as a handcuff to a top-tier back, which is what some of the top high-stakes drafters chase when building their running back depth.

The injury news on Ashton Jeanty and the possible suspension of Josh Jacobs remove Mike Washington and MarShawn Lloyd from the sleeper category, at least in the high-stake market, due to their ADPs expected to move inside the first 10 rounds.

Based on the recent ADPs in the NFFC, the only other back that falls in my attraction range is Emmett Johnson. He brings some handcuff value to Kenneth Walker, who suffered an ankle injury this week. The Chiefs have other backs to fight for touches, so I don’t expect to chase Johnson up draft boards. I see better value in the deep sleeper range for my running back depth.

I’m fading Tyjae Spears, Zach Charbonnet, and Kaelon Black.[Zach Charbonnet]

Wide Receivers

Tre’ Harris, Los Angeles Chargers

The path for Harris to get winning targets in the Chargers’ offense looks cloudy in 2026 due to him ranking third on their wide receiver depth chart behind Ladd McConkey and Quenton Johnston. In addition, Los Angeles has three viable options at the tight end position to compete for targets. What Harris does bring to the table is size (6’3” and 210 lbs.) and big-play ability (16.1 yards per catch in college). He’s never scored over 10.00 PPR fantasy points in his short career (17 games), but his stock could soar with a starting opportunity. I have him projected to catch 45 passes for 617 yards and four touchdowns in 2026, which ranks him outside a starting flex option in 12-team PPR formats with 10 starting roster slots.[45 passes for 617 yards and four touchdowns in 2026]

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders

I feel like Caitlin Clark dropping back-to-back Tre’s in my sleeper article to the fantasy football market. The theme for both players is the ability to stretch the field and take the top off a defense. Tucker flashed in Week 3 (8/149/3) last year, but delivered only 49 catches for 547 yards and two touchdowns across his other 16 contests (7.23 PPR fantasy points per game). His final stats ranked 38th at wide receiver (161.70 fantasy points).

An upgrade at starting quarterback and a healthy Brock Bowers should lead to a much better Raiders’ passing offense. Many fantasy drafters favor Jalen Nailor over Tucker, but I don’t agree. Las Vegas had him on the field for 90% of their plays or more in 15 of his 17 starts last year, which screams more targets in 2026. They also gave him 11 carries in 2025, leading to 51 yards.

I have Tucker projected to gain 851 combined yards with 62 catches and five touchdowns, painting a 177.10 PPR fantasy point picture.

Ja’Kobi Lane, Baltimore Ravens

I haven’t leaned in and taken any swings on Lane so far this draft season, but summer reports keep progressing his ADP. An off-the-field issue for Rashod Bateman in June has given the fantasy market another reason to push up Baltimore’s rookie wideout in drafts. Typically, Baltimore ranks in the bottom 25% of the league in passing attempts, and they have a history of featuring their tight ends.

In 2026, Zay Flowers is expected to be the Ravens’ top dog in targets, with more questions than answers about the value of Baltimore’s tight ends, due to Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar leaving town. Lane brings size (6’4” and 200 lbs.) and a fantasy buzz, but his college resume across 29 games (99/1,363/18) doesn’t scream fantasy impact player other than his edge in scoring.

To reach a playable outcome over 17 weeks, Lane needs to average over 10.00 PPR fantasy points to hold par at the flex position. This outcome requires him to finish second on the Ravens in receiving production, with this type of outline (60/720/5). With Lamar Jackson hurt last year, Mark Andrews was Baltimore’s second-best receiving option (48/422/5), compared to Andrews (2nd – 55/673/11) and Rashod Bateman (3rd – 45/756/9) in 2024.

Tight End

T.J. Hockenson is my best value at tight end based on my projections paired with his deep-sleeper ADP (214), but I already pushed out his profile.[I already pushed out his profile]

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Trust me, I’m not giddy about settling for Andrews as a TE1 in 2026 due to his direction of stats. He has a winning history of adding value in scoring and playing a long time with Lamar Jackson. The Ravens paid him late last year, and his competition for tight end targets has left the building. As the 15th-ranked tight end in late August in the National Fantasy Football Championship, Andrews brings a top-10 resume, and touchdowns create winning, playable scores.

His ADP (140) puts him in the sleeper range, and his profile looks much more attractive as a backup tight end for a fantasy team. Andrews starts 2026 at age 31, so the fantasy market is looking for one last successful dance through 17 games. In the latest version of my projections. I have him ranked 10th at tight end.[10th at tight end]