2026 Fantasy Football Sleeper Preview

by Michael Nazarek (RELEASED - 6/20/2026)

Editor's Note: Below you will find a portion of our Fantasy Football Sleepers for 2026. If you'd like to read about all 44 sleepers, please click HERE to order our 2026 Pre-Season Draft Guide.

Everyone knows about Josh Allen, Christian McCaffrey, and Puka Nacua. The top 50 players taken in most fantasy drafts will likely be the same group of players. What separates the men from the boys is knowing who will produce when they are not expected to produce. To this end, I will supply you with sleeper lists of players at each of the key fantasy positions. Consider each and weigh them against your league competition. I will list sleepers in three distinct categories… obvious, darkhorses, and long-shots. I have also offered my "deep sleeper" at each position. Note: The official projected statistics for these players were not posted, as they may change with each guide update.

 

The following DARKHORSE SLEEPER was posted on these pages last summer. It just goes to show you that sometimes these players pan out in a HUGE way…

 

Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville) - Lawrence was on my creeper list last year and he lived up to that billing, then got injured. This year, he has a new HC in Liam Coen, who comes over from Tampa Bay where he rejuvenated the career of QB Baker Mayfield. Lawrence also gains WR Travis Hunter to help offset the loss of TE Evan Engram. They also drafted RB Bhayshul Tuten, to boost the running game. These changes make Lawrence a darkhorse fantasy sleeper QB in 2025. And if you draft him, you can take him as your fantasy backup, so the cost is fairly cheap.

 

Yeah, I’d say he was rejuvenated! After starting slow in 2025, he finished the season as QB4 and looks very promising moving forward!

 

Note: The ADP mentioned below for all players applies to 12-team PPR leagues.

 

QUARTERBACKS

 

The Obvious

 

Brock Purdy (San Francisco) - Purdy had an injury-filled season in 2025, but when he returned to health late in the year, he ripped off three straight games of 31+ fantasy points in the fantasy playoffs, topped with a stunning 42 points in week #17. Yes, TE George Kittle (Achilles) may miss some games to begin the season, but the addition of WR Mike Evans will certainly help Purdy. Bottom Line: Purdy can be drafted in the middle rounds of most drafts and you can get a likely solid starter for your fantasy team. ADP: Round 10-11.

 

Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay) - Much like Brock Purdy, Mayfield was hampered by injuries, both to himself and his wide receivers. That said, even after the loss of WR Mike Evans, the WR room is still stacked with WR Emeka Egbuka, WR Chris Godwin, WR Jalen McMillan, and rookie WR Ted Hurst. Bottom Line: If the health holds up all the way around, Mayfield could easily rebound to be a solid fantasy starter in 2026. ADP: Round 13-14.

 

Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) - Stafford rolled back the clock on his age by winning an MVP trophy in 2025, and also finishing as QB2 on the season for fantasy! Not many believe he will repeat, but he still has his top weapons returning to include WR Puka Nacua and WR Davante Adams. In other words, a top 12 finish would not be out of the question, making him a steal as an obvious mid-round sleeper pick for fantasy this summer. ADP: Round 11-12.

 

The Darkhorse

 

Kyler Murray (Minnesota) - I was a true Murray fan a few years ago, but his inaccuracy and lack of running for the Cardinals made him a terrible pick for fantasy in 2024. Then came 2025 where he imploded and the Cardinals finally gave up on him. Well, he is now a Viking, and is on track to be their starter. With WR Justin Jefferson, WR Jordan
Addison, and TE T.J. Hockenson as his primary targets, Murray is a clear darkhorse sleeper for fantasy once again in 2026. ADP: Round 13.

 

Jordan Love (Green Bay) - Love has faced spotty injury issues the last two seasons, but his talent is good enough to produce possible fantasy starter numbers most weeks with a healthy WR Christian Watson, WR Jayden Reed, and WR Matthew Golden on the roster. And if TE Tucker Kraft (knee) can return in time to start come week #1, Love could really surprise. Best of all, this darkhorse sleeper can be had in the latter rounds of most fantasy drafts. ADP: Round 15.

 

Tyler Shough (New Orleans) - Shough really surprised when he became the team's starter in the middle of the 2025 season. He finished the season with six straight games of 20+ fantasy points. This was done without WR Rashid Shaheed, but he will get a boost in 2026 from rookie WR Jordyn Tyson, who should be the new WR2. Best of all, Shough is coming dirt cheap in drafts this summer, so you can target him as your backup, but one with a lot of upside. ADP: Round 13-14.

 

The Long-Shot

 

Malik Willis (Miami) - Willis is the biggest sleeper of 2026 at the QB position, but I place him firmly in the longshot category, since word is that he has a lot of work to do to become a consistent starting QB in the league. It also doesn't help that the Dolphins WR corps is likely to be the weakest in the league in 2026. Hey! At least you can wait until the latter rounds of your fantasy draft to select him! ADP: Round 16.

 

Cam Ward (Tennessee) - Ward was the top pick of the draft in April of 2025 and immediately started for the Titans last season. Unfortunately, Ward has yet to pan out as an NFL starter, but the Titans aren't giving up on him. They signed WR Wan'Dale Robinson in March and drafted WR Carnell Tate in April to boost the talent around him. As a result, he enters 2026 as a longshot sleeper for fantasy. ADP: Round 17-18.

 

Geno Smith (New York Jets) - Yes, Smith was terrible as the Raiders starting QB in 2025, but when you lose TE Brock Bowers for most of the season and the WR corps was very weak to begin with, he was far from working with a full deck. In 2024, Smith was QB14 for the season, and in New York this season, he gains WR Garrett Wilson, rookie WR Omar Cooper, TE Mason Taylor, and rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq, not to mention the fact that RB Breece Hall catches passes well, so there is much more upside for Smith as a Jet. Bottom Line: Smith can be had in the final rounds of your draft for basically nothing! ADP: Round 21+.

 

The Deep-Sleeper

 

Tua Tagovailoa (Atlanta) - I know my Bama love may be showing here, but it was just a few short seasons ago that Tua was seen as a solid fantasy starter (QB9 in 2023). In 2026, he moves to Atlanta where he gains WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts, and RB Bijan Robinson as new weapons to target in his quest to lock down a fresh starting job. Granted, he may have to wait for QB Michael Penix Jr. (knee) to play and struggle to get a chance, but what else can you expect so quickly from my new deep fantasy sleeper at QB in 2026? ADP: Round 21+.

 

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