Updated 2026 Sleepers going into draft season

Sleepers Going Into Draft Weekend

By: Andrew Ferguson

Over the next two weekends, we are about to embark on a journey of millions of drafts done online between multiple fantasy football outlets. Some people draft with stickers and a poster board, most will be online, or they’re huge nerds like me and built a custom Excel sheet draft board with formulas and player rankings with all sorts of cool drop down features as you select your players. Whatever method you choose, I wish everyone the best of luck this season. 

I made a list of sleepers earlier in the summer and I want to revamp that article with new names that I’ve been keeping an eye on, or players that I can’t stop drafting. But this list of guys is mostly 10th round and beyond. There is hidden gold every year in this range and I have the numbers to back up my claims. I wouldn’t say these are players that you necessarily need to reach for, but when you’re filling your bench out and looking for some depth/value, these are the guys. So let’s get into it.

QB- Kyler Murray- Minnesota Vikings

Did you know, in the 4 healthy seasons Kyler Murray has played, he’s been a top 10 fantasy QB in all of them? Kyler is a dream of a pick this year for many reasons. The First being he’s moving onto Minnesota where he will have the best weapons of his career with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jujuan Jennings. He has a great playcaller in Kevin O’Connell with a decent run game. Kyler also still holds rushing upside which is important for my fantasy QB. He’s going way late as QB19 of the board. He’s been a top 10 more times than not and I’m smashing the value button and taking him late. 

QB- Malik Willis- Miami Dolphins

This guy will go undrafted or you can stash him as your backup. What does Miami have to lose here? There is nobody behind him on the depth chart and this team is going to be pretty booty all year. That means garbage time and lots of passing. Malik Willis also has one of my favorite traits in fantasy for QBs, rushing potential. Give him a full season as a starting QB and he’s worth a roster spot on your team. Not sure I fully trust him as my only QB I’m drafting but he might have some pretty fun games when you need to stream a QB or if you missed the boat on QBs going early in your league. 

QB- Jared Goff- Detroit Lions

Not too sexy of a QB pick here but I like his streaming capabilities and the offense as a whole. This guy is good for 4,500 yards and 30 TDs a year. There aren’t a lot of QBs that can claim that. He’s consistent and he might have some dud weeks but play the right matchups and enjoy a late round QB that’s currently projected QB15 off the board. He has the weapons, the defense, the coach and the talent to win you weeks. 

RB- Woody Marks- Houston Texans

What we’ve discovered in preseason is that the Houston Texans plan to use Woody Marks more than anticipated after they signed David Montgomery. Montgomery is still very talented but he’s on his third team and I don’t view him as a true 3 down/bellcow anymore. Woody will get a lot of receiving work and carries to compliment Montgomery. I don’t think it will necessarily be a 50-50 workload, but it might be pretty darn close. Also with the loss of Jayden Higgins, there are plenty of targets up for grabs in this offense that could go to someone like Marks. 

RB- Keaton Mitchell- Los Angeles Chargers

I have high hopes for the Chargers this year and their fantasy players. Mitchell is someone that can be a sneaky pick for you in round 10 and beyond. Mike McDaniel will be calling the offense now and he once had 2 RBs finish in the top 5 in fantasy scoring. Can he do it again? Not sure that will happen but if Mitchell is even a top 20 back, the value would be insane. Hampton is going to be the main guy, but the Chargers have already announced they plan to use all of their RBs a lot this year. Mitchell has speed and good hands. This should be a high octane offense and players like Mitchell will benefit. 

RB- Tyler Allgeier- Arizona Cardinals

This is a pretty crowded and a mess of a backfield. However, Allgeier doesn't cost much and can be a nice bench stash. Love fully looks the part and he’s going to be an absolute beast in the league. Once he takes over as the lead back, he’ll be a top 3 back in the league. But it may not happen this year. Rookie RBs drafted this high don’t always give you the best return on investment right away. The Cardinals plan to pass a lot and have some pretty good downfield weapons so they aren’t going to have to stack the box for when they do decide to run. Allgeier will get plenty of touches and goal line opportunities while mentoring the young buck. He’s a plug and play flex option that if you play at the right time, can be great value. He’s going 10th round. Not bad for a safety pick or for someone that did zero RB strategy. 

RB- Mike Washington Jr.- Las Vegas Raiders

We got news recently that Ashton Jeanty suffered an ankle injury but avoided something more serious thankfully. This is good news for Mike Washington because I already liked him a lot before the injury as a late round flyer or handcuff stash. Washington has looked great in the offense and is the clear number 2 option. If Jeanty were to miss time or have his carries dialed down to start the season to get healthy, Washington would be a must add. 

RB- Tank Bigsby- Philadelphia Eagles

I just like his name. How are you going to stop an RB named Tank? All jokes aside, Tank is the clear number 2 behind Saquon. Saquon is only getting older. Bigsby is a good stash/handcuff and worth a roster spot for that reason alone Will Shipley proved the Eagles have zero confidence in him as they traded for Bigsby last year and there is no other competition on the roster. He’s going to get plenty of carries in the offense and will have some big games here and there. He’ll be a plug and play as needed but for how late he’s going, he’s worth the pick. 

RB- Braelon Allen- New York Jets

Don’t get me wrong, the Jets are still going to suck ass this year. But this run game will be a committee whether people like it or not. So for any Breece Hall lovers out there, beware. Breece is so talented, but he’s already dealing with a groin injury. Braelon Allen also has a lot to show off and he’s going to get a huge bulk of carries and even goal line carries. Breece Hall missing time would skyrocket Allen’s value even more. 

WR- Josh Downs- Indianapolis Colts

I like Josh Downs the player, but I hate that the Colts signed Keenan Allen last week. I think this hurts his value, but it also means you can get Downs for a little cheaper. I think the Allen signing is more of a concern for Alec Pierce as he recovers from his injury. Downs will be the number two wide receiver in this offense no matter what. Pittman is now gone and that opens up over 100 targets for this WR room. Downs is someone I could see providing solid WR3 numbers. 

WR- Wan’Dale Robinson- Tennessee Titans

Robinson is a target hog and he’s going to an offense that needs his reliability. Cam Ward still has the talent but it was a little bit of a rough rookie season for him. They now have Carnell Tate and Robinson to boost his confidence. A really big move is bringing in Brian Daboll to work his magic on Ward and take him to the next level. The Titans still aren’t a great team and will have plenty of garbage time to sling the ball around to their WRs. Robinson is definitely someone worth drafting late as a WR3 with plenty of opportunities for volume. 

WR- KC Concepcion- Cleveland Browns

As I’ve been writing this article, Cleveland made it official by naming Deshaun Watson as their starting QB for week 1. If this holds up this is great news for the WRs in Cleveland. They all of a sudden have a stacked WR room by bringing in Concepcion and Denzel Boston, which I love both. But Concepcion’s talent and opportunities are going to lead the way for this core. This will be the last time you can get Concepcion this late in a draft and could immediately return WR2 numbers all year. His only drawback, he plays for the Browns so people are instantly turned off. Draft, draft, draft him. I was this high on Egbuka last year. He is this year's confidence pick among rookie wide receivers. 

WR- De’Zhaun Stribling- San Francisco 49ers

Stribling has climbed up my rankings a lot after seeing his playing time in the preseason. He looks and acts the part of a true WR1. The 49ers continue to deal with a plethora of injuries and their WR room has already taken a hit with losing Pearsall for the entire season. Mike Evans is your 1,000 yard guy in this offense, but Stribling is going to get right around that number as well as a rookie. The 49ers are still run through CMC, but Stribling has a better chance to stay healthy all year and put up big numbers from a healthy Brock Purdy who already loves throwing to him. This is a safe, late round pick. 

WR- Stefon Diggs- Washington Commanders

Diggs is the old vet on this list and is already the WR2 in Washington. Jayden Daniels is about to have a huge bounceback year if he stays healthy, and Diggs will put up enough volume to give you WR2/3 fantasy numbers. He’s coming off a season where he had great volume in New England and had over 1,000 yards and I see him doing it again this year. Each year, fantasy has some old head show he’s got a little left in the tank, and Diggs will be that player this year. Scoop him up late and feel good about it. 

WR- Caleb Douglas- Miami Dolphins

They have to throw to somebody, right? With not a lot of talent on this roster, Douglas came in and has won starting duties for the Dolphins. And he may have even earned the WR1 role. He’s a third round pick that has impressed all offseason including highlight reel catches. Willis trusts him, the coaches trust him and so do I (if that matters). He can lead the Dolphins in receiving this year (again, somebody has to). He’s currently going undrafted and you can’t say that about any team’s WR1 in the league other than Douglas. Why not, what do you have to lose with your last pick in the draft? 

TE- Hunter Henry- New England Patriots

Hunter Henry is an absolute steal this year. After the top 3-4 tight ends go off the board, does it really matter who you pick? Henry was TE7 last year and is being drafted as TE16. How does that make sense? AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs coming in is honestly going to help Henry open up the middle more. People think it will be less targets, but AJ Brown demands so much attention it will open up targets for Henry who scored 7 TDs last year. I expect another top 10 finish and is a great value TE pick. 

TE- Isaiah Likely- New York Giants

I’ve been a fan all offseason, and nothing has changed. Dart is going to have a big Sophomore leap and his WRs/TEs will benefit. Likely has already been Dart’s favorite target in camp this summer. There are still plenty of questions with Malik Nabers’ health but once he’s fully cleared, there will still be plenty of opportunities for Likely with Wan'Dale Robinson leaving. Likely has put up solid numbers his entire career even playing behind a top 5 tight end for that time. He’s going as TE14 with a real shot of being a top 8 player at the position. His volume alone is worth drafting.