Alright, folks, it’s time. What you’ve all been waiting for. The 2026 fantasy football sleepers. Those league-winner fantasy players who can change your entire fortune in the later rounds. Even if busts and injuries devastate the plans you had made, finding the right breakout player from the later rounds or the waiver wire can bail you out. Sure, some of these guys might be long shots. But the upside is there.

In the 2026 Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide, we go a little more in-depth at each individual position with some later-round targets we like. We know that some of you like to use the Zero RB or Yin & Yang Tight End draft strategies, so you need to be a lot more informed on the deep players of those positions. So make sure you check those articles out for an even DEEPER look. This article is here to highlight our top fantasy football sleepers for 2026 at each position. Our favorite ones.

What we’ll do here is give you the basics on two to three players at each position. We’ll include at least one that goes around pick ~100 or so in ADP for the shallow leagues. And we’ll also look at deeper players for the deeper leagues. For those in really crazy formats, head over to the individual position articles or the rankings that go out to ~200+ players. 

What Makes A Fantasy Football Sleeper?

As you’ve probably figured out by now, the Draft Guide is MUCH bigger this year. And, with that, we decided to include an article specifically on how to identify breakouts. So, while this article focuses on the WHO, the article on the HOW is even more important to you becoming an elite fantasy football player. So make sure you check that out.

The short and sweet is that we are looking for the convergence of three things: talent, scheme, and opportunity. A top guy like Ja'Marr Chase has all three -  and everyone knows it. But, behind the scenes, sometimes these three things all come together for a true breakout. And, other times, even just two of them are enough.

 

 

 

League-Winning Running Back Sleepers

Kenny Gainwell, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you have seen our Fantasy Football Busts article written by Howard Bender, you know that we are a bit nervous about Bucky Irving. Not only have they been splitting the backfield over there, but this shoulder issue has been problematic for him - and it’s dragging into this offseason. Last year, Rachaad White not only got the pass work but also quietly led the team in goal-line carries. That could be why sportsbooks like BetMGM have Bucky Irving’s over/under touchdown total set only at 5.5.

The Buccaneers let Rachaad White walk and, rather than simply plugging someone else in there like a rookie, they actually decided to UPGRADE that spot. White signed with Washington for one year, $2M, while the Buccaneers paid Kenneth Gainwell two years, $12M to come join them. Gainwell was looking for more money and more work in a better offense after splitting with Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh, and we are willing to bet that he found it in Tampa Bay. Based on our composite ADP, he goes right around pick 100, so he can be had by anyone in drafts without much trouble. 

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For the most part, we were out on the back, they call “Bill” by the time August rolled around last year. We enjoyed the early best ball shares, but the hype machine simply drove his price far too high as things progressed. Which is why it’s a bit shocking to us that Jacory Croskey-Merritt is going so late this year, around pick 120. It feels like a classic “post hype sleeper” situation to us.

The folks who had JCM last year might still be sore because Chris Rodriguez beat him out down the stretch. But Chris Rodriguez is gone, opting to sign with the Jaguars this offseason. Rachaad White should mix in on some pass downs, but he’s not really an early down back, and the money he received (or lack thereof) doesn’t indicate that either. It’s Croskey-Merritt vs. 6th round pick Kaytron Allen and undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. for that early work that should include goal line. Kaytron Allen is a name to know, too, but he often goes undrafted, so you can pivot to him off the wire if need be.  

George Holani, RB, Seattle Seahawks

This is a deep one for sure. But that’s what you guys want, right, deep sleepers? We gave you Kenneth Gainwell around pick 100, so we need something for the sickos out there. And that guy is George Holani, who has quietly been keeping his foot in the door this offseason in Seattle. In fact, he’s been the first back on the field for every meaningful practice so far this year. 

Rookie Jadarian Price is still widely viewed as the favorite to start - and for good reason, he was a first-round pick. But reports are trickling out of Seattle camp that Price is not considered an immediate ‘high-volume’ RB by the Seahawks. Price wasn’t even the starter in college as he played behind Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame, so a heavy workload would be brand new for him. Holani is by far the latest back in ADP that could potentially START for his team in Week One.

League-Winning Wide Receiver Sleepers

Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The floor for Chris Godwin is good. Based on comments made by OC Zac Robinson regarding Ekeka Egbuka being the Z receiver, Chris Godwin will be the slot receiver. Zac Robinson has worked closely with Liam Coen since their days with the Rams, and both guys clearly favor the slot - look at what Godwin did in 2024 with Coen or what Parker Washington did with Coen last year. That alone makes Godwin worth the price of admission at his ADP of ~100.

But there is an even bigger upside looming. In 2023, Liam Coen and Zac Robinson were both with the Rams when Cooper Kupp had the greatest fantasy football WR season of all time. During that season, Kupp ran the sixth most routes of any player from the slot but also stayed on the field for two WR sets. I spoke with a source who has covered the Buccaneers for over a decade, who told me he believes it will be Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin on the field for two WR sets. The floor is solid, but the upside is massive. Before he got hurt the year before last, Godwin was the WR2 in all of fantasy football behind only Ja'Marr Chase. 

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Let’s consider the story of the player we just mentioned, Chris Godwin. He was a talented player, but for the first two years, he was stuck behind established veterans Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. That limited him to a part-time role and capped his upside despite good per-snap numbers and exciting highlights. In the third year, Jackson was gone, and Godwin got a full-time role opposite Mike Evans. He finished as the WR2 in all of fantasy football that season.

Josh Downs has always had good numbers in the spreadsheets in terms of yards per route run, targets per route run, fantasy points per snap, etc. But he was a part-time guy in the slot behind Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman, who played out wide. Well, Michael Pittman has been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they did not sign another meaningful player. Reports are now that Josh Downs has been moving all around the formation in early practices. What do you think happens next to his fantasy value? His current composite ADP is pick 117.

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns

Everyone knows that betting on rookies is a great way to create leverage in fantasy football. The mystery box nature of them means that we have no clue yet how great they truly could be. Someone like Puka Nacua showed up, got a decent role, and took the world by storm. So you will always find folks willing to bet on rookie wide receivers. But you know what else is a good way to create leverage? Betting against them.

With that, we aren’t fully opposed to taking stabs at KC Concepcion or Denzel Boston. But there is a world where Jerry Jeudy is still the top wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, a team we expect to have to throw often. After Andrew Berry picked the two rookies, he turned around and clarified that Jerry Jeudy is still the “bell cow” WR for the Browns. We are talking about a 27-year-old wide receiver who is smack in the age apex for the position, who just had 1,200 yards the year before last. And his ADP is a whopping 180 on average, meaning he goes completely undrafted at times in fantasy football drafts. 

 

 

 

League-Winning Quarterback Sleepers

Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota Vikings

There is a stigma attached to Kyler Murray. That maybe he has attitude problems, that he’s not a “winner”. Well, that might even be true. But when you sort all quarterbacks in the history of the NFL by fantasy points per game, Kyler Murray comes out at eight overall. So we don’t really care what he does with his free time or if he even wins games - all we care about is that he starts.

Over the last 10 years, every QB to start 16 games and run five times a game has finished top 10 in fantasy football. That’s 85 carries. Given his playstyle, Kyler Murray basically has that as his floor. Oh, and he also has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Johnson, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones to throw to. Possibly the best set of receiving weapons in the entire league. If I don’t get an elite QB, Kyler Murray will be somewhere on my roster.

Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns

I get it. You don’t like this guy. I don’t either. If you play one casual family league for fun, don’t draft players you don’t want to root for. But some of us are playing some DEEP leagues. Superflex leagues, twenty-round best ball drafts. Dynasty formats where the waiver wire is EMPTY. Big tournaments with massive prizes. In leagues like that, I don’t really care how I win. Just that I win.

So we aren’t telling you to get out and buy his jersey. What we are saying is that, because of the stigma around this guy, he is DIRT cheap. Remember how we said Kyler Murray is QB8 all-time in fantasy points per game? Even including the Browns games, Watson is QB4. That’s how good he was. He might be completely washed, but in a fair competition, he should easily beat Shedeur Sanders. And there’s a chance that this guy is still okay at football. At QB33 in ADP, even if he finishes as QB20, that is quietly a big value jump in formats like superflex or best ball. And he could do even better than that. 

League-Winning Tight End Sleepers

Chig Okonkwo, TE, Washington Commanders

This one comes with a bit of a caveat. The Commanders have $43M in cap space. And rumors are swirling about Brandon Aiyuk, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Keenan Allen. A move for one of those guys might hurt his value - depending on who it is. And we will come back and update this article as well as the rankings if that happens.

But, as of now, they have not done anything. Terry McLaurin is the top WR, and they don’t really have an established WR2. The incumbents are guys like Treylon Burks and Luke McCaffrey, and they drafted one meaningful WR in the third round in Antonio Williams. That leaves the door wide open for Chig Okonkwo, a super athletic big slot tight end with 96th percentile speed. He said himself that he’s excited to actually be a focal point of an offense after signing a big contract with Washington. And we’re excited too. 

Greg Dulcich, TE, Miami Dolphins

This might sound blasphemous to some folks - especially those who play dynasty leagues. But talent is not the most important factor for redraft leagues. Opportunity is. Why do you think it is that we see so many “one hit wonders” in fantasy football? The games have to be played and, sometimes, a guy just ends up in a situation where he is set to get the ball a lot.

And that’s how things are lining up for Greg Dulcich. The Dolphins are tanking by design. They have more dead cap than active spending. Who even is the best wide receiver on the team? Malik Washington? Tutu Atwell? Jalen Tolbert? They had a bunch of top 100 picks and did not pick a rookie WR in that range. And, one of the two rookies they did pick, Chris Bell, is coming off a torn ACL. The scheme Bobby Slowik runs is actually pretty friendly to the pass-catching tight end, and Greg Dulcich could actually LEAD this team in targets, let alone be top two. I don’t think many people realize that, as he goes undrafted in many leagues. 

 

 

 

Previous Fantasy Alarm Sleeper Hits 

We truly hate to brag. And what matters more than anything is the upcoming 2026 season, not the past. But there is a reason Fantasy Alarm wins so many FSWA and FSGA awards, including Football Writer of the Year, Best Radio Show, and Best Product. The Yin & Yang Tight End strategy alone has produced numerous league winners from Mark Andrews and Darren Waller to Logan Thomas and Trey McBride. Guys like Michael Pittman (WR10 until Daniel Jones got hurt) helped set the tone and players like Michael Wilson (the only undrafted player to finish in the top 10 of ESPN’s most rostered championship players) helped close it out. If you stick with the Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide this season, good things will happen.