10 Fantasy Football Sleepers & Values to Draft (2026)

Let’s talk fantasy football sleepers. Sleeper means different things to different people, but at their core, sleepers are players who could significantly outperform their average draft position (ADP).

Below are 10 fantasy football sleepers to target at their current expert consensus ranking (ECR) on FantasyPros. Let’s dive in.

Fantasy Football Sleepers

Quarterback

Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC) | ECR: QB13

It’s really, really weird writing Patrick Mahomes’ name in a “sleepers” piece. Yet, his inclusion is fairly self-explanatory. Mahomes finished as the QB13 in fantasy points per game in 2023 and 2024. Before that, he never finished lower than QB6. If Mahomes starts Week 1, or at least avoids the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the season, QB13 is his floor.

Tyler Shough (QB – NO) | ECR: QB22

Tyler Shough had 10 rushing attempts inside the 10-yard line last season in nine starts. That was more than Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, Cam Ward and Dak Prescott. In many fantasy scoring formats, a rushing baseline for quarterbacks is gold.

Travis Etienne Jr. joined the Saints this offseason, which should help the offense as a whole. But, arguably of more importance, there’s an improved offensive line with David Edwards coming to town. Shough was hurried 28 times in nine starts in 2025. That was more than Aaron Rodgers, Jaxson Dart and Daniel Jones.

Lastly, in his rookie season, Shough had a higher on-target throw percentage than Matthew Stafford, Trevor Lawrence and Baker Mayfield. With Chris Olave and now Etienne, Shough has the rushing baseline and foundational weapons to outperform his QB21 ranking.

Cam Ward (QB – CAR) | ECR: QB24

I am ecstatic to see what a Brian Daboll and Cam Ward partnership looks like. Jaxson Dart was a viable fantasy starter when he was active last season under Daboll. Daniel Jones, when he wasn’t fumbling twice a game, was productive for fantasy purposes under Daboll as well.

I’m not letting a middling rookie year distract from the 2025 pre-draft excitement surrounding Ward, who will only be 24 next season. At QB24, Ward is basically undrafted in most standard formats.

Running Back

Bucky Irving (RB – TB) | ECR: RB19

I am far from a Kenneth Gainwell believer. Bucky Irving, if healthy, has a chance to dominate backfield touches this upcoming season. Injuries plagued him in 2025, but he’s still not even 24 years old, with a 1,500+ scrimmage yard rookie season under his belt.

Monitor reports from camp this summer regarding his health. Seventeen touches per game from an efficient running back is fantastic when he’s being drafted as the RB19.

Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX) | ECR: RB26

Travis Etienne Jr. is in New Orleans, leaving Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen to man the backfield for the Jaguars. I’m betting on Tuten rising above the rest. Tuten, a fourth-round pick in 2025, earned 97 touches for 386 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season.

The situation in Jacksonville is favorable, too. In 2025, the Jaguars under Liam Coen ran the fourth-most plays in the NFL, scored the sixth-most points and recorded the eighth-most rushing attempts.

Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) | ECR: RB32

Jeremiyah Love is certainly in play for the Titans at pick No. 4 in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, at this moment, Tony Pollard is the No. 1 RB in Tennessee. He’s 28 and has amassed more than 1,000 all-purpose yards five seasons in a row. If Cam Ward takes the next step in Year 2, the Titans’ offense could improve drastically. A lead running back on a good offense at RB32? I’m sold.

Wide Receiver

DJ Moore (WR – BUF) | ECR: WR28

DJ Moore took a step back last season in Chicago. He caught just 50 passes for 682 yards. Since 2019, Moore has amassed 1,000+ all-purpose yards in a season five times. He’ll be entering his age-29 season.

The last time Josh Allen fed one player 100+ receptions was in 2023 when 30-year-old Stefon Diggs was targeted 160 times and finished with nearly 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. If Moore can bounce back to even a percentage of his usual self, good things should be coming his way.

Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF) | ECR: WR41

Ricky Pearsall was a first-round pick in 2024, and his first two NFL seasons have been hampered by injuries, playing just 20 games. Last season, he showed some signs of improvement, however. His yards per game, yards per reception, receptions per game and yards per target all improved from his rookie season. He also played significantly more snaps in the slot.

If healthy heading into next season, Pearsall could own the slot role with Mike Evans drawing attention on the outside. Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne‘s combined 153 targets have been vacated, which could give Pearsall a prime opportunity to showcase the talent that got him selected in the first round.

Matthew Golden (WR – GB) | ECR: WR63

Speaking of first-round talent, I present Matthew Golden. The 23rd pick in 2025, Golden couldn’t quite earn a consistent role in the offense last season. However, at WR64, I am more than happy to take a flier on Golden, who ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash. Additionally, Romeo Doubs was the team leader in targets (85), and he is now a New England Patriot.

Tight End

AJ Barner (TE – SEA) | ECR: TE21

I think the Super Bowl was an indication of things to come for AJ Barner. The 23-year-old caught all four of his targets for 53 yards and a touchdown in the biggest game of his life. Barner will outperform his TE21 ranking while opposing defenses focus on stopping Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Barner was the TE14 last season. I don’t see any reason why a healthy, young, ascending talent would take a seven-spot dip next season.