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10 Dynasty Fantasy Football Deep Sleepers (2026)

10 Dynasty Fantasy Football Deep Sleepers (2026)

Every dynasty fantasy football season, a few overlooked rookies, buried backups, and forgotten prospects turn into league-winning assets seemingly out of nowhere. Our collection of Featured Pros experts highlights their favorite deep dynasty sleepers to stash before the rest of your league catches on.

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Dynasty Fantasy Football Deep Sleepers

What RB (non-rookie) outside of the Top 250 in our Dynasty Consensus Superflex Rankings are you targeting either in startup dynasty drafts or via trade and why?

MarShawn Lloyd (RB – GB)

MarShawn Lloyd has been plagued by injuries ever since the Packers took him in the third round of the 2024 draft, and his troublesome injury history dates back to college, where he tore an ACL and missed time with other maladies. But if Lloyd can stay healthy this year, he’ll have a chance to be the top backup to Josh Jacobs, who dealt with a medley of injuries himself last season. The 5-9, 220-pound Lloyd has an intriguing blend of speed (4.46) and power that made him one of the more intriguing RB prospects in the Class of 2024, and it’s too early to rule him out as a potential contributor.”
Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

“Call me crazy, but I can’t quit the talent of MarShawn Lloyd. Yes, I know his career to this point has been crushed by injuries and Chris Brooks has hoped him on the depth chart, but if Lloyd can prove that the injuries are FINALLY behind him in 2026, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play a complementary role behind Josh Jacobs with the upside to step up as Green Bay’s lead guy if Jacobs were to miss any time. I know it has been a second, but I’d like to remind everyone that in his final two seasons in college, he ranked inside the top 20 in yards after contact per attempt, breakaway rate, and elusive rating (per PFF).”
Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

Jordan James (RB – SF)

Christian McCaffrey was the overall RB1 last season, but he also turns 30 years old in a couple of weeks and touched the ball an absurd 450 times last season when you include the playoffs. Hopefully, he stays healthy, but if not, then second-year man Jordan James could be in line to see some major work. He didn’t get any touches until the postseason, where he logged six carries for 28 yards and one catch for seven yards. We know James has some skills, though. In his final season at Oregon, he rushed for 1,267 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry while scoring 15 touchdowns. James doesn’t carry much standalone value, but if McCaffrey were to miss time, he’d become a potential fantasy starter in Kyle Shanahan’s offense — as long as he can beat out rookie Kaelon Black, that is.”
Wolf Trelles-Heard (FantasyPros)

“I don’t believe 2026 third-rounder Kaelon Black is a superior player to the 49ers’ second-year RB, who was discussed as the RB2 behind Christian McCaffery earlier this offseason. Jordan James was at least on the active roster last season, ahead of Issac Guerendo, toward the end of the season. All things being equal, I’d rather have James (just turned 22 years old in March), even if he was drafted later than Black. It’s not as if the 49ers regime has a great track record of drafting Day 2 RBs. Black is 24.5 years old and played for six seasons in college (suffered a serious knee injury early in his career). His career dominator rating is below 10%. College target share is below 5% (caught five passes last season). Also split time with Roman Hemby in 2025 (who I liked more pre-draft). Hemby was the team’s leading rusher in 2025. And we can all presume that CMC probably won’t be as injury-free two years in a row, creating an opportunity for another RB to emerge behind him on the depth chart.”
Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Jarquez Hunter (RB – LAR)

Jarquez Hunter is the first guy who would be on my radar. Last season for the Rams, both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum stayed healthy, but sooner or later they’re going to miss time. Hunter is a battering ram who has some burst. All he needs is an opportunity.”
Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Kaelon Black (RB – SF)

Kaelon Black feels like another classic 49ers running back bet where dynasty managers will either completely buy in or avoid entirely because we’ve seen this story before. Black rushed for over 2,200 yards across four college seasons and brings legitimate speed that can create explosive plays once he gets into space. The backup RB role in a Kyle Shanahan offense has real fantasy value, and there really isn’t much proven competition behind Christian McCaffrey right now. If opportunity opens up, Black has the athletic profile and offensive environment to become one of the more interesting stash bets in this class.”
Paul Brenton (EPB1983Dynasty)

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What WR outside of the Top 250 in our Dynasty Consensus Superflex Rankings are you targeting either in startup dynasty drafts or via trade and why?

Konata Mumpfield (WR – LAR)

“I have Rams WR Konata Mumpfield stashed on 4-5 of my dynasty rosters. A seventh-round pick in 2025, Mumpfield had only 10 catches for 92 yards and one touchdown as a rookie, but he’s earned a steady drumbeat of praise from Rams head coach Sean McVay and teammates, including veteran Davante Adams, who has reportedly become Mumpfield’s mentor. Mumpfield had an early college breakout, with 63-751-8 for Akron as a true freshman, and he had 217 catches over four college seasons at Akron and Pittsburgh. The Rams were widely expected to take an early-round wide receiver in this year’s draft, but they didn’t take one until the sixth round, when they drafted CJ Daniels from Miami-Fla. It’s possible the Rams’ confidence in Mumpfield’s development was one of the reasons they felt comfortable waiting to draft a receiver.”
Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Jalen Nailor (WR – LV)

“I didn’t need to go too far past No. 250 to find my guy: Jalen Nailor. He signed a three-year, $35-million deal this offseason and could emerge as the Raiders’ WR1. Last season, while playing behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, he averaged 15.3 yards per catch (WR10) and 1.90 fantasy points per target (WR29). The 5’11”, 186-pound wideout also had a surprising 72.7% contested catch rate, good for fifth-best among all receivers. There isn’t much behind him on the depth chart, so Nailor has a very real chance to be the No. 2 target earner in Las Vegas behind tight end Brock Bowers.”
Wolf Trelles-Heard (FantasyPros)

Greg Dulcich (TE – MIA)

“Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich. I know he’s not a WR, but he could be a sleeper to emerge as his team’s No. 1 target given how barren the depth chart is. New Miami Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan was asked on Kevin Clark’s podcast at the owners’ meetings: Which guy on the roster are you excited to take the leap and get better in 2026? His answer was Dulcich. The Dolphins tight end finished 2nd among TEs in yards per route run from Week 9 onward. 2nd in YAC/catch among tight ends, trailing only Tucker Kraft. FREE.”
Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Ted Hurst (WR – TB)

“All Ted Hurst, all the time. After finishing his collegiate career with an 84th percentile collegiate target share and a 67th percentile college dominator, Hurst heads to the Bucs after getting selected in the third round of the NFL Draft. I would not be surprised if Hurst cracks the Week 1 starting lineup with only Jalen McMillan to beat out for that job. The runway for Hurst in Dynasty is clearer than it might appear at first glance. The Bucs could easily let Chris Godwin walk after the 2026 season, as they have an out with a 16.3 million dead cap hit, which would also be Godwin’s age-31 season. Hurst has the talent to make noise in Tampa Bay and the talent that I want to bet on in every startup.”
Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

Darius Slayton (WR – NYG)

“Well, I’m less confident about the long-term, but for 2026, I’ll roll with Darius Slayton. Slayton is currently recovering from surgery to fix a core muscle injury, but that’s a lot better than what his teammate, Malik Nabers, is rehabbing from: reconstructive knee surgery. There is zero chance Nabers will be 100% this year. In fact, the Giants are worried Nabers won’t be ready for Week 1. The other WRs will have to pick up the slack, and one of the beneficiaries could be Slayton.”
Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Brenen Thompson (WR – LAC)

Brenen Thompson feels like the type of rookie WR dynasty managers either completely ignore or suddenly become obsessed with after one preseason touchdown. Chargers GM Joe Hortiz compared Thompson’s size and speed profile to both Tyreek Hill and DeSean Jackson, which tells you exactly how this team views his explosiveness. Ladd McConkey is the clear No. 1 WR, but there is still room for another receiver to carve out a role behind him. Players with this kind of speed tend to force people to pay attention quickly once the big plays start showing up.”
Paul Brenton (EPB1983Dynasty)

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