4 Fantasy Football Sleepers to Target in Drafts (2026)

Let’s dive into four fantasy football sleepers to target in 2026 drafts.

Fantasy Football Sleepers to Draft

Note that the average draft position (ADP) of each player is pick 150 or later.

Jonah Coleman (RB – DEN) | ADP: 157.3 (RB50)

Denver’s backfield could be a fantasy nightmare. A three-running-back running-back-by-committee (RBBC) situation is possible, if not probable. RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins were a complementary backfield in 2025. Harvey was a quality receiver but an inefficient runner, while Dobbins was an efficient runner and a non-factor as a pass-catching weapon.

Coleman has arguably the best blend of rushing and receiving skills in Denver’s backfield. He suffered a PCL sprain against Wisconsin in his final collegiate season but had the following impressive, well-rounded numbers in his first eight games:

15.9 rush attempts per game
80.4 rushing yards per game
5.1 yards per carry
3.57 yards after contact per attempt
0.24 missed tackles forced per rush attempt
13 rushing touchdowns
3.6 targets per game
0.18 targets per route run (TPRR)
3.4 receptions per game
39.5 receiving yards per game
1.96 YPRR
2 receiving touchdowns

It might take time for Coleman to overtake Harvey, Dobbins or both on the depth chart, if he does at all. Yet, there’s still time for him to impress Sean Payton and offensive coordinator Davis Webb enough before the season to open the year with some role in the backfield.

In the first preseason game for the Broncos, Coleman played 14 snaps and had four rush attempts, 24 rushing yards, four routes and four pass-blocking snaps. He has an interesting skill set and warrants stashing on benches early in the season.

Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF) | ADP: 157.0 (WR57)

I highlighted Khalil Shakir as a deep-league draft target, and I’m even more bullish on his outlook after Buffalo’s first preseason contest. In the linked piece, I noted Shakir’s elite yards-after-catch (YAC) ability and stated he could be “used downfield a bit more this season.”

Per PFF, Shakir ran six routes against the Panthers in the preseason opener for the Bills, and he had two targets, two receptions, 41 receiving yards and a 15.5-yard average depth of target 9aDOT). He played seven passing snaps, running six routes, with three coming from the slot and four out wide. Both of Shakir’s targets were between 10 and 19 yards.

Erik Turner from Cover 1 did an excellent job of breaking down Shakir’s first target and deployment on the team’s first play of the preseason.

I’m doubling down on my suggestion of Shakir as an exciting player to leave in drafts, with more upside than meets the eye.

Jalen Coker (WR – CAR) | ADP: 165.0 (WR58)

Jalen Coker began last year on injured reserve (IR) with a quad injury and didn’t make his season debut until Week 7, when he was eased into action. Coker finished last year on a high note, playing well down the stretch.

Coker produced the following numbers in his final eight games from Week 11 through the Wild Card Round:

80% route participation rate
28.9% air yards share
17.3% target share
0.19 TPRR
4.4 receptions per game
57.8 receiving yards per game
2.03 YPRR
24.1% first-read rate
0.096 first downs per route run
3 end-zone targets
4 receiving touchdowns
11.1 half-PPR points per game
10.1 expected half-PPR points per game

Coker’s 11.1 half-PPR points per game would have ranked as the WR16 among wideouts with at least eight games played in 2025 if amassed over the entire regular season. Coker has demonstrable upside.

MarShawn Lloyd (RB – GB) | ADP: 187.3 (RB68)

According to Pro-Football-Reference, MarShawn Lloyd has played a whopping 10 offensive snaps since the Packers picked him 88th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Injuries completely derailed the first two years of Lloyd’s career. He spent the offseason getting to the bottom of his hamstring issues, and he’s presently healthy.

Lloyd rattled off the following numbers in 11 games in his final collegiate season at USC in 2023:

10.5 rush attempts per game
74.2 rushing yards per game
7.1 yards per carry
3.97 yards after contact per attempt (YCO/A)
9 rushing touchdowns
1.6 targets per game
0.09 TPRR
1.2 receptions per game
21.1 receiving yards per game
1.22 YPRR

Lloyd is a dynamic player when healthy and should be Josh Jacobs‘ primary backup running back.

Lloyd wouldn’t be the most interesting handcuff under normal circumstances. However, there’s still a chance Jacobs is suspended for his off-field conduct.

Potential discipline looms over a group of NFL players, including Rams WR Puka Nacua and Packers RB Josh Jacobs.

Cc: @tyschmit

???? https://t.co/mTwS98lcWO pic.twitter.com/e5fW2ZoQwV

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 11, 2026

Lloyd’s ADP would skyrocket the moment any Jacobs suspension were announced. He shouldn’t go undrafted, as he’s precisely the type of player gamers should stash instead of drafting a kicker or defense.