6 Late-Round Defenses Experts Draft (2026 Fantasy Football)

When preparing for your fantasy football drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy football rankings compared to fantasy football average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable fantasy football sleepers below. And check out all of the fantasy football sleepers experts love in our consensus sleeper rankings.

• 2026 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
• Fantasy Football Draft Kit
• Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
• Best Fantasy Football Rankings

Fantasy Football Sleepers Experts Draft: Defenses (DST)

Here are fantasy football sleepers the experts love to target in drafts.

Late-Round Defenses to Target in Fantasy Football Drafts

The Chiefs have the third-easiest schedule to start the year (easiest through first four weeks). Gives ample time for Patrick Mahomes to be brought up to speed (also has a bye in Week 5) and for the defense to prove it’s worth. KC added to its defensive line this offseason but lost key secondary pieces, suggesting they face a surplus of pass attempts in 2026. They also finished 30th in opponent fumbles and last in non-offensive TDs (0). Week 1 is at home versus Denver, followed by matchups versus Indy, Miami and Las Vegas.
– Andrew Erickson

The Bengals were a wretched defense last year (second-worst in fantasy points per game), but I think they take a massive leap in 2026 with all of their offseason additions. This offseason, they added via trades, free agency, and the NFL Draft Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook, and Cashius Howell. D.J. Turner remains one of the best shadow corners in the NFL. If the defense comes together like I think it can, they can easily be a top ten fantasy defense for 2026.
– Derek Brown

The Lions have the easiest schedule in the NFL (specifically through the first 5 weeks of the season). With them also due to experience positive injury regression on the defensive side of the ball, they are an easy sleeper DST to snag with your last pick. Generated the 4th-most passes defended last year (but just 13 interceptions) and a top-10 defense according to DVOA. Also dropped the second-most interceptions (9).
– Andrew Erickson

The Cowboys could be another worst to (near) first defensive story in 2026. Last year, they were DST26 in fantasy points per game, but this offseason they kept adding talent to the defensive side of the ball. Caleb Downs, Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, and Jalen Thompson could help transform this defense into a nasty unit. Yes, their secondary, namely their starting corners (Cobie Durant, DaRon Bland, and possibly Shavon Revel), has to prove they are up to the task, but the talent is there. We just have to see it manifest on the field.
– Derek Brown

Who are Fantasy Football Sleepers?

Fantasy football sleepers are players who have a strong chance to exceed expectations and become surprise difference-makers for fantasy managers.