Fantasy Football Sleepers 2026

These 5 Sleepers are AMAZING value in 2026!

5 Players Your League Mates Are Sleeping On (And Why You Shouldn’t)

Fantasy championships are not won in the first two rounds.

They’re won by identifying players before the public catches up — before ADP inflation, before copy-and-paste rankings, and before your league mates realize what just happened.

That’s exactly what this article is about.

These are five fantasy football sleepers for 2026 who are currently being undervalued, overlooked, or flat-out ignored in early rankings. And that’s exactly where we want them.

We’re talking late-round value, upside, role growth, and ADP leverage — the stuff that actually wins leagues.

Let’s dive in.

What Makes a True Fantasy Football Sleeper?

A real sleeper checks at least two of these boxes:

• Finished strong late in the season

• Role expanding, not shrinking

• ADP depressed due to situation noise

• Young, ascending talent

• Was blocked by volume, not ability

Every player on this list qualifies.

💤 Sleeper #1: Tyler Shough (QB)

Let’s start with a quarterback that almost no one is talking about — and that’s a mistake.

Tyler Shough is currently sitting around QB20 in early rankings, yet the underlying data screams upside.

2025 Season Snapshot

• QB26 finish

• 2,384 passing yards

• 10 passing TDs / 6 INTs

• Didn’t fully start until midseason

Here’s the key part — late-season production:

From Week 14 through Week 18:

• 21.3 fantasy points

• 18.0 fantasy points

• 21.0 fantasy points

• 21.8 fantasy points

That’s top-10 QB production over a meaningful stretch.

Why He’s a Sleeper

• Young quarterback trending upward

• Minimal weapon support in 2025 (still produced)

• Offense expected to add talent

• Ideal Superflex and QB2 target

If Schuff maintains that late-season pace over a full year, you’re looking at top-10 QB upside at QB20 cost.

That’s league-winning value.

Tyler is great sleeper value in 2026 (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

💤 Sleeper #2: RJ Harvey (RB)

Running back sleepers are harder to find — which is exactly why RJ Harvey stands out.

2025 Season Stats

• 146 rushing attempts

• 540 rushing yards

• 3.7 yards per carry

• 7 total touchdowns

• Finished around RB16

At first glance? Meh.

But context matters.

The Committee Problem

Harvey shared the backfield with J.K. Dobbins:

• 153 rushing attempts went to Dobbins

• That workload is not guaranteed to return

If Dobbins leaves or is reduced, Harvey’s volume jumps immediately.

Why He’s a Sleeper

• Role already established

• Offense stabilizing around Bo Nix

• TD efficiency strong

• ADP still reflects committee fear

Give Harvey 200+ touches, and suddenly you’re staring at a top-12 RB profile — at a mid-round price.

💤 Sleeper #3: Tre Harris (WR)

This one is flying completely under the radar.

Tre Harris is currently sitting around WR61 in early rankings — and that’s wild.

Why 2025 Was Misleading

The Chargers brought back Keenan Allen, who soaked up:

• 122 targets

Those targets came directly out of Harris’s opportunity.

Meanwhile:

• Quinton Johnston saw 85 targets

• Ladd McConkey absorbed volume but regressed badly

Why 2026 Is Different

• Keenan Allen is likely gone

• Chargers invested real draft capital in Harris

• Clear path to WR1 or WR2 role

Why He’s a Sleeper

• Talent never disappeared

• Situation suppressed production

• Massive target upside if Allen exits

At WR61 pricing, Harris is exactly the type of late-round WR who flips leagues.

💤 Sleeper #4: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR)

Yes, really.

People are DONE with Marvin Harrison Jr. — and that’s exactly when you pounce.

2025 Reality Check

• Finished around WR33

• Injury-plagued season (appendix, durability issues)

• Quarterback instability

• Lost momentum to Michael Wilson

That said…

Why He’s Still a Sleeper

• Elite draft pedigree

• Physical traits still unmatched

• Contract motivation approaching

• Likely QB change coming

This is a make-or-break year for Harrison — and historically, that’s when talent spikes.

At WR33 cost? That’s baked-in downside with legitimate WR1 upside.

BTJ is a much better value in 2026 fantasy over last year! (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)

💤 Sleeper #5: Brian Thomas Jr. (WR)

Here’s where recency bias gets people in trouble.

Brian Thomas Jr. burned fantasy managers in 2025 — but context matters again.

2025 Drop-Off

• 42nd among WRs

• 91 targets

• 48 receptions

• 707 receiving yards

• 2 touchdowns

That’s a sharp decline from his rookie year:

• 133 targets

• 87 receptions

• 1,282 yards

• 10 TDs

Why It Happened

• ADP skyrocketed into Rounds 1–2

• Volume diluted with new weapons

• Defensive attention increased

Why He’s a Sleeper Now

• ADP reset into WR30 range

• Travis Hunter may focus more on defense

• Talent hasn’t vanished

This is the classic post-bust value window — the exact moment smart drafters buy back in.

Bonus Sleeper to Monitor: Emeka Egbuka

Keep an eye on Emeka (currently around WR29).

• Strong early-season production

• Faded late due to injuries and target shifts

• Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both injury risks

If the offense funnels toward youth, Egbuka could explode in Year 2.

Final Thoughts: Why These Sleepers Matter

Fantasy football sleepers aren’t about hype.

They’re about:

• ADP inefficiencies

• Role expansion

• Talent + opportunity alignment

Every player on this list is being drafted below their realistic ceiling — and that’s where championships are built.

Let your league mates chase last year’s box scores.

You’ll be drafting value, leverage, and upside.