5 Running Backs to Avoid in Fantasy Football 2026
February 2, 2026Fantasy Football Sleepers 2026
These 5 Sleepers are AMAZING value in 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.
