The 2026 NFL season kicks off tonight, and (most) last-minute fantasy football drafts will wrap up today.
The Seattle Seahawks (-3) will face the New England Patriots (+3) in the NFL's season opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with the game nationally televised on NBC and available to stream on FuboTV.
Leading up to that rematch of last season's Super Bowl, we have unveiled our fantasy football sleepers at tight end, quarterback, wide receiver and running back. For our purposes, a "sleeper" is a player we believe has a chance to significantly outperform their average draft position (ADP), making them a potential steal.
With that kind of definition, some "sleepers" could be well-known players — they're just being drafted lower than they should be and
could end up being steals at their ADP. With that context in mind, here's a look at our 25 sleepers at TE, QB, WR and RB for the 2026 NFL season, with ADP data provided courtesy of FantasyPros.com.
25 sleepers to target in fantasy football
1. TE George Kittle (ADP 100): It feels odd listing Kittle as a "sleeper," but he could be a great value at his ADP. Kittle missed six games last season and still ended the season as TE13, and he's now being drafted as TE11. All signs seem to point toward Kittle suiting up in Week 1, and if he returns to his old form, he could easily be a top-10 TE.
2. TE Kenyon Sadiq (ADP 157): The rookie tight end is coming back from hernia surgery, and he plays for the Jets, which helps explain why he's being drafted as TE20 despite setting TE records at the NFL combine this spring. The blazing-fast rookie is an amazing athlete, and he has the potential to become the NFL's next breakout TE.
3. TE Chig Okonkwo (ADP 162): Now getting a fresh start with the Commanders, Okonkwo will team up with quarterback Jayden Daniels. Zach Ertz drew 91 targets in Washington's offense in 2024, and he had another 72 targets in 13 appearances last fall. They're obviously different players, but Okonkwo should get plenty of looks in 2026.
4. TE Terrance Ferguson (ADP 168): The Rams used a second-round pick to select Ferguson last year, and he finished his rookie season strong. Ferguson drew four targets in both Weeks 16 and 17 (scoring touchdowns in each game) and another five targets in L.A.'s first playoff game. Rams coach Sean McVay has praised Ferguson's versatility, noting that the tight end "plays every single skill position except for halfback for us." We'll see if that leads to a fantasy breakout in 2026.
5. TE Evan Engram (ADP 299): The veteran tight end largely underwhelmed in his first season with the Broncos, but Denver's new offensive coordinator, Davis Webb, is one of Engram's old teammates and a good friend. Will that lead to more targets for Engram this season? Perhaps. He's being drafted as TE35 after finishing last year as TE29 without Webb calling plays. Expect more targets for Engram in 2026.
6. QB Jaxson Dart (QB11): Dart barely qualifies as a sleeper at this point, but it's easy to see him cracking the top ten at his position after ranking third among QBs in rushing yards per game last season. The key for Dart will be staying healthy. If he stays on the field, Dart could have a breakout fantasy season.
7. QB Matthew Stafford (QB12): OK, maybe Stafford won't repeat another QB3 campaign, but he's being drafted as QB12 this summer. Reality will probably end up somewhere in the middle, and that could make him a great value.
8. QB Patrick Mahomes (QB14): Even if Mahomes never returns to the record-breaking numbers from earlier in his career, he finished as QB11 in 2025 and should be able to match that at the very least. Mahomes has since recovered from last season's knee injury, but it remains to be seen if the QB will now scale back his running.
9. QB Bo Nix (QB15): Nix finished as QB7 in 2025 and the Broncos added Jaylen Waddle this offseason. So why is Nix now being drafted as QB15? Denver has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, they improved the backfield this summer, and Waddle should provide a huge boost to the offense. Nix might be the biggest steal on this list.
10. QB Kyler Murray (QB17): Murray is just two years removed from a QB10 finish in 2024, and he now has a fresh start in Minnesota with Justin Jefferson as his No. 1 receiver. It's very easy to imagine Murray wildly outperforming his QB17 ADP.
11. WR Parker Washington (ADP 69, WR30): Travis Hunter is expected to have a key role at cornerback for the Jaguars this fall, and after Washington finished as WR21 in 2025, landing him at WR30 could be a steal. Washington posted career highs in receptions (58), receiving yards (847) and touchdowns (five) last fall, and his stock is trending up.
12. WR Michael Wilson (ADP 75, WR35): After hauling in 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, Wilson was rewarded with a three-year, $75 million contract extension. That marks the fifth-largest contract in Cardinals history, so it's clear Arizona has big plans for Wilson, who finished as WR10 in 2025.
13. WR Pat Bryant (ADP 216, WR71): Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton are the big-name receivers in the Broncos' offense, but Bryant has impressed this summer after finishing strong in the second half of his rookie season. He appears poised to serve as Denver's No. 3 receiver this fall.
14. WR Tank Dell (ADP258, WR83): You can draft Dell late and stash him on injured reserve to begin the season. Once he returns, Dell could emerge as the Texans' third- or even second-choice receiver.
15. WR Devaughn Vele (ADP 256, WR92): Vele drew 26 targets in his final four appearances with the Saints last fall before suffering a shoulder injury. He will now likely serve as the No. 2 receiver behind Chris Olave, and New Orleans should have a pass-heavy offense in 2026 as they are expected to trail in most games.
16. RB Javonte Williams (ADP 29, RB15): Yes, it seems odd to have Williams listed as a "sleeper," but Williams is being drafted three spots lower than he finished in 2025, and he should have a similar role this fall. Williams is the lead back in Dallas, and that includes goal-line duties. He rushed for 11 touchdowns in a high-scoring offense last fall.
17. RB Quinshon Judkins (ADP 37, RB21): He'll lose some snaps to Dylan Sampson, but Judkins appears poised to serve as the Browns' RB1 in 2026. After totaling 998 yards from scrimmage and scoring seven touchdowns as a rookie, Judkins will look to take the next step in Year 2.
18. RB David Montgomery (ADP 51, RB22): No longer a complementary back in Detroit, Montgomery is expected to get an opportunity to lead the Texans' backfield this fall. Woody Marks is still there, but Montgomery is a proven, capable running back.
19. RB Jadarian Price (ADP 65, RB27): Zach Charbonnet will miss at least the first four games of the Seahawks' season, giving Price a great opportunity to prove he deserves undisputed RB1 duties as a rookie.
20. RB J.K. Dobbins (ADP 81, RB32): Dobbins will begin the year as the Broncos' starter, and he ranked among the NFL's leading rushers before suffering a foot injury ten games into the 2025 campaign. Dobbins is convinced his injury woes are behind him. If he's right, he'll be a big steal at his ADP.
21. RB Blake Corum (ADP 78, RB33): It sounds like Corum might take away even more of Kyren Williams' workload this fall. And if Williams is ever unavailable, Corum's value will skyrocket. He is one of the most valuable handcuff running backs in fantasy football, with plenty of standalone value as well.
22. RB Kenny Gainwell (ADP 89, RB38): Bucky Irving is expected to lead the Buccaneers' backfield, but his receptions dropped from 47 to 30 between his first and second seasons. Gainwell, meanwhile, is coming off a 73-catch season in Pittsburgh. He could be a big sleeper in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues.
23. RB Jonathon Brooks (ADP 118, RB39): After returning from a torn ACL in college, Brooks made his NFL debut midway through his rookie season and tore his ACL again in his third game. He then missed his entire second season while recovering from that injury. Now healthy again, Brooks' main competition is Chuba Hubbard, who averaged an underwhelming 3.8 yards per carry last season. It wouldn't be shocking to see Brooks eventually emerge as the Panthers' starter.
24. RB MarShawn Lloyd (ADP 168, RB44): With Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list, Lloyd could get an opportunity to begin the season as the Packers' starter. The former third-round draft pick is a bit of an unknown because he essentially missed his first two years in the NFL due to injuries and appendicitis.
25. RB Jonah Coleman (ADP 126, RB48): RJ Harvey appears poised to take on a receiving role in Denver's backfield this fall, which could leave Coleman as the backup between-the-tackles runner in case Dobbins is ever unavailable. The rookie is worth stashing as a handcuff option behind Dobbins.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Fantasy Football: 25 sleepers for 2026 NFL season
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