Add Your Heading Text Here

Home Page Big Board

2026 Fantasy Football Sleepers: 10 Late-Round Picks Set to Explode

September 1, 2026 No Comments

Is there any feeling better than nailing the perfect Late Round Fantasy Football sleeper? As someone who hasn’t felt grass or a woman’s touch, I can’t name one.

Last year wasn’t my best (*cough* Jaydon Blue and JJ McCarthy), but I still got Trevor Lawrence and Jacory Croskey-Merritt right. In years prior, my hit Sleepers Hit Rate has been much better– I nailed Bucky Irving in 2024 along with Rico Dowdle and Jonnu Smith, plus Tank Dell and Kyren Williams in 2023) so I am aiming to get back to some smashes this season.

Let’s dive into my favorite 2026 Fantasy Football Sleepers. Here are 10 “Penny Stocks” that get drafted well after Pick 120+, but could explode.

For 25+ more 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers, as well as Round-by-Round strategy, targets, and fades check out The Wolf’s 2026 Fantasy Football Guide! Support a small fantasy brand & dominate your draft.

Guide Previews

2026 FANTASY FOOTBALL SLEEPERS: Quarterbacks

TYLER SHOUGH, QB, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

(ADP138, QB21; Wolf = 120, +18)

Tyler Shough took over as the starter in Week 9. The Saints got swallowed up by the Rams, but Shough got his NFL legs under him.

From Week 10 onward, Shough was the QB9. He had 20+ FPs in half of his games:

Shough flashed some real Konami Juice, too. His season-long rushing pace, based on his numbers in those stats, would’ve been 87 rushes,  366 yards, 6 TDs.

Granted, part of Shough’s appeal was the addition of explosive rookie WR Jordyn Tyson, who is now on the short term IR and will miss at least four games to start 2026.

Still, Shough didn’t have Tyson at his disposal for his QB9 end-of-season run, so I am not overly worried. In fact, this could help Shough peak during the most important fantasy stretch run weeks. The Saints have been investing heavily in their line and currently rank 12th in preseason consensus rankings:

We know Kellen Moore’s offense will operate at a breakneck pace. He ranks 6th-most in plays per game (62.1) since 2021, and his offenses have ranked 4th, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 24th, and 1st in pace. Fantasy points breed from opportunity, and Moore’s offenses create plenty. They just ranked 8th in pass plays per game (34.8), despite having God Awful Rattler under center for half the season.

Plus, their division is complete dog mess, which should create plenty of shoot-out opportunities. Vegas has the Saints projected to rank 23rd in PPG (21.5), but I think they smash this number and Shough proves to be a huge reason why.

QBs who can gain points not only from throwing, but from rushing, often offer the ultimate “Cheat Code” in fantasy football. 

Kyler Murray (QB-MIN)- ADP: 129, QB17 (Wolf = 112, +17)

Since 2000, 45 QBs have played 12+ games and averaged 5.5+ rush attempts per game. Of them, 38 finished as Top-12 QBs (84.4%) and 26 finished Top-6 (58%) in FPPG.

No QB to post 750+ rushing yards has finished lower than 9th in FPs, even if their passing was minimal. 

20-of-22 QBs with 100+ rush attempts have finished as a Top-12 QB, with the lone exception Cam Newton during his dreadful Patriots run (still was QB16), and Marcus Mariota in 2022 (QB15). Most of those finished in the Top-5, too.

If you needed further convincing, Tim Tebow was the QB7 in FPPG, despite ranking 42nd in attempts per start & 38th in passer-rating. 

In typical settings, rushing yards are 2.5x more valuable than passing, and rushing TDs are 1.5x more valuable than passing scores. As such, QBs that offer “leg points” are infinitely more valuable than typical pocket-passers.

It’s simply the biggest QB edge you can find in fantasy.

This “Konami Code” concept lead me to Drake Maye as my No.1 QB Target of 2025. While I don’t feel nearly as convicted in the talent, Kyler Murray could be a massive value in 2026 fantasy.

Anytime Kyler Murray has played 8+ games, he’s finished Top-12 in FPPG. Considering his competition is JJ McCarthy, among the worst NFL QBs we’ve ever seen, I like Murray’s odds of playing at least 8 games.

Granted, I’m not a huge Murray guy. He’s soft, undisciplined, and way too inconsistent. The fact he needed a Call of Duty clause written into his contract tells you all you need to know.

But here’s the deal for 2026. Murray is on a one-year, prove-it deal. This is why he chose Minnesota, the ultimate QB-friendly environment. 

In O’Connell’s three years as HC before last year’s disaster, the Vikings ranked:

Pass Attempts: 672 (3rd), 631 (4th), 545 (18th)

Passing Yards: 4818 (2nd), 4700 (1st), 4319 (6th)

Passing TDs: 30 (4th), 30 (4th),  35 (5th)

Passing Fantasy Points: 299 (3rd), 284 (6th), 301 (5th)

Prior to last year, O’Connell’s Vikings also ranked Top-6 in Pass Rate Over Expectation (PROE) and Top-5 in Red Zone Pass Rate in every season under O’Connell, too.

This, despite his QBs being Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, Josh Dobbs, among others. Shoot, Mullens topped 300+ yards in 3 of 4 starts, including 411 and 396 in two of his games! He was the QB10 in this span.

In fact, during that 2023 season – four starts from Dobbs, three from Mullens, two from Jaren Hall… and the Vikings STILL led the NFL in passing yards. These scrubs combined to be Fantasy’s QB8! In 2024, Sam Darnold was the QB9 by Fantasy Points Per Game, despite some really bad injuries to his offensive line. He ranked top five in passing yards, top five in passing touchdowns.

Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and now Jauan Jennings form an elite trio of WRs, easily the best weapons Murray has ever thrown to.

We know Murray has fantasy greatness in him. He was the QB6 and QB5 in FPPG during his second and third seasons, and he ranks 8th All-Time in FPPG (19.38):

Much of the fantasy success can be attributed to his rushing upside. Murray has one season where he stayed healthy enough to hit 100+ carries. That year he hit 819 rush yards and 11 (!) rushing TDs.
Considering how abysmal the Vikings’ run-game looks, Murray could accrue another 8-10 rushing TDs no problem.

Between the weapons, the elite passing scheme, and the fantasy-friendly skill set, Murray has all the ingredients to explode. If I trusted his own talent and motivation more, I’d draft him more than any other QB. Still, I am +17 spots in my 2026 Fantasy Football Big Board.

2026 FANTASY FOOTBALL SLEEPERS: Wide Receivers

De’Zhaun Stribling (WR-SF): ADP 120, Wolf 78, +42

De’Zhaun Stribling is my favorite 2026 Fantasy Football WR Sleeper. Granted, his price has been skyrocketing after a MASSIVE preseason, and he hovers around 120 ADP composite right now, while creeping towards 100 on Yahoo and Sleeper.

Still, I had to include Stribling on this list, because no other WR going after Pick 100 drips in this much upside. I have him a whopping +42 spots vs ADP and +57 spots ECR on my 2026 Fantasy Football Big Board.

Physically, Stribling is a monster: 6’2”, 206 lbs, 4.36 forty – the definition of a size-speed terror (97th percentile):

When asked about the pick in April, Shanahan first cited Stribling’s high-end blocking ability. This has been fully on display throughout Training Camp, where teammates and coaches have fallen in love with Stribling’s willingness to throw his body on the line.

However, Shanahan also then mentioned, “I really fell in love with him with the ball as a route runner, how fast he is, how big he is, how good his hands are, how physically he played with the ball.”

Stribling did have 335 YAC during his final collegiate season, and is also a great Red Zone threat. Shanahan also mentioned the “Jauan Jennings role” early-on. Don’t forget, Jennings was the WR25 and WR30 in FPs the past two seasons, with 6 and 9 TDs.

Despite some intriguing measurables, solid praise, and impressive statistics, Stribling still seemed like a long-shot to produce in Year 1. The 49ers had added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, while Ricky Pearsall was expected to fully break out.

Then, Training Camp hit. Ricky Pearsall suffered a season-ending PCL injury. Additionally, Christian Kirk suffered a calf-strain, and will miss at least the first four games of 2026. Mike Evans has suffered so many different injuries this preseason, Hayden Winks joked you could teach an anatomy class:

Plus. George Kittle is still recovering from his Achilles surgery. He is moving around phenomenally and looks like a decent bet for Week 1. Still, the pass-catchers in the 49ers’ room have been dropping like flies.

Consequently, Stribling has been fast-tracked into the WR2 role for the 49ers (and possible WR1 if Evans can’t get back on the field). In the process, Strib has done nothing but impress.

The Training Camp hype started early. In the first few days, QB Brock Purdy gushed, “Dude is a baller, and I mean that. It’s hard to say that for a rookie, right off the jump, but just seeing him run routes…He’s a great route runner. He’s smart. He’s learned the playbook really quick, which is awesome. And then, on top of that, you can see his strength, too. When he’s going up against guys and creating separation…this guy’s going to be a guy that’s going to come in and play.’”

Purdy added, ““The dude has proven to all of us that he’s reliable and we can trust him…I have a lot of trust in him right now.” This is rare for a rookie this early.

After the first week of practice, Dave Lombardi wrote: “The good news for the 49ers is that De’Zhaun Stribling continues to shine. Easy speed and acceleration at 6-3 is a special trait. He went SKY HIGH to grab a pass from Purdy today. Impressive….His strides are long, his cuts have been smooth, and he’s caught everything thrown in his direction.”

Stribling then had to miss a few practices due to a minor hamstring injury returned from his minor hamstring injury, and immediately reclaimed his throne as the most impressive WR on the field.

Just look at this hype storm, from some writers I highly respect:

Grant Cohn called Stribling “the best Wide Receiver on the team, Full Stop!”

Cohn even went as far to say Stribling was even outplaying Carnell Tate (more on that later):

This sentiment was also shared by beat writer Matt Lively:

Elite film-guru and NFL-mind Ted Nguyen fell in love with Stribling at his recent visit as well:

Plus, LT Trent Williams poured more gasoline onto the Stribling Hype Flame during ESPN’s Inside Training Camp Series:

While generating hype is one thing, actually seeing it materialize is another. Stribling seems to be in the perfect spot with the 49ers.

This offseason, the 49ers reportedly made a concerted effort for “bona fide return to offensive explosiveness this season.” Purdy said adding these “third-level” players is especially important:

“We’ve been able to bring in personnel…The third-level throws down the field are definitely a thing we delved into and looked at this offseason. How can we get those kinds of plays and explosives? In order to get those, you need the right guys to do it.I think we have shown that we have some speed now. From what I’ve seen the first two days, being able to air it out and get guys out in those positions, man, for me, I’m like, ‘Let’s go.’ It brings a whole other dynamic to our offense”

Purdy has been incredible on deep throws since becoming a starter, ranking 2nd in deep passer rating:

During 2023, the offense they are trying to recreate, “Purdy completed 33 of 57 passes for 1,060 yards on throws that traveled more than 20 yards downfield. His adjusted completion rate of 61.4% on such throws was the best on Pro Football Focus’ record, which goes back over two decades, and his 12:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio was also superb.”

They’ve lacked the deep weaponry in recent seasons with Aiyuk’s injury and then drama. Even still, Purdy’s 52.9% adjusted completion percentage on throws traveling over 20 yards was second-best.

Stribling is the perfect WR for the task, and has reportedly been thriving with his fast-track to the starting lineup. He’s been getting deep and stacking up yards after the catch too.\

Plus, the team is moving him all-over in an attempt to create mismatches and allow Stribling to shake-free deep. They envision him as a “big slot” mismatch:

Best of all? We’ve already seen some live NFL action of this mismatch working out to perfection.

Against the Titans on Thursday, Stribling put on an absolute clinic. It’s one thing to “outshine” Carnell Tate on the practice field. It’s another to outshine him, and every other player, in an actual game.

In roughly 1.5 quarters of action and on just 3 drives, Stribling accrued 8 targets, 7 receptions, and 63 yards. This included multiple difficult contested catches, including a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch for 32 yards:

The next week, Stribling lit up the Chargers in joint practices for multiple TDs, and then came out firing with Brock Purdy in Preseason Week 2. He ultimately hauled in 3-of-3 targets from Purdy, which accounted for all but one of Purdy’s completions on the night. Stribling also caught a nice downfield strike from Mac Jones, and ultimately finished the night with 4 rec, 46 yards on 5 tgts. Crazy, but Stribling also dropped what would’ve been a bomb TD too. 

Per Ryan Paganetti, Stribling is the first player in at least 20 years to total 11 catches within the first 20 minutes of two consecutive preseason games. The next closest were Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas with 10 each. Great company to keep!

In just 2 preseason games and roughly a half of action, Stribling accrued 13 targets, 11 receptions, and 109 yards. Pure insanity! This is truly giving off Puka Nacua vibes in just how dominant Stribling has been since Day One, and how it’s manifesting on the field immediately.

Ultimately, there’s no play-caller + QB duo I trust more than Shanahan and Purdy. This offense has always sustained multiple mouths, and Stribling’s role as a move-around, mismatch size-speed slot, will be invaluable. Especially with the 49ers’ expressed desire to return to a downfield attack, Stribling is making himself irreplaceable.

As such, De’Zhaun Stribling is my favorite 2026 Fantasy Football WR Sleeper, and plan to draft him on every team this summer.

KC Concepcion (WR-CLE): ADP = 123, Wolf = 88, +35)

KC Concepcion truly has the upside to be the best rookie WR out of this class. At minimum, he has the skill-set to be the most QB & fantasy friendly.

In my eyes, Concepcion’s the best separator of all the rookie WRs, with insane acceleration (and deceleration), and incredible lateral agility. FantasyPoints’ Brett Whitefield, among the best film experts in the game, agrees. He ranked Concepcion as the No.2 Rookie WR in his 2026 Prospect Guide, offering the following praise:

“There isn’t a WR in this class who generates separation as easily as Concepcion. He is a legitimate three-level threat but excels primarily in the short and intermediate parts of the field. He pairs a detailed, technically sound approach to route running with that elite separation burst to generate big-time separation at will. He is great at getting off press with a diverse set of releases, play strength, and technique. He torments defenders once he gets into their blind spots and gets free access to hitches/comebacks, as well as utilizing throw-by techniques to cleanly escape underneath the DB’s leverage on his breaks.”

And that’s not all. Not only can Concepcion “torment defenders” and get open at will, he is also perhaps the best YAC threat in the class. Concepcion played extensive RB snaps at North Carolina State his freshman year, racking up 41 carries for 320 yards (7.8 YPC); as a true freshman, he was the offensive centerpiece as a hybrid chess piece, accruing 112 touches, 1159 YFS, and 10 TDs.

Ultimately, Whitefield agrees, calling Concepcion “Best in class after the catch” while detailing how “Concepcion has excellent contact balance and tackle-breaking ability, but perhaps more importantly, he uses his short-area quickness and burst to destroy pursuit angles in the open field. His open-field vision is also incredible. He looks like a running back with the ball in his hands.”

Sounds like the “Cheat Code” WR skill set to me! Lay-up targets due to elite separation skills and dynamic ability once the ball is in his hands, plus the ability to get deep?! This is the ultimate fantasy-friendly skill-set, akin to Amon-Ra St. Brown:

We have already seen KC’s smooth separation and especially his rugged YAC ability on display this preseason. In the Browns’ first contest, Concepcion racked up 4 touches (3 rec & 1 rush), 41 yards, and 1 TD in roughly a half of action, as well as a team-high 4 targets.

Granted, the Browns don’t profile as the best landing spot. The QB play, which will open the season with Deshaun Watson and likely transfer to Shedeur Sanders at some point, promises to be among the worst in the league.

On the positive, though, Todd Monken is a phenomenal play-caller. He led every playcaller in the NFL by both adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A) in the pass game and YPC in the run game over the past five years. Yes, Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson help, but that’s insanely impressive regardless of context. He also had Jameis Winston slinging it all over the yard for 320.3 passing ypg in 2018 (5th-all time), and won back-to-back championships calling plays for Georgia.

Monken has comp’ed Concepcion to Zay Flowers “because of his separation skills, twitch, and mentality.” Flowers led the NFL in percent of yards coming on Busted Coverage (15.2%), which can often be attributed to the scheme. Cleveland’s beats noted how Concepcion will move all-around the formation:

““Concepcion’s potential in the offense aligns with what Browns coach Todd Monken did with former first-round pick Zay Flowers when Monken was Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator. That means moving Concepcion around the formation and getting him matched up on a safety or linebacker so he can utilize his speed.”

Throughout OTAs, it was clear “The Browns were getting KC Concepcion the ball “in a bevy of ways” during the team’s offseason program, per @DanielOyefusi. “The plays to KC varied from “deep shots to screens to run plays.”

We saw that “target hog” upside in Concepcion’s only half of Preseason action, and Monken reaffirmed this the following week:

Monken took it a step further, praising Concepcion for his football IQ and ability to learn all the positions, and how this will make him the ultimate mismatch weapon:

“He’s handled us moving him around at an elite level. It’s not easy to – all right, you’re at Z, OK, you’re at F, you’re at X. We’re going to ask you to do all of these things within our offense, and he’s been impressive, KC has, in terms of that. And just studying. And at night if he has any questions, he certainly will contact the staff during the day. He wants to learn and that that’s been probably the most impressive. We knew he was explosive. We knew he would be competitive at the catch point, but we didn’t know how diligent he would be and receptive to coaching.”

Although we never saw Concepcion again this preseason, he was a star during joint practices with the Bills. Per @AkronJackson, Concepcion was the “MVP” of joint practices, one that “will be a focal point of the offense when the season begins:

Rashid Shaheed (WR-SEA): ADP 145, Wolf 129 +16

I’ve always been a huge Rashid Shaheed fan. He was always deadly deep down the field, as well as with the ball in his hands. In fact, in 2024, Shaheed was averaging 14.7 FPPG prior to Derek Carr’s injury – he had one goose egg, but otherwise had scored 16.3, 20.9, 17.7, and 18.6 FPs! He was the WR15 in Half-PPR at the time.

Last year, a mid-season trade to the Seahawks threw Shaheed’s season into flux. He was still a key contributor on special teams and clearly flashed his game-swinging talent. However, Shaheed did not become a meaningful part of the offense, catching just 15 passes for 188 yards.

In 2026, that is expected to fully change. The Seahawks paid Shaheed more than Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker earned, with a 3-year, $51 million deal that included $34.735M in Guaranteed Money! 

Thus far, Shaheed has been a far greater presence. According to Jeremy Fowler, who observed OTAs, “Rashid Shaheed had a major spring. He and Sam Darnold are hitting it off… They’re going to give more short and intermediate stuff to him. He’s going to be a big time player for Seattle.”

This Shaheed + Darnold rapport has carried over into training camp so far: “And if offseason workouts and the early stages of camp are any indication, it’s pretty clear that, given a full offseason and training camp to work with quarterback Sam Darnold and the rest of the offense, Shaheed will be much more involved in the passing game. Granted, it’s only a few days into camp, but the ball is finding Shaheed quite often and it’s clear he and Darnold have been building a strong rapport over the past few months.”

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said, “To see the improvement in the timing between him and Sam, it was really exciting going into the offseason, and I think they’ve picked up right where they left off…I know they put in some work this offseason as well throughout the summer, and that’s definitely paying dividends. 

“Look, it’s something that we just have to keep attacking. What are the ways we can get him the ball? What are his top routes? How’s the timing work out? All those types of things. That’s why you need all these reps so you can have a great understanding of that, so when we’re playing our real games, we’re just doing what we’ve been practicing this whole time.”

Observers noted Shaheed was not just cast in a “deep” field-stretching role, but heavily involved on crossers and in YAC opportunities while looking “like a top target.”  

Sam Darnold has been an elite intermediate-to-deep passer for the past two seasons. In terms of FPG on deep (15+ air yards) play-action passes:

#1, #2, and #4 on that list all played with Darnold. Intriguingly, Shaheed has that skill set – he now gets to play with the King Maker of this range.

Ultimately, I do worry the Seahawks may be too run heavy for any one outside of JSN to be a steady fantasy presence. Yet, Shaheed clearly has the skills, and has put in the work with Darnold, the ultimate QB for this archetype. I am buying it hard.

Bonus Deep Sleeper: Zachariah Branch (ATL-WR): ADP 211, Wolf 159, +52

Some say Zachariah Branch is just a screen merchant. I say: who cares?

Sure, Branch had 45.5% of his career targets coming behind the line of scrimmage, which is obscene. 82.7 percent of his catches came within nine yards of the line of scrimmage! 54% of his career receptions were screens, and 76% of his yards came from out of the slot. Ultimately, his aDot was a paltry 5.2 yards.

So yes, there may be some limitations to his game and route tree, at least to start. In my eyes, though, whichever team took Branch (ultimately the Falcons) were going to be aware of his strengths and limitations. What Branch is good at = very good for fantasy production – lay-up targets and explosives.

Branch is deadly with the ball in his hands.  He averaged a pretty insane 7.97 yards after catch per reception, nearly a first down of YAC with every catch! He never topped a 65% route-rate, but did post a solid 26% targets per route run, confirming his target-magnet ways. He led the FBS with an 87.1 percent catch rate when targeted (friendly routes, yes – but still reliable on them!)

He might be only “177 lbs,” but Branch is absolutely rocked up. He’s far closer to the “Muscle Hamster” Tyreek mold. He also blazes a 4.35 forty (96th percentile). He is one of the rare few who can take a screen pass and outrun the entire defense.

Plus, I can’t fault the guy for how he was used in college. He has the speed and lateral twitch to certainly add branches to his route tree at the NFL-level! 

Throughout OTAs, Branch mixed in with the ones. This Atlanta depth chart looks like one of the easiest in the league to ascend, with only Drake London and Kyle Pitts, along with Bijan Robinson, as threats. 

The results have been strong, too. Footage of Branch roasting top CB AJ Terrell has emerged. Tua said Branch actually reminds him of Jaylen Waddle. For all of his faults, Tua is the perfect QB for a gadgety type of player – he can hit WRs in stride as well as anyone, allowing them to keep full momentum.

Ultimately, Branch is a last round flier with limitations, but one that drips in explosivity, a fantasy-friendly skillset, and an environment where both of those could be showcased from Day One. I’m loading up.

If you’re enjoyeing this content and would like to support The Wolf and a small fantasy-brand like us, check out The Wolf’s 2026 Fantasy Football Guide! He gives plenty of more 2026 Fantasy Football sleepers, and so much more on the perfect Draft Strategy to feast in 2026 Fantasy Football!

Click the banner below or link above, and check out more Free Previews if on the fence!

Guide Previews

2026 FANTASY FOOTBALL SLEEPERS: Running Backs

Keaton Mitchell (LAC-RB): ADP 168, Wolf 119, +49

My most drafted player in early 2026 fantasy football drafts? Keaton Mitchell. Yes, his current “undisclosed injury” has me a tad worried. Still, Mitchell won’t be starting the season on the IR, and sounds even likely for Week 1:

Mitchell is the definition of speed. He posted a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and had the fastest 10-yard split (1.48 seconds), too, ranking in the 99th percentile. He trailed only De’Von Achane and Jahmyr Gibbs in his class. 

His speed isn’t just timed, either. It pops every time he’s on the field.

Mitchell constantly flashed his explosiveness in college. He had only two games with under 100 yards rushing during his senior year, and led the CFB in 15+ yard runs. Ultimately, Mitchell racked up 2,584 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns over his final two seasons at East Carolina.

Mitchell finished with a 7.2 collegiate YPC (94th percentile). He was also a highly capable receiver, posting an 8.9% target share (70th percentile).

More importantly, Mitchell’s big-play ability immediately carried over into the NFL. As a rookie, among RBs with 40+ attempts, Mitchell ranked:

  • 1st in YPA (8.4)
  • 1st in Yards after Contact per attempt (5.68)
  • 1st in Breakaway Yards Percent (whopping 60.6%!)
  • 2nd in Elusive rating (142)
  • 2nd in FPs per opportunity (1.2)
  • 5th in YPRR (1.82)
  • 1st in YPRec (12.0!)

On just 47 carries, he ripped off 12 runs of 10+ yards (15%)! Even more impressive, he trailed only De’Von Achane and Breece Hall in 40+ yard runs (on less than half the touches!) Mitchell’s 92.5 PFF grade trailed only Achane’s during his rookie season.

Mitchell was essentially trading blows all year with De’Von Achane for the most explosive RB in the NFL (more on why that’s so important later).

Unfortunately, he suffered a horrendous knee injury that robbed him of almost his entire 2024 season. With Derrick Henry on the roster, the Ravens had no incentive to rush Mitchell back, and he barely sniffed the field.

In 2025, Mitchell did receive some change-of-pace work and looked fully back to himself. Mitchell once again ranked 1st in YPA among RBs with 50+ carries (5.8). Ten of his runs went for 10+ yards (17%), and he ranked third in Breakaway Percentage (46%). According to FantasyPoints Data, Mitchell actually led the NFL in Explosive Run Rate with 10.2%, barely beating out Achane (10.1%)

According to Next Gen stats, Mitchell also led the NFL with an average run speed of 14.49 miles per hour. 

Clearly, the speed has returned. Mitchell has rivaled Achane‘s explosivity on a per-touch level. The opportunity simply hasn’t been there.

Great, I get he’s fast, Wolf… but why does this matter? 

Because no play-caller can maximize this speed better than Mike McDaniel, who reportedly put out a “Wanted Poster” for Mitchell the second he became a free agent. This is especially true in the run game.

In fact, McDaniel and the team apparently wanted Mitchell so bad they called him within 20 seconds of news breaking he’d be a free agent, which Mitchell valued:

“Just the energy they brought. As soon as, with that time period, where I was now a free agent … they called me just like that,” Mitchell said with a snap of his fingers. “So, just the energy and the welcome, it was great. I appreciate everybody…“Definitely motivating to be in a room where I feel like I have a chance and a shot to do big things.”

As explored with Hampton, over the past 3 seasons, the Dolphins rank 2nd in Backfield Expected FPs (Volume) at 26.2, trailing only Kyle Shanahan, and finished fourth in points from RB runs, behind only Detroit (Gibbs), Baltimore (Henry + Lamar), and Atlanta (Bijan). They were third in points per run, behind the Lions and 49ers. This was with a mediocre line and overall offense – the Lions were 1st in total points, the 49ers fourth, the Dolphins 11th. 

McDaniel’s offenses also rank 3rd in 10+ yard run rate (14.1%) since 1999. Remember, this is Mitchell’s calling card.

Achane obviously influenced this, but McDaniel also loved throwing to his RBs. His RB target share over the past three seasons: 24.7% (1st), 23.1% (1st), 22.8% (5th). McDaniel ranks 3rd in designed targets per game among active playcallers (4.29, tied with Liam Coen and behind only Matt LaFleur and Andy Reid) and targeted RBs at a 20% or higher rate all four seasons.

Since entering the league, De’Von Achane leads the NFL in receiving yards on designed targets (547).

104 of Keaton Mitchell’s 184 career receiving yards have come on designed targets (57%, most of any RB with 175+). He ranks 2nd in YPT on these plays (10.4).

Based on the clips and reports from camp, as well as Preseason Usage, Mitchell’s receiving usage could spike under McDaniel. Keaton Mitchell ran 42.9% of his routes out of the slot in preseason Week 2. The highest slot rate by any RB last season (min. 10 targets) was De’Von Achane at 24.7%. He also had a 20 yard beauty called back by a penalty:

McDaniel himself told ESPN’s Dan Graziano: “He’s a matchup issue for every defense. I think he has a lot of pass-game value that he hasn’t been able to really represent in his career, but it’s showing so far in camp.”

And there’s been plenty of clips of Mitchell streaking downfield for some huge plays:

Indeed, I love Hampton. But don’t forget, in 2023, both Mostert AND Achane finished as Top-5 RBs in FPPG.  Miami averaged 137.5 rush yards (5th) & 1.5 rush TDs (3rd), and almost 30 RB FPs per game. The dominance was steady. Between Mostert and Achane, the Dolphins produced at least one 20+ FP RB in 11-of-17 weeks.

As such, Mitchell really could be “Diet De’Von Achane” in 2026. The price tag (ADP 168) is basically free to find out, and I am clearly still buying in Best Ball, where Mitchell goes around ~130. In fact, that format should be even friendlier, as I could see Mitchell being a bit of a boom-bust headache in redraft.

This is an offense that could completely erupt as a whole, and the Line projects to be Top-10 if they can stay healthy. While Hampton undoubtedly is the top RB to target here, he also costs an early 2nd round pick. Mitchell is your way to get access to this explosive run game at a borderline free cost. Just make sure this undisclosed injury truly is nothing. 

Chris Rodriguez (JAX-RB): ADP 136, Wolf = 113, +22

When asked how he would describe Chris Rodriguez, HC Liam Coen said, “A glass-eater.”

If you somehow need more conviction to draft Rodriguez, seek help. However, I’ll still provide it.

Travis Etienne vacated a ton of snaps and volume. He commanded 65.1% snap share (RB11), 69.2% opportunity share (RB13), 260 carries (RB8), 52 targets (RB10), and 62 Red Zone Touches (RB5!). 

We know this is a juicy backfield to be a part of. Coen’s offenses rank 7th in total backfield fantasy volume (23.3 xFP / G & 3rd most designed RB-targets) the past two seasons. 

He LOVES utilizing his RBs in the Red Zone, too. Both Tuten (RB20) and Etienne (RB8) ranked in the Top-20 for Red Zone FPs scored; the year prior, Bucky Irving and Rachaad White were both Top-15! So Coen has now facilitated four Top-20 Red Zone FPs the past two seasons.

With 62 Red Zone touches up for grabs, Rodriguez could feast.

Rodriguez and Coen have history together, as C-Rod was Coen’s lead back at Kentucky. Coen ripped off 224 carries, 1377 (!) rushing yards, and 9 TDs, good for a healthy 6.1 YPC!

Coen was asked about what he looks for in his RBs: “What I look at, personally, is rushing yards over expected, and yards after contact. That’s what I give a crap about. It’s like, what are you doing outside of what we’re blocking, and what does that look like – because I can’t coach that.”

Per Jared Smola, Chris Rodriguez’s 3.0 yards after contact per carry over the last 2 seasons leads all 69 RBs with 100+ carries over that span. Rodriguez also was second in yards after contact per attempt in 2025, trailing only Bijan Robinson! Per FantasyPointsData:

Additionally, Rodriguez forced a broken tackle once every 8.6 carries, the fourth-best rate in the NFL.  Certainly, Rodriguez checks Coen’s “yards after contact” box.

He is similarly as effective in rush yards over expectation. In fact, Rodriguez’s 0.7 rush yards over expected per attempt tied Jahmyr Gibbs for 14th among RBs, and his 45.5% rushing over expected ranked 4th in the league!

Rodriguez had a 58 percent success rate, fifth among running backs, which capture his hard-nosed, physical style that keeps the chains moving and the offense on schedule.

Unsurprisingly, Coen went immediately after Rodriguez when he became a free agent. Between the familiarity, and the contact-breaking, efficient rushing, the fit was a no-brainer. The surprising two-year, $10 million deal with $6.2M guaranteed (more guaranteed money than Rico Dowdle even earned) emphasizes how much the team values him.

We know the Jaguars will score points. We know a lot of them will come from the RB position. Yet, Tuten (Round 5-6) and Rodriguez (Round 13+) are still available at steep discounts. I have no problem taking both on a team and seeing how it plays out. Tuten is definitely the higher-upside play, but at a much lower-cost, Rodriguez is a great way to gain access to this valuable backfield. 

Plus, the Jaguars reportedly listed Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez as co-starters on their first official depth chart. While this alone doesn’t shift much in my mind, Rodriguez has also been rotating in fairly equally with Tuten with the first-team, especially in Red Zone and goal-line drills. 

This makes Rodriguez even more of a major target of mine at his 120-140 ADP. Liam Coen’s backfield as a whole has ranked at least Top-7 in Expected FPs in every season he’s called plays, so both he and Tuten can eat. As the cheaper option with far less opportunity cost, Rodriguez remains my higher-rostered player in Best Ball, despite recognizing Tuten is the true “smash if he hits” play.

Mike Washington (LV-RB): ADP ~144, Wolf = 123, +21

Mike Washington (ADP 174, Wolf 181, -4)

In the fantasy space, there were few bigger winners from the pre-draft process than Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. After posting a freakish 10.0 RAS score, many believed he could skyrocket up NFL Draft boards.

He ultimately slipped to the 4th round, landing with the Raiders, which is looking like an absolute steal in hindsight.

First looking at Washington’s individual profile, it’s hard to ignore just how explosive he can be. Per PFF, he logged 30 explosive runs last year, ranking 23rd among 279 qualified FBS rushers. 48.3% of yards came on runs of 15+ yards, 3rd-highest in the class.

Rich Hribar also provided an intriguing note on Washington’s profile: “When given room to run, he delivered chunk gains. Washington posted a 9.6 yards per attempt on runs when contacted beyond the line of scrimmage.” 

That 9.6-yard YPA mark ranked 2nd in the class, behind only Jeremiyah Love. 

This stat in particular could be massive, because the Kubiak Zone Scheme is all about giving backs space to assess the defense and zip downhill. Washington should fit it like a glove.

This has already been on display this preseason, too. Washington has totaled 23 carries for 168 yards (7.3 YPC), ripping multiple highlight-reel plays in the process:

There are certainly real holes in Washington’s profile. Despite the athleticism and explosiveness, Washington struggled with fumbles (1.8% fumble rate) and lacked down-to-down consistency in college.

Still, Washington appears to have the inside track to the RB2 role behind Ashton Jeanty in Klint Kubiak’s offense, making him a nice stash.

“Kubiak expects Jeanty to have a heavy workload, but that shouldn’t take away from Washington playing meaningful snaps. He had reps with the second team and occasionally with the first-team offense during the offseason program,” wrote ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.

In fact, after Washington’s impressive preseason, Kubiak himself implied the rookie RB will have a role: “I think that they’re both gonna prepare to play a lot of football. And as these games unfold, you kind of react to the game. I think we got two guys that we’re really excited about.”

Kubiak has spent the last two years building his reputation as one of the league’s premier offensive architects and playcallers. In 2025, his Seahawks ranked 8th in yardage, 3rd in points, and 14th in EPA per play. In 2024, before the Saints were ravaged by injury, the offense was rolling, scoring 27-plus points in four of their first 11 games.

Kubiak will now be tasked with turning around a Raiders offense that was anemic in 2025, and if he’s even moderately successful, Washington will prove to be a fantasy-relevant option should Jeanty miss time

On Sunday, Ashton Jeanty suffered a major injury scare. He could not put any pressure on his leg and his teammates gathered around him for a prayer.

Thankfully, a worst-case, season-ending injury has been avoided. Per Adam Schefter, Jeanty suffered an ankle sprain. As of today, his timetable is uncertain, but it is “not believed to be a long-term injury.”

For now, I have bumped Jeanty into Mid-Round 2 (RB12) while we await official word. A high-ankle sprain could still linger and cause missed time. However, if he is locked and loaded for Week 1, Jeanty will regain his spot in the Top-12. Mike Washington remains an elite Penny Stock and Handcuff with Benefits (up to 144 overall for me) For now, I have Jeanty sliding in around 19. 

Another week, another strong preseason performance for Washington (8 rushes, 49 yards, 6.1 YPC).  He has now brought his preseason total to 23 carries for 168 yards (7.4 YPC). He’s forcing Kubiak to “reimagine” the backfield  distribution. Jeanty’s injury still remains unclear but seems on the minor side, so we might not get the early-season starts we hoped for. Still, Washington has proven to be among the elite Handcuff with Benefits, and is at the top of my Sleeper RB list.

Kubiak: “I think that they’re both gonna prepare to play a lot of football. And as these games unfold, you kind of react to the game. I think we got two guys that we’re really excited about.”

2026 Fantasy Football Sleeper Tight Ends:

Terrance Ferguson (LAR-TE): ADP 182, Wolf 148 (+34!)

When evaluating the 2026 TE landscape, there isn’t a player with a profile quite like Terrance Ferguson’s. A 2025 second-round pick out of Oregon, Ferguson was deployed as a rotational deep threat in the Rams’ offense as a rookie.

He drew just 25 targets in 2025, but his 18.3-yard aDOT jumps off the screen. That’s a rare role for a tight end.

Given Ferguson’s skill set, though, his usage was logical. He’s one of those “pseudo tight ends” that have grown in popularity in recent years; he’s effectively an uber-athletic, hulking (6’5”, 252 pounds) wide receiver masquerading as a tight end.

He’s the epitome of a matchup nightmare. He can use his speed to blow by larger/slower defenders downfield while having the frame to bully smaller DBs.

Heading into his second NFL season, there’s plenty of buzz about Sean McVay and the Rams making the most of what TFerg brings to the table.

The Rams lack a true WR3, opening the door for Ferguson to take advantage of the team’s pivot to multi-TE sets and become the go-to downfield threat in the offense.

The opportunity should be there for Ferguson and he possesses a rare profile. McVay is the ultimate offensive genius, and he’s been deploying Ferguson all over the formation. McVay gushed about him:

“He’s so smart. I think what can’t be misunderstood or minimized is how smart this guy is. He plays every single skill position except for halfback for us, and some of the things we ask of him, he does some of the roles we ask of our backs. And so he’s done a great job… that repetition, and when you’re conscientious like he is and you’re able to be coached and you’re secure enough to be accountable for where you can grow and stay humble when things go well, he’s really had a nice camp and really been impressed, not surprised by what he’s done.”

He’s ultimately lined up all-over (F, Z, Y, X), and he’s even shown tremendous improvement as a blocker, which should keep him on the field more often. Essentially, beats speculate Ferguson is the pseudo WR3 behind Puka and Adams.

This was certainly apparent in joint practice vs. the Cowboys, were Ferguson absolutely dominated:

Sure, Ferguson is in a rotation. Yet, as the No.3 pass-catcher behind the physical Puka Nacua and 34-year old Davante Adams, Ferguson could ultimately leap to the number two weapon should injuries strike.

Ultimately, I want pieces of a McVay-Stafford offense, and Ferguson is the cheapest ticket that carries legitimate upside.

Juwan Johnson (NO-TE): ADP 151, Wolf 130 (+21)

In light of Jordyn Tyson’s hamstring injury that’ll require 2+ months of healing, Juwan Johnson, last year’s TE8, has become a must-target if you wait on the position. I bumped him over Chig Okonkwo, my previous top TE Target in the Round 10-12 range.

Last year, Johnson finished 7th in targets (102), 5th in receptions (77), and third in receiving yards (889) among TEs last year. He was a Top-12 TE in 53% of his games, including four Top-5 efforts! He achieved this despite the lowest TD rate since his rookie season, and Johnson is a proven TD scorer – he had 7 TDs on just 66 targets in 2022, and 4 TDs on just 22 targets in 2021. If those numbers trend upward with Tyler Shough, Johnson could spring into the Top-5 TEs.

Even before Tyson’s injury, Saints’ Beat Nick Underhill was calling Johnson “criminally low.”

I now fully agree. I’d take Johnson even ahead of Mark Andrews, who goes 2+ rounds ahead of him right now.

If you enjoyed this content and would like to support The Wolf and a small fantasy-brand like us, check out The Wolf’s 2026 Fantasy Football Guide! He gives plenty of more 2026 Fantasy Football sleepers, and so much more on the perfect Draft Strategy to feast in 2026 Fantasy Football!

Click the banner below or link above, and check out more Free Previews if on the fence!

Guide Previews