Identifying fantasy football sleepers this early in the offseason is all about projecting opportunity before depth charts are finalized. Roles will change, but savvy managers get ahead by tracking talent + potential paths to volume.
These players aren’t guaranteed contributors (yet), but they’re worth monitoring as rosters evolve heading into 2026.
Early Quarterback Sleepers
Kyler Murray (Minnesota Vikings): Murray may not feel like a traditional sleeper, but he’s woefully underperformed in his career. Playing under the tutelage of Kevin O’Connell with a Vikings roster that is ready win, he has a real shot at being a Top 10 QB and he could easily outperform his draft position.
Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints): After a productive end to his rookie year (averaging nearly 23 PPG over the final nine weeks), Shough enters Year 2 in Kellen Moore’s fast-paced offense. He offers dual-threat upside that isn’t fully reflected in his current mid-tier ADP.
Malik Willis (Miami Dolphins): A classic post-hype candidate. If he secures the starting job in Mike McDaniel’s scheme, his rushing floor and the Dolphins’ surrounding weapons could make him this year’s massive breakout, similar to his resurgence in Green Bay.
Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans): Entering his second year under new OC Brian Daboll, Ward has the skills that often lead to a Year 2 leap if the infrastructure improves.
Early Running Back Sleepers
Emanuel Wilson (Seattle Seahawks): This one is simple economics: vacated volume. Kenneth Walker III took his game-breaking ability to Kansas City, and while Zach Charbonnet is the default starter, the Seahawks’ new offensive identity is built on a physical, dual-threat running game.
Jonathon Brooks (Carolina Panthers): Two ACL tears of the same knee within 13 months couldn’t possibly lower a player’s value any more. But Brooks is a strong rebound candidate. If he returns to full health, he has the skill set to handle a meaningful workload and could way outperform his early ADP.
Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears): As of right now, Monangai–Ben Johnson’s hand-picked, seventh-round running back who fills the “thunder” role to D’Andre Swift’s lightning–appears to be headed for a strong sophomore season. The guy runs like a bat outta hell. But if Johnson, the mad scientist, happens to find a running back he likes better in the draft, all bets are off.
Keaton Mitchell (Los Angeles Chargers): This is definitely more of a deep sleeper play as he’s not going to L.A. to be the starter. But if he gets a complementary role or happens to be one injury away from a starting gig, he provides incredible value in Mike McDaniel’s offense.
Early Wide Receiver Sleepers
Jayden Reed (Green Bay Packers): Remember this guy? Most don’t, because he was hurt for a big chunk of 2025 and the oft-injured Christian Watson finally lived up to some of his promise. But Reed is still a jack-of-all-trades who is versatile and is a major chess piece in the Packers offense.
Jayden Higgins (Houston Texans): Playing opposite Nico Collins in a C.J. Stroud-led offense is a lucrative gig. In his 2025 rookie campaign, Jayden Higgins didn’t just meet expectations; he quietly established himself as a dominant efficiency force.
Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts): Michael Pittman Jr. was shipped off to Pittsburgh. Alec Pierce re-signed with Indianapolis on a lucrative deal. Downs is going to have to play a role in the Colts offense given the resources spent elsewhere. He doesn’t ever project to be a major contributor. But he can be had at a reasonable price with moderate results.
Wan’Dale Robinson (Tennessee Titans): Robinson heads to Tennessee after a breakout 1,000-yard season. He proved he can handle heavy target volume despite his size. Reuniting with Brian Daboll, he projects as a high-volume slot option and a reliable security blanket for Cam Ward. His PPR floor is extremely safe, with enough downfield growth to offer legit WR2 upside if touchdowns follow.
Early Tight End Sleepers
Isaiah Likely (New York Giants): Likely is poised for a career year in New York playing on a lucrative new contract. He’s finally freed from the shadow of Mark Andrews. His high aDOT and targets-per-route-run suggest he could be a top-10 TE.
Brenton Strange (Jacksonville Jaguars): An efficiency darling who was limited by injuries in 2025. He is being touted as a “discount Tucker Kraft” and a prime late-round stash.
Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh Steelers): Are we done with the Jonnu Smith hype? Please? Aside from the year in Miami, his career was based on promise he failed to live up to. Sorry, I digress. Pat Freiermuth is the dude in Pittsburgh and he is perennially undervalued and can be had for cheap.
Terrance Ferguson (Los Angeles Rams): Ferguson is a classic efficiency-based sleeper coming off a quiet rookie year. But he flashed big-play ability late in the season. Even in a crowded Rams tight end room, his downfield usage and elite yards per catch suggest a much larger role is possible.
How to Use This List
At this stage of the offseason, it’s not about locking in starters—it’s about:
- Tracking depth chart movement
- Monitoring training camp buzz
- Stashing high-upside athletes in deep formats
- Getting ahead of ADP risers
Final Thoughts
Early sleepers aren’t about certainty—they’re about leverage.
If even 2–3 of these players see their roles expand, you’re suddenly ahead of your league without paying the premium later in draft season.
Bookmark these names now, and revisit them as camp battles and preseason usage start to tell the real story.
