Fantasy Football Sleepers and Breakout Stars for 2026

With the start of training camps and the first preseason game just around the corner, Fantasy football drafts for 2026 are becoming increasingly popular. Hitting on sleepers is crucial, regardless of the type of league you’re in, and that means identifying those diamonds in the rough that others often overlook. It also involves taking chances on injury-prone players, hoping they’ll bounce back and deliver a strong performance.

Players like Dak Prescott, Christian McCaffrey, and Chris Olave proved resilient in the face of injuries last year, delivering impressive performances for those who took a chance on them. Joe Burrow and Malik Nabers could experience similar comebacks from injury-plagued seasons this year, making them attractive picks relative to their ADPs.

The SportsLine computer model has a proven track record in Fantasy football, having accurately predicted the performances of several high-profile players in recent years. In 2025, the model predicted that Dolphins running back De’Von Achane would comfortably outperform his ADP (RB12). The result: Achane produced 1,838 scrimmage yards, the sixth-highest total in the NFL, along with 12 touchdowns. SportsLine’s model had slotted Achane as the RB6, and he finished the season as the sixth-ranked running back in Fantasy points in CBS Sports PPR leagues.

The same model has a long history of providing accurate Fantasy football tips, having correctly identified players like A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, Jonathan Taylor as a breakout star in 2021, and Daniel Jones as a surprise performer in 2025. The model has also successfully predicted the performances of players like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Those who banked on these players made a significant impact in their leagues.

Now, the SportsLine model has simulated the entire 2026 NFL season 10,000 times, releasing its latest Fantasy football rankings and sleepers. Among the top sleepers for 2026 is Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, who has an ADP of 69. After a historic 2023 rookie year, in which he set the positional record for touchdowns by a first-year player, LaPorta has regressed each season. He went from being the TE1 as a rookie to TE6 (2024) and then TE26 (2025). Missing half the season last year contributed to his decline, but he’ll be fully healthy come Week 1 and has been more productive than his Fantasy rankings suggest.

LaPorta’s 54.3 receiving yards in 2025 was a career high, and there’s no reason to believe he’ll be any less of a factor in Detroit’s offense. He should actually receive more redzone opportunities, as the Lions lost David Montgomery, who averaged 11 scores over his three seasons in Detroit. The numbers support this, as LaPorta averaged 0.7 touchdowns in six career games without Montgomery, compared to 0.4 TDs in 36 games with him.

Another sleeper identified by SportsLine’s Fantasy football rankings 2026 is Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith. Playing in a bottom-10 passing offense, Smith still managed a 1,000-yard season in 2025. Philly replaced its offensive coordinator and sent A.J. Brown to New England, and Smith will now assume the top wideout role with the Eagles, along with the increase in targets that comes with it.

A similar scenario played out in Seattle last season, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba ascending to the WR1 role after DK Metcalf departed, and ‘JSN’ won the OPOY award. Given the renewed focus the Eagles will put on the passing game, plus Smith having less competition for targets, the model sees him poised for a career season. He’s projected to be a top-15 Fantasy wideout this season, despite his ADP placing him outside the top 25 at his position.

So, which 2026 Fantasy football sleepers should you target, and which wide receiver will surprise with a top-10 performance? To find out, visit SportsLine now to get the 2026 Fantasy football rankings for every player, all from the model that called De’Von Achane’s huge season.