2026 Fantasy Football: Uncovering Hidden Gems and Potential Busts
As NFL training camps get underway, fantasy football enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the start of the new season. With the 2026 Fantasy football ADP taking shape, it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions when drafting your team. Before we dive into the top sleepers, breakouts, and busts, let’s take a look at the current ADP rankings.
The top 10 players in the 2026 Fantasy football ADP (PPR) via CBS are:
- Jahmyr Gibbs (1.53)
- Bijan Robinson (1.93)
- Ja’Marr Chase (3.53)
- Puka Nacua (4.07)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (5.27)
- Jonathan Taylor (6.60)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (7.33)
- Christian McCaffrey (7.87)
- De’Von Achane (11.93)
- James Cook (12.53)
Now, let’s focus on the top fantasy football sleepers, breakouts, and busts for the 2026 season.
Top 2026 Fantasy Football Sleepers
One of the top fantasy football sleepers for the 2026 season is Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell. With an ADP of No. 100 overall, Gainwell is a steal in fantasy drafts. The former Eagle set career highs across the board last year in Pittsburgh, finishing with 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. He then joined the Buccaneers as a free agent, replacing Rachaad White, who departed for Washington.
Gainwell will be more than just a backup to Bucky Irving, as coach Todd Bowles labeled Gainwell as 1B to Irving’s 1A. Considering Gainwell’s skill set and Irving’s 2025 season, the model likes Gainwell ahead of clear-cut RB1s such as Tony Pollard and Chuba Hubbard.
Another top fantasy football sleeper is Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten. With an ADP of No. 60 overall, Tuten is a value pick in the mid-rounds of fantasy football drafts. A fourth-round NFL Draft pick in 2025, Tuten had 386 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in backing up Travis Etienne. The latter has since joined the Saints, putting Tuten atop the depth chart.
Tuten impressed when given opportunities as a rookie, scoring in all four games he had at least nine touches. He is a home-run threat in an offense in need of playmakers, as he had the fastest 40-yard-dash time of any running back in the 2025 draft class.
Top 2026 Fantasy Football Breakouts
One of the top fantasy football breakouts for the 2026 season is Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten. As mentioned earlier, Tuten had 386 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in backing up Travis Etienne. With Etienne now in the Saints, Tuten is set to break out as a sophomore.
Another top fantasy football breakout is Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. However, the model identifies Darnold as a potential bust, not a breakout. Darnold plays in a run-first offense that ranked third in rushing attempts a year ago and just 29th in pass attempts.
Even with limited opportunities, Darnold still led the NFL with 20 turnovers, as he had the second-most lost fumbles (6) and the third-most interceptions (14). Add in that Darnold provides next to nothing as a rusher, and he has a low fantasy ceiling.
Top 2026 Fantasy Football Busts
As for players to avoid, the model identifies Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold as a potential bust. The model has Darnold as the QB20 in its fantasy football rankings 2026, down from the QB14 last year.
The model also identifies a surprising tight end that you aren’t even thinking about being taken in the early rounds of 2026 fantasy football drafts. This tight end is listed as a shocking top-8 option ahead of stars like Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta.
It’s essential to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions when drafting your team. The model has a proven track record providing fantasy football tips, nailing Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous season in 2021, calling Rachaad White’s breakout in 2023, and identifying Isiah Pacheco as a bust in 2025.
Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called Daniel Jones’ breakout season in 2025, and find out which players to target and fade in your fantasy football drafts.
