25 fantasy football sleepers you should target at your draft

Bigsby has shown flashes in his early NFL career, including 5.9 yards per carry as Philadelphia's backup behind Saquon Barkley last season. While Barkley has been relatively unscathed since joining the Eagles in 2024, playing 16 regular-season games in back-to-back seasons, the risk increases as he approaches age 30. At worst, Bigsby is an important stash for Barkley drafters, and he could emerge as a major fantasy find in the run-heavy Eagles offense.

After playing hurt in his final season at Mizzou, Burden emerged as a great second-round find for the Bears as a rookie in 2025. His run-after-the-catch ability was a great fit for Ben Johnson's offense, and the loss of DJ Moore should allow Burden to see more touches this year. Rome Odunze remains the top wideout in Chicago, but Burden has a chance to emerge as a 1,000-yard receiver this year.

It's difficult to characterize any kicker as a sleeper given the low price of all of them, but Butker is still a profitable opportunity in drafts if missing out on the top tier. Prior to last season, Butker was a consistently elite kicker both in terms of leg strength and accuracy, and the concerns of a subpar Chiefs offense could be unfounded if Patrick Mahomes is ready by Week 1.

Gadsden's pass-catching skills were on full display last season, as a surprise rookie breakout with 664 yards receiving. His stock has decreased after the Chargers added David Njoku, but he's still the top option in an offense that should see a boost with an improved offensive line and the addition of coordinator Mike McDaniel.

The Jets brought back Hall after his first 1,000-yard rushing season. While the offense still looks in rough shape with questions at quarterback, it should continue to run through Hall. The mediocre offense limits his ceiling, but he feels undervalued outside the top 15 running backs with such a high floor.

It's fair to say Harrison's first two NFL seasons have been a disappointment, including five games missed last season. The Cardinals' offense doesn't look much brighter this season with Jacoby Brissett under center and a shaky offensive line, but the raw ability that made Harrison the fourth overall pick in 2024 is still present. While he was upstaged by Michael Wilson last season, the common third-year wide receiver breakout can't be ruled out.

The fact Herbert was able to maintain his level of play last season was remarkable given the team's offensive line struggles. Those have been addressed, particularly on the interior, and the Chargers' offense could see a huge boost from the addition of coordinator Mike McDaniel. Already worthy as a starting fantasy quarterback, Herbert has top-three upside at the position.

Hill enters the season as Derrick Henry's top backup, a role that hasn't usually led to big dividends. Conventional wisdom is that could change on a dime given Henry's age (32), as the track record of running backs staying healthy into their 30's isn't great. The upside makes Hill as enticing a stash as any backup runner in the game.

Jones had the 12th most fantasy points per game among quarterbacks last season before an Achilles injury prematurely ended his season. He should be healthy for the start of the season, and while the loss of Michael Pittman doesn't help, the development of Indy's offense with Jones under center is promising. He shouldn't be counted on as a QB1 entering the year but has proven he has the upside.

Judkins had a strong rookie season despite Cleveland's offensive struggles, coming just two yards short of 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 14 games. The Browns still have major questions on offense, including at quarterback, but Judkins is set to be the bellcow back in an offense that could lean on him under new head coach Todd Monken.

Kittle played only 11 games last season due to injury and suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs. There are questions about his availability entering the season, but recovery times for his injury have been drastically reduced in recent years. He comes at a discount in drafts due to the uncertainty, but paying for Kittle at cost could pay off big time.

LaPorta's career started with a bang in his first two seasons, but he played only nine games in 2025 due to injury. There's plenty of hope for a bounce-back season as a key target in the Red Zone, but LaPorta is being drafted behind the elite tight ends.

A productive member of the Ravens offense over the last four seasons, Likely has never been a full-time No. 1 tight end until now. He follows head coach John Harbaugh to New York and could play a key role while top wideout Malik Nabers recovers from a knee injury.

After tearing his ACL late last season, Mahomes comes at a major discount in drafts. The team added backup Justin Fields as insurance, but Mahomes still has a chance to play in Week 1. The team also has a healthy offense around him, with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce, along with the additions of Kenneth Walker III and coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Mahomes is being drafted behind the top 12 quarterbacks, but drafters often do so at their own peril.

McConkey's numbers regressed in his second season, with the addition of Keenan Allen and a struggling offensive line in LA. There's reason for optimism in his third season, as the Chargers' line has upgraded significantly and the team added coordinator Mike McDaniel. He sits well outside the WR1 tier in early drafts, but has a chance to tear the roof off.

McMillan had a very promising rookie season with more than 1,000 yards, and he might be just scratching the surface. He's now had a year under his belt to get comfortable with Bryce Young and the Panthers' offense, and he shows huge upside after averaging 14.5 yards per catch. The upside is somewhat capped due to Young's development, but there's clearly more in the tank.

Moore clearly fell out of favor in Ben Johnson's offense last season after recording more than 90 catches in his first two years with Chicago. He gets a new start with the Bills, a team that desperately needed receiver help. There were some signs of skill slippage last year, but the opportunity is there for a huge year with Josh Allen throwing him passes.

The formerly elite fantasy quarterback fizzled as his time came to an end in Arizona, missing the majority of two of the last three seasons. He looks to revive his career in Minnesota under head coach Kevin O'Connell, and with a selection of weapons unmatched in his time with the Cardinals, led by Justin Jefferson. The dynamic quarterback is approaching 30, but he's set up to succeed in his new home.

Price has big shoes to fill in Seattle, as the Seahawks let Kenneth Walker III go elsewhere in free agency. He will still need to compete with Zach Charbonnet for carries, but Price has a chance to become the primary runner for an elite Seahawks offense.

New Orleans might have found their long-term answer at quarterback late last season, as Shough went on a tear and led the team to four wins in their final five games. The Saints have added help in the offseason, adding Travis Etienne Jr. and Jordyn Tyson. Shough proved he could impact the game with his arm and legs and has the upside to be a starting-quality fantasy option.

Smith has exceeded 1,000 yards in three of the last four seasons, but we still might be underselling him coming into 2026. The Eagles replaced A.J. Brown with first-round pick Makai Lemon, also adding Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown, but Smith is the clear favorite for targets. Even as Jalen Hurts struggled last season, an uptick in targets would make Smith a top 10 wideout option.

With the Jaguars moving on from long-time starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason, it's Tuten's time to shine. The second-year running back saw 93 touches in his rookie campaign, and the team appears confident he can handle the full workload this year. The market tends to undervalue new starters who are unproven, creating a profit opportunity with Tuten.

How undervalued could the reigning Super Bowl MVP be? Opportunity is knocking for Walker in Kansas City, with the possibility of a dynamic offense and plenty of scoring chances if Patrick Mahomes is able to return fully healthy. There are rightfully questions about Walker's durability, but he's hovered near 250 touches in three of the last four seasons and adds a rare home run threat on the ground for the Chiefs. The possibility of a top fantasy back follows.

Washington has slowly but surely gained the confidence of Jaguars brass and was a dynamic threat down the stretch last year with 19 catches for 347 yards and two scores over the final three games. Even after the team added Jakobi Meyers last year, Washington's momentum is real after showing star upside down the stretch.

Worthy had a relatively disappointing second season, with a Week 1 injury seemingly impacting him for much of the year. Still, the speedster has been the talk of minicamp for the Chiefs, and the threat of a running game with Kenneth Walker could open up the deep ball for Worthy. The price is right, especially considering his upside.