Quarterback
Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers
From Week 11 on last season Bryce Young averaged 17.3 points per game. His completion percentage improved, and he started rushing the ball more as the season progressed. Head Coach Dave Canales and new Offensive Coordinator Brad Idzik have said this offseason that they’re working on improving his completion percentage by changing their offensive philosophy. If the scheme changes work and Young continues to run the ball more in 2026, he could land inside the top 12 QB’s.
Tyler Shough - New Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough ended last season on a tear. In the final 5 weeks of the season he averaged 20 points per game. This season he retains standout WR Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara, and Juwan Johnson, and adds former Jaguar Travis Etienne, and rookie pass catchers Jordyn Tyson, and Oscar Delp. With these offensive weapons, and the way Shough produced in his time last year, Shough could shock leagues this year as one of the deepest sleeper QBs we’ve seen in a while.
Wide Receiver
Jordan Addison - Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison saw four or more targets in 29 of his first 32 games during his first two seasons, and in those games he averages 14.7 points per game. Last season we saw J.J. McCarthy turn this impressive Vikings offense into the laughing stock of the NFL. Even last year when Carson Wentz was throwing passes Addison averaged 16.0 points per game. The problem was never Addison or his role in the offense. It was McCarthy. With Kyler Murray at the helm, expect Addison to return to form.
Matthew Golden - Green Bay Packers
Last year Matthew Golden saw 11.7% of the Packers targets. With Doubs and Wicks out of the way, Golden should see that number double this season. On that 11.7% of target he saw 16.8% of the teams air yards. With Christian Watson as the teams Z receiver moving around the field, and Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed taking the underneath looks, Golden takes on the X role in this receiver room and will likely see more deep passes from Jordan Love. At the University of Texas on passes of 20+ yards, PFF graded Golden at a 99.6. He is elite with the deep ball.
Cyrus Allen - Kansas City Chiefs
Coming in as the fifth round pick from Cincinatti, Cyrus Allen is fighting with Xavier Worthy as the WR2 in this Chiefs offense. In college Allen was one of the best when it came to 10-20 yard passes over the middle. Showing impressive speed and shiftiness at camp, Allen proved he could be explosive during their preseason game against the Rams. While he didn’t eclipse 1,000 yards in college he did manage to catch 12 touchdowns last season for the Bearcats. If he can be that same touchdown threat in the NFL, Cyrus Allen could earn a start come the playoffs.
Dontayvion Wicks - Philadelphia Eagles
The former Green Bay Packer was acquired by the Eagles this offseason, and with the departure of A.J. Brown and the addition of rookie Makai Lemon, Wicks looks to compete for the WR2 job in Philly. According to reports from Eagles camp, Wicks has been the most impressive WR2 option thus far. Wicks is great in run support, and his solid route running should keep him on the field for a while to start the season.
Michael Pittman Jr. - Pittsburgh Steelers
This year Michael Pittman changes uniforms and joins Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The fit in Pittsburgh this season couldn’t be better. Pittman has been phenomenal in the short and intermediate part of the field, and as Aaron Rodgers has gotten older, his ADOT has decreased. Last season he threw 47% of his passes between 0-9 yards. Michael Pittman looks like a PPR monster this season.
Jalen Coker - Carolina Panthers
The undrafted receiver has been impressive in his two seasons, and heading into the 2026 season, he has passed first round pick Xavier Legette on the depth chart. In the regular season when Coker has seen at least 6 targets, he’s scored an average of 15.7 points. If we just look at last season, from Week 13 on, Coker averaged 14.6 points per game. With the improvements to the passing game listed above, and more opportunity to get on the field, Coker is a great fantasy option in the 14th round of drafts.
Ryan Flournoy - Dallas Cowboys
Ryan Flournoy is one of those guys who isn’t talked about enough in the fantasy world. In the four games where Flournoy has gotten at least six targets, he’s averaging 15.8 fantasy points. In Week 14 last season against the Detroit Lions, Flournoy had a monster week finishing as WR6 on the week. He caught 9 passes on 13 targets and ended the game with 115 receiving yards and a touchdown accumulating a career high 26.5 fantasy points. If the Cowboys trade George Pickens, who signed a 1 year contract, or if Pickens or CeeDee Lamb miss time like last season, Flournoy could be come a league winner in this pass heavy offense.
Running Backs
Kyle Monangai - Chicago Bears
After a slow start to 2025, once he got his opportunities on the field, Kyle Monangai was impressive. Week 7 was the first game where he really got to show what he could do. With 16 opportunities that week, Monangai scored 17.4 fantasy points, and he would not be kept quiet the rest of the season. In Week 9, he got the ball 29 times and scored 22.4 fantasy points. If you’re worried about upside for any of the players in this Bears offense, check out this quote from Head Coach Ben Johnson,
“You've got 31 other teams coming to training camp saying, 'Our goal is to win the Super Bowl.' I want more than that. I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored (37.9), and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts.”
I think with the way Ben Johnson’s coached this team, and teams past, and the talent we saw from them last season, Monangai looks like one of the best late round running backs in 2026.
Blake Corum - Los Angeles Rams
Last season Blake Corum averaged an incredible 5.14 yards per carry behind Kyren Williams in this split backfield. With the Rams expected to score the most points this season by oddsmakers, Corum’s six touchdown total should improve. Last season Blake Corum ranked as one of the most explosive backs in the NFL, breaking away on 28.6% of his carries. This offseason, reports are saying he looks more explosive. If he truly is more explosive, and can improve on the touchdown total, you won’t want to sleep on Blake Corum in 2026.
Tight End
Michael Mayer - Las Vegas Raiders
Michael Mayer looked really promising as a prospect out of Notre Dame, but was quickly overshadowed by Brock Bowers. Mayer was selected with the 35th overall pick in 2023, and has shown flashes of what scouts thought he could be since then. This offseason with the addition of new Head Coach Klint Kubiak, Mayer could be in for a huge bump in production. Last season, Kubiak used two tight ends on 43% of the Seattle Seahawks offensive snaps. With their unimpressive wide receiver room, the Raiders could see that 43% rate climb even higher. Michael Mayer could just be the deepest TE sleeper in this draft.
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