5 Sleepers Who Will Win You a Championship in 2026
These are the players flying under the radar in drafts right now. Get them before your league mates wake up.
GridironWire Staff
GridironWire
Every championship team has a sleeper or two — a player drafted in the middle or late rounds who outperforms their ADP and gives you a massive roster advantage. Here are the 5 players we're targeting in 2026 drafts before the rest of your league catches on.
Kyren Williams, RB — Los Angeles Rams
The Rams project as the best offense in the NFL heading into 2026, and Kyren Williams is the direct beneficiary. Positive game script is going to be a constant in Los Angeles — they're going to be ahead early and often, which means the run game stays involved and the backfield stays fed. Yes, Blake Corum is in the mix, but there is enough work in this offense for both backs to eat. Williams is the more dynamic option and the one you want in PPR formats. His ADP is still reasonable given the situation he's walking into. Get him.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR — Carolina Panthers
McMillan is set up to be the unquestioned WR1 in Carolina with zero real competition for targets. His rookie season showed flashes of a true alpha receiver and there is every reason to believe a second-year leap is coming. We could be looking at a top-10 wide receiver finish from a player going in the third or fourth round in some leagues. That is an enormous value gap. The Panthers are going to lean on him heavily and defenses don't have enough help around him to take him away. Lock him in before his ADP catches up to his production.
Lamar Jackson, QB — Baltimore Ravens
In non-superflex leagues, Lamar Jackson is slipping to the fourth round in some drafts — and that is a mistake you should be happy to exploit. Josh Allen is going in the second round and the gap between them is nowhere near two rounds wide. Baltimore projects as a top-5 offense in 2026 and Jackson's rushing floor alone makes him one of the safest QBs in fantasy. If you can get him in the third round, you are getting elite QB1 production at a discount that will give you a massive positional advantage over the rest of your league.
Malik Nabers, WR — New York Giants
Nabers has the talent to finish as a top-5 wide receiver and he is going at a WR2 price — late third round in most leagues. He appears to be healthy heading into the season and is the unquestioned alpha in New York's passing game. The target share is there, the talent is there, and the price is still a bargain relative to his ceiling. Do not wait on him — consider going above his ADP to make sure you land him. If he stays healthy, you will be getting a WR1 performance at a WR2 price.
Michael Wilson, WR — Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals project as a bottom offense in the league, but negative game script is actually Wilson's friend. Arizona is going to be trailing in a lot of games, which means Jacoby Brissett — the same quarterback who targeted Wilson heavily last season — is going to be throwing the ball. Wilson outshined Marvin Harrison Jr. when they played together and there is no reason to think that dynamic changes. He is the de facto WR1 in a pass-heavy offense by necessity, and in some leagues he is going in the eighth round. Do not be surprised if Wilson finishes as a top-24 wide receiver. The value is too good to ignore.