2026 Sleepers: The Breakfast Club

Welcome to my third annual Sleepers article.

Every fantasy football podcast and website publishes a sleeper list each year. So why am I doing one for a third straight season?

Because I’m delusional.

Just like everyone else, I like to think I’m smarter than all the analysts. As it turns out, in a shocking revelation, I’m not.

I reviewed my 2025 Sleepers article and determined that I’m getting a little better at this. The first year was downright embarrassing. I gave myself a stern talking-to before writing last year’s edition, and the results improved slightly.

Here’s hoping for continued improvement in Year 3.

Looking Back at 2025

Sleeper Hits

Hindsight makes these feel obvious, but I promise they weren’t last summer.

• Drake Maye
• Jaxson Dart

Sleeper Backups

The guys who stayed on your roster but didn’t really help. Maybe this year?

• Tre Harris
• J.K. Dobbins
• Rashid Shaheed
• Ricky Pearsall
• Blake Corum

Sleeper Misses

Yikes. Looking back at these makes me wonder what I was thinking.

• Jaylen Wright
• Jaydon Blue
• DJ Giddens
• Cedric Tillman
• Marvin Mims Jr.

Considering you don’t find a Puka Nacua every year in the late rounds of rookie drafts, I’ll give myself a solid C+.

The biggest lesson? Be careful with those late-round rookie running backs who appear to be one injury away from a breakout. The bust rate is wicked high.

The Theme for 2026: The Breakfast Club

This year’s theme is The Breakfast Club.

As soon as I settled on the theme, the song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds immediately started playing in my head. Sleepers, by their very nature, are players we shouldn’t forget about.

As a bonus, I decided to rewrite the famous essay from the end of The Breakfast Club from the perspective of fantasy football sleepers.

Here’s a link to the essay in the movie with the song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds in the background.

The Sleeper Breakfast Club Essay

“Dear Fantasy Manager,

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice an entire offseason and training camp for whatever it was we did to be considered underperforming players in 2025. But we think you’re crazy to make us work harder just to be drafted above our ADP.

You see us as you want to see us—in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. A late-round rookie. An injury-prone player. A traded player. A late bloomer. A flash in the pan.

Sincerely yours,

The Sleeper Breakfast Club.”

What Makes a Sleeper?

At its core, a sleeper is simply an undervalued asset with hidden potential.

But in today’s age of nonstop information, is anything really hidden anymore?

Not really.

Sleepers are often just a few facts mixed together and transformed into wild, reckless speculation.

Here are mine.

Loose Criteria I Used

• Rookies with Opportunity – Fresh faces with a clear path to playing time
• Players Returning from Injury – Healthy again and ready to contribute
• Players in New Situations – New team, new role, or new coaching staff
• Late Bloomers – Took a while, but ready to pop
• Under-the-Radar Talent – You’ve seen flashes; now you’re betting on the breakout

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2026 Sleepers

1. Jonathon Brooks (RB)

Category: Returning from Injury

Ah, Brooksey.

Some of us have kept you clogging our rosters for years, hoping for a future fantasy payout. Others gave up and slapped the injury-prone label on you.

Now I believe a lot of managers are quietly trying to sneak him back onto their rosters.

The opportunity is there. I’m still not completely sold on the talent or the long-term health, though.

Personally, I’m selling some of my shares while I can. But make no mistake—this is the definition of a sleeper.

2. Josh Downs (WR)

Category: Late Bloomer

A perfect PPR target.

With rumors of moving to the outside and more than 100 vacated targets available, Downs is worth an early 2026 second-round rookie pick.

Grab him before the hype train leaves the station.

Last year was supposed to be the breakout season. Maybe 2026 is finally the year.

3. Jalen Coker (WR)

Category: Under-the-Radar Talent

I like Coker as Carolina’s slot receiver.

Chris Brazzell is a nice addition, but I think he’ll eventually replace Xavier Legette rather than impact Coker’s role.

There isn’t much target competition, and a few flashy performances last season make him an ideal buy-low candidate.

I’d happily trade rookie pick 2.06 for him.

4. Brashard Smith (RB)

Category: Under-the-Radar Talent

Kansas City’s backfield remains a mystery.

Can Ken Walker carry the load?

Maybe.

I traded Walker away this offseason, so you already know where I stand.

Smith is a cheap way to gain exposure to this backfield. At 23 years old and with limited competition ahead of him, he could become one of the hottest waiver-wire names by Week 6.

Get him now for roughly rookie pick 3.09.

5. Tyler Shough (QB)

Category: New Situation

Shough is my guy.

Why?

I’m honestly not sure. Maybe it’s the name.

He has a chance to start the entire season, which would be a new experience for him. The Saints looked noticeably better when he started in 2025.

Chris Olave is getting healthy, and additions like Jordyn Tyson and Travis Etienne should help elevate the offense.

I like him as a QB2 in Superflex leagues.

6. Demond Claiborne (RB)

Category: Rookie with Opportunity

The biggest lesson from last year’s article was to be careful with late-round rookie running backs.

So naturally, I decided to ignore my own advice.

I’m not a believer in the veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, and Claiborne has enough talent to make things interesting if an opportunity opens up.

This is a true long shot.

A fourth-round rookie pick is the most I’d spend.

7. MarShawn Lloyd (RB)

Category: Returning from Injury

Here’s a guy—miss you, John Madden—who could finally shake the injury-prone label.

Even if Josh Jacobs remains the lead back, I could see Lloyd carving out a meaningful role and potentially earning a near-even split.

This may be his last real chance to establish himself.

Rinse and repeat from last year’s article.

I’d pay a mid-third-round rookie pick.

8. Alec Pierce (WR)

Category: Late Bloomer

The Colts showed him the money.

Now they need to show him the targets.

Can a highly paid WR1 still qualify as a sleeper?

Sure.

Everyone seems to be predicting a breakout, and for once I’m swimming with the crowd.

I’d give up rookie pick 1.11 or 1.12 for Pierce, though that window may already be closing.

9. Isaiah Likely (TE)

Category: New Situation

Jim Harbaugh packed Isaiah Likely onto the moving van before heading north.

I view that as a positive sign.

Likely should finally receive the target volume many fantasy managers have been waiting for. Harbaugh won’t want to be wrong about this investment.

I think Likely has a legitimate chance to finish as a Top-5 tight end in 2026.

I’d pay a late first-round rookie pick.

Disclaimer: This opinion comes from a Ravens fan wearing purple-tinted glasses.

10. Tre Harris (WR)

Category: Under-the-Radar Talent

Harris got off to a slow start, but targets have to go somewhere in Los Angeles.

I like Harris to benefit when defenses focus their attention on Ladd McConkey.

Not every wide receiver breaks out immediately.

I’m projecting Harris to finish inside the Top 36 at the position, which would make him an excellent sleeper value.

I’d pay a late second-round rookie pick.

Final Thoughts

Big shoutout to Big Brother Rick (RIP) and Johnny G for getting me into this obsession—I mean hobby—all those years ago.

All the best and watch out for those whammies in your upcoming drafts! Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings and remember to have fun. Follow my pathetic X account @SiezeTheDayFF.

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