SportsLine model names top 2026 Fantasy football sleepers
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- SportsLine's model simulated the 2026 NFL season 10,000 times and released fantasy rankings featuring sleepers, breakouts, and busts, with the model having correctly predicted past breakouts by De'Von Achane (2025), Daniel Jones (2025), Jonathan Taylor (2021), and Derrick Henry (2019).
- Isaiah Likely is ranked TE9 by the model despite an ADP of 99, following his move from Baltimore to the Giants with coach John Harbaugh; he has reportedly been a favorite target of QB Jaxson Dart with Malik Nabers (knee) limited in camp.
- DeVonta Smith is projected as a top-15 fantasy wideout despite an ADP of No. 37 (outside the top 25 at his position), after posting a 1,000-yard season in 2025 with a bottom-10 passing offense and now assuming the No. 1 wideout role following A.J. Brown's trade to New England.
- Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Malik Nabers are highlighted as potential injury bounce-back candidates this year, mirroring 2025 bounce-backs from Dak Prescott, Christian McCaffrey, and Chris Olave.
- The model projects an unnamed veteran wide receiver as a 'shocking top-10' fantasy option ahead of stars like CeeDee Lamb and A.J. Brown, with the full ranking revealed only on SportsLine.
Why it matters: With fantasy drafts concentrated in the second weekend of August, SportsLine's model-driven sleepers give late-round drafters two concrete targets — Likely at TE9 for a pick-99 price and Smith as a top-15 WR at pick 37 — that could anchor value picks in 2026 leagues.
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