The BEST Fantasy Football Sleepers to Target in 2026 Drafts: Mid-Round Steals, Late-Round Fliers & Super Deep Stashes (Ep. 2127)

August 12, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The FantasyPros crew (Sarah Roberts, Derek Brown, and Andrew Erickson) opens this episode with a clear, pragmatic definition of a sleeper: a player whose draft cost is lower than what the analysts believe they can realistically produce. The conversation then moves through tiers—mid-round, late-round, dart throws, and deep stashes—with each pick grounded in specific data about opportunity, usage, and team context.

Mid-Round Steals: Efficiency and Opportunity

The mid-round sleepers (rounds 6-8) are built on the idea that drafters are undervaluing players who already have a clear path to volume or have shown elite efficiency in limited samples. Derek Brown leads with Carnell Tate (WR31, 75th overall), arguing he could be this year’s version of Malik Nabers’ rookie season. The logic is not just talent—Tate was 10th in yards per route run and had zero drops last year—but also the structure of the Titans offense. With Brian Callahan calling plays and Cam Ward at quarterback, Brown believes the floor is being raised. “Cam Ward doesn’t have to be spectacular this year for Carnell Tate to do the dang thing,” he says, drawing a comparison to Caleb Williams’ rookie season where scheme and volume mattered more than pinpoint accuracy.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Show Intro & Sleeper Definition** - The hosts set up the episode and define what qualifies as a "sleeper" for this discussion.
2 (02:50) **Mid-Round Sleeper: WR Carnell Tate (TEN)** - Derek Brown argues the rookie WR can be this year's Malik Nabers, offering massive upside at a WR3 price.
3 (05:59) **Mid-Round Sleeper: WR Rome Odunze (CHI)** - Andrew Erickson bets on a third-year breakout for Odunze, who was hurt last season but flashed elite upside early.
4 (10:54) **Mid-Round Sleeper: RB Tony Pollard (TEN)** - Brown argues Pollard is a screaming value as an RB3 despite being the clear workhorse in a Daboll-led offense.
5 (13:23) **Mid-Round Sleeper: RB Jonathan Brooks (CAR)** - Erickson and Brown make the case for Brooks as a league-winner, despite coming off two ACL surgeries.
6 (19:19) **Late-Round Sleeper: RB Kenneth Gainwell (TB)** - Brown calls Gainwell the "upgraded version of Rachaad White" and a must-draft at his RB39 price.
7 (22:42) **Late-Round Sleeper: RB Rachaad White (WAS)** - Erickson defends White as a reliable veteran in a high-powered offense, with a proven receiving role and a cheap ADP.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Sarah Roberts Derek Brown Andrew Erickson

Show Notes

Join Tera Roberts, Derek Brown, and Andrew Erickson as they unveil their MUST-TARGET Fantasy Football Sleepers for the 2026 season!

Whether you're looking for middle-round upside values, late-round floor raisers, or super-deep stashes that could win your league down the stretch, the crew breaks down the best targets at every cost tier.

In this episode, we cover:

Mid-Round Steals (Rounds 6-8): Why Carnell Tate, Rome Odunze, Tony Pollard, and Jonathon Brooks are poised to outperform their ADPs.
Late-Round Steals (Rounds 9-11): Backfield values in Kenneth Gainwell & Rachaad White, plus WR volume plays Quentin Johnston & Wan'Dale Robinson.
Dart-Throw Flyers (Rounds 12-14): High-ceiling bets including KC Concepcion, Deebo Samuel, Jayden Higgins, and Tre Harris.
Deep Sleeper Stashes (Rounds 15+): Super-deep league winners to stash at the end of your bench before Week 1.

Timestamps (may be off due to ads):

Intro - 0:00:00
What is a Sleeper? - 0:01:30
Carnell Tate - 0:02:13
Rome Odunze - 0:04:52
Tony Pollard - 0:10:06
onathon Brooks - 0:12:39
Colston Loveland Signed Bears Jersey Giveaway - 0:18:09
Kenneth Gainwell - 0:18:40
Rachaad White - 0:21:51
Quentin Johnston - 0:25:51
Wan'Dale Robinson - 0:29:46
Square - 0:34:20
KC Concepcion - 0:36:18
Deebo Samuel - 0:38:52
Jayden Higgins - 0:43:46
Tre Harris - 0:45:55
Deep Sleeper Stashes - 0:51:35
Outro - 0:58:12

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