SportsLine Reveals 2026 Fantasy Football Sleepers Including Isaiah Likely and Tony Pollard
Quick Look
SportsLine's predictive model has identified top 2026 Fantasy football sleepers such as New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely and Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard, based on 10,000 season simulations, with rankings and cheat sheets available via SportsLine membership including Paramount+ Premium access.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
SportsLine's predictive model has a history of accurately forecasting Fantasy football player performance, including De'Von Achane's 2025 breakout and previous sleepers like Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey.
The 2026 NFL regular season begins in four days, so 2026 Fantasy football draft season has hit its peak on Labor Day weekend. Nailing a few 2026 Fantasy football sleepers is a must, no matter what type of league you're in, and that means finding those diamonds in the rough that others bypass with Fantasy football picks. Bryce Young, Tucker Kraft and Jaxon Dart are examples of players who significantly outperformed their ADP expectations last year.
Who will be the top 2026 Fantasy football sleepers who give Fantasy players a big edge this season? Before finalizing your 2026 Fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out the 2026 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
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Last year, the model accurately predicted that Dolphins running back De'Von Achane would comfortably outperform his ADP (RB12). The result: Achane produced 1,838 scrimmage yards -- sixth most in the NFL -- to go along with 12 touchdowns. SportsLine's model slotted Achane as the RB6, and that's precisely what he finished as, ranking sixth among RBs in Fantasy points in CBS Sports PPR leagues.
The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, nailing Jonathan Taylor's monstrous season in 2021, correctly predicting C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024 and calling Daniel Jones' breakout season in 2025. Additionally, it's called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Anybody who banked on players like those made a run at their league title.
Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy football rankings 2026, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2026 Fantasy football sleepers
One of the 2026 Fantasy football sleepers the model is predicting: New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely, who followed coach John Harbaugh from the Ravens to the Giants this offseason. Likely, who has an ADP of 92 this year, showed big-play capability in Baltimore, but always battled Mark Andrews for targets.
Now the clear-cut No. 1 tight end, Likely has reportedly been a favorite target of quarterback Jaxson Dart, especially with Nabers (knee) limited in camp. He had two catches for 11 yards in the preseason opener. SportsLine's model has Likely as TE9 in its Fantasy football rankings, ahead of players such as Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce.
Another sleeper that SportsLine's Fantasy football rankings 2026 have identified: Titans running back Tony Pollard. The 29-year-old has now cleared 1,000 rushing yards in four straight seasons -- two of those with the Cowboys and two with the Titans. Backs approaching age 30 often fall out of favor in Fantasy, but Pollard actually surged late in 2025, averaging 100 yards per game and scoring three total times in the last five weeks of the season.
With upgraded receivers, the Titans could take a step forward in the passing game this year, possibly opening up more room for Pollard. He's going off the board around pick No. 77, but SportsLine's model has him in the same tier as backs being picked earlier like TreVeyon Henderson and Rico Dowdle. See which other Fantasy football sleepers 2026 to pick here.
How to find proven 2026 Fantasy football rankings
SportsLine is also extremely high on a receiver who is going off the board in the third or fourth round of most drafts. The model says this wideout is a shocking top-10 option ahead of stars like CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson and A.J. Brown. You can only see who it is, and the 2026 Fantasy football rankings for every player, at SportsLine.
So which 2026 Fantasy Football sleepers should you target, and which wide receiver shocks the NFL with a top-10 performance? Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called De'Von Achane's huge season, and find out.
2026 Fantasy football ADP
(PPR, via CBS)
Get Fantasy football cheat sheets at SportsLine.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Isaiah Likely will finish as a top-10 tight end in Fantasy points (PPR) for the 2026 NFL season.
Likely · Within months
Tony Pollard will exceed his ADP (pick No. 77) and perform as a top-15 running back in Fantasy points (PPR) for the 2026 NFL season.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific algorithm or data inputs does SportsLine's model use to generate rankings?
- How does the model account for injuries or coaching changes during the season?
- Are the 10,000 simulations adjusted for league scoring variations (e.g., PPR vs. standard)?
