Best Late Round Sleepers - 2026 Fantasy Football Mock Draft

AJ Brown is one of the top two wide receiver picks by a good amount alongside Drake London, with great upside; JJ Zachariason notes AJ Brown is close in value to George Pickens but identifies London and AJ Brown as the clear top two wide receiver options.

Mitchell is getting positive reports and appears to be the Jets' number two receiver, which elevates his draft value relative to Omar Cooper. Even if Mitchell is not elite, his role as the clear number two on the Jets makes him a more attractive target than the number three receiver option.

T. Higgins (Amon-Ra St. Brown) is listed as part of the team's receiver core in the mock draft build, alongside T McMillan and Christian Watson.

Williams could be a really strong value if he emerges as the number two wide receiver on the 49ers. His upside is amplified by uncertainty around Brandon Aiyuk's status—potential arrest, suspension, retirement, or other complications could open up more targets for Williams.

Robinson (Trayvon) is listed among the top running backs in current projections, indicating he is a preferred early-round running back target in this mock draft environment.

Aiyuk's status is highly uncertain with multiple scenarios that could impact his availability, including potential arrest, suspension, or retirement, creating unpredictability around his role and target share on the 49ers.

Breece Hall is noted as off the board by pick 22, indicating he was selected earlier in the mock draft.

JJ Zachariason flags Brian Thomas Jr. as having significant unknowns and risk compared to preferred options like Carnell Tate and Jordan Tyson in this draft range. While Thomas Jr. is likely the Jaguars' best wide receiver, his presence on the team limits the ceiling for other receivers like Travis Hunter.

JJ Zachariason expresses hesitation about drafting Brock Bowers at pick 13 in a 14-team league, noting that while tight end advantage can be valuable in deeper formats, the running back scarcity makes early running back selection more prudent. Bowers is too early at pick 13; Zachariason suggests he might be considered if available at the next pick, but is not his preference at this spot.

JJ Zachariason identifies C.J. Stroud as a late-round quarterback option worth considering if you need a starter in that range, alongside Daniel Jones, Cam Ward, and Mendoza.

JJ Zachariason views Caleb Williams as a fringe-tier quarterback who does not belong in the same tier as Jaden Daniels and Drake May; instead, he groups Williams with Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, and Jaylen Hertz. Zachariason dislikes taking Williams at his current draft position because those who drafted May and Daniels earlier got better value. He prefers waiting for later-round options like Brock Purdy, Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, or Malik Willis, and sees little meaningful difference between Williams and Justin Herbert or Trevor Lawrence.

JJ Zachariason identifies Cam Ward as a late-round quarterback option worth considering if you need a starter in that range, alongside C.J. Stroud, Daniel Jones, and Mendoza.

JJ Zachariason prefers Carnell Tate over several other wide receiver options in this range, including Marvin Harrison Jr., Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Courtland Sutton. He cites significant unknowns and risk in those alternatives and states he would be happy to get both Christian Watson and Tate at this turn.

JJ Zachariason ranks Chase Brown as the third-best running back option in deeper formats, behind Saquon Barkley and Ken Walker. Zachariason identifies Chase Brown as one of the top two running back options to choose between at this draft pick, alongside Ken Walker, indicating strong preference for his value in this range.

Chigoziem Okonkwo is viewed as a baseball-type pick—taking a shot on an athletic tight end that could hit for some spiked weeks, but unlikely to be a consistent starter in a redraft league. JJ Zachariason doesn't love the pick, positioning it as a high-variance flier rather than a reliable option.

JJ Zachariason projects Christian Watson higher than industry consensus despite being personally conservative on him. He frames this as a favorable pick because if he's wrong, he's likely underestimating rather than overestimating, and if he's right, Watson remains the top-ranked player. This dual-outcome logic makes Watson a good pick regardless of outcome.

Colston Loveland is one of the elite tight end options that can provide a positional advantage in deeper formats; he was selected early in the mock draft and was off the board by pick 22.

JJ Zachariason flags Courtland Sutton as having significant unknowns and risk, preferring Carnell Tate and Jordan Tyson over him in this draft range.

Swift is among the top running backs in current projections and JJ Zachariason likes him as a player, but cautions against taking him in round 3 despite his tier status. Zachariason identifies specific reasons to avoid him at that price point in 14+ team leagues where round 3 represents mid-to-late round value.

JJ Zachariason identifies Daniel Jones as a late-round quarterback option worth considering if you need a starter in that range, alongside C.J. Stroud, Cam Ward, and Mendoza.

JJ Zachariason characterizes Montgomery as the ultimate safe running back pick—reliable for decent yardage and touchdowns with consistent goal-line work, backed by a strong defense that allows the team to lean on run game. However, he's unlikely to reach 1,500 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, making him a floor play rather than a league winner. Montgomery's loss may force the Lions into a more pass-heavy approach near the goal line, though Gibbs can also catch, potentially increasing quarterback passing volume.

JJ Zachariason presents Njoku as a viable late-round tight end option with similar athletic upside to higher-drafted tight ends like Greg Dulcich, Hunter Henry, and Chigoziem Okonkwo. The core thesis is that waiting on the tight end position and targeting backup tight ends in late rounds offers comparable upside to early-round tight end selections without the draft capital investment.

JJ Zachariason suggests Desmond Clayborne is probably not going to happen as a fantasy option, indicating limited upside or role concerns.

Derrick Henry is ranked in the top running back tier with a projected value of 592 points. He is currently at ADP pick 21, and if ADP rises, he could jump ahead of Achan (585 projected points) in rankings. This suggests Henry offers value relative to his current draft position in deeper leagues.

DeVonta Smith is mentioned among receivers off the board by pick 22 in JJ Zachariason's mock draft. Zachariason's gut and data both suggest leaning toward wide receiver when draft capital is close, positioning Smith as a preferred target in late-round decision points.

Drake London is one of the top two wide receiver picks by a good amount alongside AJ Brown, with significant upside; JJ Zachariason identifies London as slightly preferred over AJ Brown. However, Zachariason disagrees with computer model suggestions to take London over Ken Walker in this draft range, preferring to secure Ken Walker and Saquon Barkley to ensure running back depth in a range where the position is drying up and wide receivers remain plentiful.

JJ Zachariason identifies Drake May as an acceptable late-round QB option in 14+ team leagues, where skill positions dry up faster but QB depth remains available. Zachariason recommends considering May alongside Josh Allen and Jaden Daniels as early-round quarterback options that offer value relative to their draft position, as part of a strategy to gain early advantage at skill positions rather than reaching on QB.

Elijah Moore (Rice) is mentioned as part of the receivers off the board by pick 22 in the mock draft.

Emanuel Wilson has not received great reports from training camp, raising concerns about his late-round viability and role heading into the season.

Evan Engram (ETN) is mentioned as a traditional round three running back still on the board after pick 22.

JJ Zachariason notes that George Pickens is close in value to AJ Brown, positioning him as a tier-one wide receiver option with strong upside in deeper formats. Pickens is grouped near the top of the wide receiver tier alongside London and AJ Brown as the top two options.

Greg Dulcich stands out among late-round tight ends because he has no target competition, making him a more attractive value than earlier-drafted tight ends like Hunter Henry or Chigoziem Okonkwo. JJ Zachariason recommends waiting on the tight end position and targeting Dulcich as a late-round alternative, noting there's not much difference between him and higher-drafted options.

Hunter Henry offers conflicting assessments: JJ Zachariason initially expresses concern about his upside given AJ Brown and Daniel Jones in town, but later identifies him as standing out among late-round tight ends at pick 184 with reliable value in a strong offense. He notes that Henry could have been waited on much longer instead of taking Isaiah Likely in round nine, suggesting he offers better value when taken later in the draft.

Teslar's upside is limited and requires injuries to occur in Detroit to have any meaningful fantasy impact; without injuries to the Lions' receiving corps, there is no clear path to consistent playing time or targets.

JJ Zachariason's projection system flagged Isaiah Likely as a missed opportunity in round nine; the system preferred Cole Conception, Hunter Henry, or Greg Doolsich instead, suggesting Likely was drafted too early.

Isaiah Pacheco is a late-round running back option with significant upside if he assumes 90% of the Dave Montgomery role; JJ Zachariason identifies him as one of his favorite late-round running back targets with that scenario in play.

JJ Zachariason groups Abanikanda among five running backs (Dowel, Gainwell, Brooks, Dobbins, Abanikanda) in a similar value range in mid-round draft territory. He has confidence these five players will have a decent role this season and expresses zero confidence in most other running backs on the board beyond this tier.

Jahmyr Gibbs can catch passes, which may lead to the Lions using a more pass-heavy approach near the goal line following David Montgomery's departure, rather than relying solely on rushing. Gibbs can catch passes and is capable of scoring near the goal line, but the Lions may opt for more pass-heavy play at the goal line rather than relying on him for rushing touchdowns, given his receiving ability.

Jared Goff is identified as a very safe quarterback pick who will be solid at worst this season. JJ Zachariason notes that the loss of David Montgomery may force the Lions into a more pass-heavy approach near the goal line, giving Goff additional upside. He recommends waiting to draft Goff at quarterback rather than reaching early, positioning him as a safe, high-value late-round option.

Javante Williams is the starter in the backfield, with Phil Mafah as the direct backup and Jaden Blue as the change-of-pace back.

JJ Zachariason identifies Jaden Daniels as a quarterback with acceptable ADP value in deeper 14+ team leagues, where skill positions dry up faster but QB depth remains available. Zachariason recommends considering Daniels alongside Josh Allen and Drake May as late-round quarterback options that offer value relative to their draft position, allowing early focus on skill positions rather than reaching on QB.

JJ Zachariason states he would not draft Jaden Reed and Christian Watts on the same team personally, indicating a preference to avoid stacking these two receivers from the same offense in this draft range.

JJ Zachariason identifies Jaylen Warren as a value pick at live ADP 61 versus industry ADP 65, ranking him higher than expected because he's at the end of the startable running back tier; in a 14-team league, this tier becomes more valuable as running back scarcity increases. However, Zachariason would never draft Warren in full PPR leagues but considers him acceptable in half-PPR formats. He groups Warren in the same general range as Andre Stevenson and Tony Pollard, but notes a significant drop-off in certainty after Pollard among backs like Manungai, Harvey, Rico Dael, Gainwell, and Brooks. Zachariason explicitly warns against allowing Warren to be the top running back available at round three, indicating he should not be a primary target and represents a tier drop from elite early-round running backs.

JJ Zachariason suggests that if Joe Burrow falls to a value price point, he becomes a viable quarterback option to target in deeper leagues as part of a late-round QB strategy where QB depth remains available and allows early focus on skill positions that dry up faster.

JJ Zachariason raises uncertainty around Joe Mixon's team situation, questioning whether Mixon will go to a new team, making his fantasy outlook unclear at this late draft stage.

Jordan James is purely a handcuff with value only if the starter ahead of him gets injured; limited standalone upside in late-round strategy.

JJ Zachariason's projection system likes Jordan Tyson in late rounds. While Zachariason initially prioritized locking in running back depth earlier (taking Rico Gainwell and Shawn Tucker), he acknowledges in retrospect that the computer's preference for Tyson at that draft position was reasonable given the depth available. The computer model favors Tyson as a late-round value target.

JJ Zachariason identifies Josh Allen as an acceptable quarterback option in deeper leagues, recommending considering him alongside Jaden Daniels and Drake May as early-round quarterback options that offer value relative to their draft position. Zachariason notes that in 14+ team leagues, skill positions dry up faster but QB depth remains available, making it acceptable to wait on QB. Josh Allen is the only quarterback selected off the board at pick 22 (round two in 12-team, round three in 10-team league), indicating he is the first QB taken in this mock draft.

JJ Zachariason expresses preference for Josh Downs among wide receivers in this draft range, saying 'I like downs probably the most here' when evaluating mid-round WR options.

JJ Zachariason believes the team really likes Kenneth Gainwell and will use him a lot, though he acknowledges the backfield is a committee situation with other backs also receiving significant usage; grouped among five mid-round RBs (Dowel, Gainwell, Brooks, Dobbins, Abanikanda) where Zachariason has confidence these players will have a decent role this season.

JJ Zachariason identifies Marvin Harrison Jr. as having significant unknowns and risk compared to preferred options like Carnell Tate and Jordan Tyson in this draft range. There are a lot of unknowns with Harrison Jr., Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, Sutton, and Mai—a lot of risk in some of those guys.

JJ Zachariason doesn't mind taking a shot on Najee Harris in reddraft despite uncertainty about his team situation; if he lands on a good team with a decent contract by August, he could be worth far more than his late-round pick (around pick 178), making him an ultimate upside play in reddraft leagues.

Nico Collins is selected in the mock draft at pick 15 (second round, pick 3 in a 14-team league), indicating he is in consideration as a wide receiver option in deeper formats.

JJ Zachariason is dropping Omar Cooper in rankings because Adonai Mitchell is getting positive reports and appears to be the Jets' number two receiver. As the number three wide receiver on a weak Jets team with multiple target-getters, Cooper's ceiling is too limited to justify drafting him in late rounds.

JJ Zachariason identifies Parker Washington as having significant unknowns and risk compared to preferred options like Carnell Tate and Jordan Tyson in this draft range. Washington is a solid receiver on the Jaguars competing with Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. for targets.

Rico Dowdle has proven in multiple seasons that he's a very good running back with significant early-down work. JJ Zachariason recommends taking both Rico and Kenneth Gainwell and being done at running back, viewing this as the optimal late-round RB strategy to avoid the committee uncertainty that plagues other options.

JJ Zachariason identifies Saquon Barkley as the top running back to target in a 14-team deeper format mock draft, emphasizing the importance of securing elite running back value early given the steep drop-off at the position in expanded leagues. Zachariason advises not allowing the top running back at the third round to be someone like Jaylen Warren, underscoring Barkley's tier-one status. He selects Barkley in the mock draft and emphasizes securing Barkley alongside Ken Walker to ensure running back depth in a draft range where the position is drying up, prioritizing this over wide receiver options like Drake London. Tank Bigsby is identified as the ultimate handcuff who would get a ton of touches if Saquon got injured.

Sean Tucker offers regular value as the goal-line back with occasional touches in round 13. He has contingent upside if either Bucky Irving or Kenneth Gainwell gets injured, at which point he could receive 12+ touches per game and become a startable option.

Stefon Diggs (Olave) is mentioned as part of the receivers off the board by pick 22 in the mock draft.

JJ Zachariason recommends Tank Biggsby as a handcuff option to lock in the Eagles running back without paying premium prices for top-tier RBs like Swift, Judkins, or Trayveon Williams; part of a strategy to capitalize on mid-round WRs and pass-catching backs at reasonable prices.

JJ Zachariason identifies Tank Bixsby as an ultimate handcuff to Saquon Barkleys with significant upside if Saquon gets injured; he will get a ton of touches in that scenario, making him a late-round target.

Tank Bigsby is an ultimate handcuff to Saquon Barkley with significant upside if Saquon gets injured; he will get a ton of touches in that scenario, making him a late-round target. The question is whether he takes over more work from Saquon in the regular rotation, suggesting additional upside beyond the handcuff value.

JJ Zachariason identifies Tee Higgins as the top wide receiver in current projections for 14+ team leagues. While acknowledging that people avoid him due to Jamar Chase's presence and injury concerns (he limps off field frequently despite missing only one game), Zachariason believes Higgins will crush his ADP when healthy and on the field.

JJ Zachariason identifies Tony Pollard as a tier-defining late-round running back. After Pollard, there is a significant drop-off in certainty among other running back options like Manungai, Harvey, Rico Dael, Gainwell, and Brooks, positioning Pollard as a clear tier boundary.

Horton is a talented wide receiver, but the question is whether he can earn a role. Competition from Shahed, who received significant money from the team, makes it unclear if Horton will get the opportunity to produce.

JJ Zachariason notes that backup running backs have been taking work from Travis Etienne for years; Cororm got work last season and initial beat reports suggest Cororm could have a thousand yards this year, though Zachariason doubts it will be rushing yards. This recurring pattern of backup competition raises usage concerns for Etienne.

Travis Hunter has a crazy ADP of 191st overall (Live ADP 148) that doesn't make sense given his elite athleticism and college production; he was dominant in college in route success and performance versus man and press coverage. JJ Zachariason believes his ADP will skyrocket once training camps open and he gets involved, making him a strong late-round value pick.

JJ Zachariason cautions against taking Trayveon Williams in round 3 despite being a top RB option, citing reasons to avoid him at that price point in 14+ team leagues where round 3 is mid-to-late third or fourth round in 12-team equivalents.

Harris is one injury away from being awesome, making him a high-upside late-round pick with significant breakout potential if a teammate gets injured.

Trey McBride is one of the elite tight end options that can provide a positional advantage in deeper formats, suggesting he is a valuable target in those settings.

T McMillan (Treylon Burks) is listed as part of the team's receiver core in the mock draft build, alongside T. Higgins and Christian Watson.

Could be the number two receiver on the Jets; highly athletic with usage in screen passes and design plays. However, JJ Zachariason worries that Branch may remain primarily a gadget player with limited traditional receiving role upside. Zachariason wants to see how the Jets utilize him in camp and preseason before committing in redraft leagues.

Zay Flowers is mentioned as part of the receivers off the board by pick 22 in the mock draft.