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Jamey Eisenberg’s 2026 Fantasy Football Sleepers 1.0: Post-NFL Draft Bargains

Jamey Eisenberg identifies early fantasy football values at every position in his initial 2026 sleepers list, highlighting players to target in all leagues after the NFL Draft.

CBS Sports·May 5, 2026·via CBS Sports

Jamey Eisenberg’s 2026 Fantasy Football Sleepers 1.0: Post-NFL Draft Bargains

2026 Fantasy Football Sleepers 1.0 from Jamey Eisenberg: Post-NFL Draft bargains to target in all leagues

Jamey's sleepers give us a glimpse at what to expect from some of the early best values at every position

By Jamey Eisenberg

May 5, 2026 at 4:51 pm ET • 1 min read

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Now that the NFL Draft is over, it's time for Sleepers 1.0. These are players who I'm excited to draft with mid- to late-round picks this season.

First, we need to establish criteria for these players to ensure they qualify for this category. With that in mind, we're going to use the Average Draft Position data on FantasyPros.

This ADP data mostly reflects best ball drafts, but it is an early guide of what could happen in August. And it's a good starting point for our conversation on sleepers.

I will do at least two more versions of sleepers, breakouts and busts before the start of the season. But now that the rookies are on NFL rosters, we can fully focus on the players who should matter the most to you in your Fantasy leagues this year.

Quarterbacks

Sleepers 1.0 Projections powered by Sportsline

Kyler Murray

MIN Minnesota

• #1

Age: 28 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Fantasy Breakdown (PPR)

OVERALL RNK

144th

QB RNK

17th

PROJ PTS

288.9

SOS

ADP

2025 Stats

PAYDS

962

RUYDS

173

TD

INT

FPTS/G

17.9

Murray is expected to start for the Vikings this season, and he is worth a late-round pick in all one-quarterback leagues and a mid-round selection in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. His FantasyPros ADP is No. 190 overall as QB16, and I expect him to be a borderline top 12 quarterback this season -- if not higher. He averaged at least 20.3 Fantasy points in each of his first four seasons in Arizona before suffering a torn ACL in 2022. He returned in 2023 and still averaged 20.8 Fantasy points, but his production started to slip in 2024 to 19.9 points. Then came last season when Murray was limited to five games due to a foot injury, and he only averaged 17.9 Fantasy points. The Cardinals decided to go in a different direction, and here we are. But Murray will hopefully benefit from Kevin O'Connell's tutelage, and it will be great if Murray continues to use his legs. He averages 36.7 rushing yards per game in his career, with 32 rushing touchdowns. Murray should also benefit from throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, which is the best receiving corps of his career. The ceiling for Murray is high, and the risk is minimal given his cost. I plan to draft Murray in a lot of leagues in 2026.

Bo Nix

DEN Denver

• #10

Age: 26 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Fantasy Breakdown (PPR)

OVERALL RNK

154th

QB RNK

19th

PROJ PTS

359

SOS

ADP

2025 Stats

PAYDS

3931

RUYDS

356

TD

INT

FPTS/G

20.8

Nix has been a solid Fantasy quarterback so far in the first two seasons of his career, but he's poised for potentially his best year yet in 2026 with the addition of receiver Jaylen Waddle. Nix now has Waddle and Courtland Sutton as the top two receivers in Denver, which is fantastic. And the secondary weapons are also solid in Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims and Evan Engram. Nix averaged 22.1 Fantasy points as a rookie in 2024 and 22.6 Fantasy points last year. He gives you decent production with his rushing with at least 356 yards and four rushing touchdowns in each season. And Waddle should help Nix's passing stats, which average 3,853 yards, 27 touchdowns and 11.5 interceptions in his first two years. Nix is worth a late-round pick in all one-quarterback leagues and a mid-round selection in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. His FantasyPros ADP is No. 186 overall as QB15, and I expect him to challenge for a top-12 spot this year if things go right. He's one of my favorite quarterbacks to wait for on Draft Day this year.

Other sleeper quarterbacks to consider: Malik Willis, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield and Tyler Shough

Running Backs

Sleepers 1.0 Projections powered by Sportsline

Tony Pollard

TEN Tennessee

• #20

Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Fantasy Breakdown (PPR)

OVERALL RNK

56th

RB RNK

24th

PROJ PTS

179.3

SOS

ADP

2025 Stats

RUYDS

1082

REC

REYDS

206

TD

FPTS/G

10.9

Pollard had a down season in 2025 when he only averaged 10.9 PPR points per game, which was his lowest total since 2021. But he closed the campaign on a high note, and hopefully that momentum will carry over to this year. The Titans offense is also in much better shape in 2026, and Pollard should remain the lead back if he stays healthy. His FantasyPros ADP is No. 86 overall as RB31, but I would draft Pollard as a No. 2 running back in all leagues as early as Round 5. The addition of fifth-round rookie Nicholas Singleton could pose a problem, along with the presence of Tyjae Spears, but I still expect new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to lean on Pollard. In his final five games last season, Pollard averaged 15.5 PPR points per game, including four outings with at least 95 total yards and three outings with over 100 rushing yards. Cam Ward showed improved play over that stretch, and Tennessee brought in upgraded weapons this offseason with No. 4 overall pick Carnell Tate and free agent Wan'Dale Robinson, along with Daboll. This could be a surprise offense, and Pollard still has upside as a Fantasy running back, even at 29. He's a steal if you can draft him at his current ADP in Round 8.

Rhamondre Stevenson

NE New England

• #38

Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.

2025 Stats

RUYDS

603

REC

REYDS

345

TD

FPTS/G

12.8

I'll probably pass on TreVeyon Henderson at his FantasyPros ADP of No. 60 overall as RB21 and just wait for Stevenson at No. 87 overall as RB32. While I'm hopeful for Henderson to improve in his sophomore campaign in 2026, we all saw what happened with him and Stevenson in 2025. And the same thing could unfold this year, which is why Stevenson is a great value pick at this price. The two played 18 games together in 2025, including the playoffs, and Stevenson played more snaps than Henderson in 15 of those outings. And from Week 13 through Super Bowl LX, Stevenson turned into a quality Fantasy running back, averaging 17.1 PPR points in nine games. He also had 12 games in 2025 with at least 10 total touches, and he averaged 13.3 PPR points over that span. This backfield could easily flip in favor of Henderson, but I still love the current value for Stevenson, who is worth drafting as early as Round 6 in all leagues.

Chris Rodriguez Jr.

JAC Jacksonville

• #36

Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Fantasy Breakdown (PPR)

OVERALL RNK

115th

RB RNK

42nd

PROJ PTS

115.2

SOS

ADP

2025 Stats

RUYDS

500

REC

REYDS

TD

FPTS/G

7.1

Following the NFL Draft, Sports Illustrated listed a depth chart for the Jaguars, which had Rodriguez as the starter. The article said that Rodriguez "leads the Jaguars in carries" this season, although there won't be "enough of a difference between his workload and Bhayshul Tuten's worth talking about. LeQuint Allen will once again be the top passing down running back." This could be messy in Jacksonville with Travis Etienne gone as a free agent to New Orleans, and I like Tuten's upside the most. But Rodriguez has a FantasyPros ADP of No. 127 overall as RB45, compared to No. 71 overall for Tuten as RB26, which could be a mistake if this report is accurate. Rodriguez signed a two-year contract this offseason for $10 million to join the Jaguars, and he has a history with coach Liam Coen when the two were in Kentucky. Last season in Washington, Rodriguez had four games with at least 12 carries, and he scored at least 12.5 PPR points in three of them. He offers little as a receiver with six catches for 54 yards on seven targets in three seasons, but Etienne leaves behind 260 carries for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns. Those carries should be split between Rodriguez and Tuten, and if Rodriguez gets the majority then he's a steal at his current ADP.

Jonathon Brooks

CAR Carolina

• #24

Age: 22 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Fantasy Breakdown (PPR)

OVERALL RNK

119th

RB RNK

40th

PROJ PTS

115.7

SOS

ADP

2025 Stats

RUYDS

REC

REYDS

TD

FPTS/G

Brooks said in late April that he feels "close to 100 percent" in his comeback after tearing his right ACL for the second time in Week 14 of the 2024 campaign. He missed all of 2025, but the Panthers must have high expectations for Brooks given how this offseason has gone. Carolina let Rico Dowdle leave as a free agent for Pittsburgh, and the only addition of note was A.J. Dillon. Chuba Hubbard should lead the Panthers backfield, and I'm excited to draft him in Round 5 (his FantasyPros ADP is No. 63 overall as RB24). But I also love the value for Brooks at No. 128 overall as RB46. Remember, Carolina selected Brooks in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was a star at Texas in 2023 with 187 carries for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns and 25 catches for 286 yards and one touchdown in 11 games. He has a lot to prove after two ACL tears, but the upside is hard to ignore. And the Panthers should have a solid offensive line this season, which is a boost for Hubbard and Brooks. We'll get to see Brooks in offseason workouts, and hopefully there are no setbacks in his recovery. When healthy, Brooks could emerge as the best running back in Carolina, and he's someone I plan to target as early as Round 8 in the majority of leagues.

Other sleeper running backs to consider: Kyle Monangai, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Blake Corum, J.K. Dobbins, Jordan Mason, Jordan James, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Dylan Sampson

Wide Receiver

Sleepers 1.0 Projections powered by Sportsline

Makai Lemon

PHI Philadelphia

Age: 21 • Experience: Rookie

Fantasy Breakdown (PPR)

OVERALL RNK

92nd

WR RNK

41st

PROJ PTS

119.1

SOS

ADP

2025 Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

TD

FPTS/G

I generally try to avoid using rookies for Sleepers 1.0 since we don't know what the market will be in August compared to their early value. But if Lemon's current FantasyPros ADP is an indication (No. 96 overall at WR45) then he fits this criteria. And I'll be buying a lot of Lemon this season. Now, maybe things will change once A.J. Brown is traded, which we expect to happen in June. And I'm excited to see what Lemon can do in this Eagles offense as the likely starter opposite DeVonta Smith. Lemon is the fourth receiver Philadelphia has acquired this offseason along with Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Dontayvion Wicks. But the Eagles didn't trade up to No. 20 overall in the NFL Draft to make Lemon a backup singer. At USC, Lemon was a star in 2025 with 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he won the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in college football. He is a great route runner, who is dangerous after the catch, and it's easy to compare him to another USC great in Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown. You'll hear negatives about Jalen Hurts not wanting to throw to Lemon in the middle of the field, and that he might be a bad fit in this offense. I'm not worried, and I would draft Lemon as early as Round 7. There are 121 vacated targets with A.J. Brown gone, and Lemon could be in that range of opportunities this year. He has the potential to be a No. 2 Fantasy receiver by the end of this season.

Parker Washington

JAC Jacksonville

• #11

Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.