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While early rounds are crucial for fantasy football drafts, championship-winning rosters often separate themselves in the later rounds.
Everyone is aware of the well-known stars. The true benefit lies in spotting players drafted beyond their expected opportunity and potential, where their actual chances and upside indicate they should be.
I'm not seeking completely unknown players. In today's fantasy scene, it's nearly impossible to find a hidden gem no one has their eye on. I want players whose current draft price doesn't fully reflect their potential role.
These are the eight players I'd specifically look for in the middle to late rounds of my draft.
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Quarterback Sleepers
Malik Willis, Dolphins
When searching for a quarterback in the later rounds, a simple strategy is to focus on those who can generate fantasy points with their rushing ability.
As fantasy football has become more popular, drafters have become sharper when it comes to rushing quarterbacks and the floor they present, but why is it different with Willis?
In his six career starts, he averages about 45 rushing yards per game and has scored four rushing touchdowns. Projected over a 17-game season, this would total approximately 760 rushing yards.
SI notes that since 1972, over 70% of quarterbacks rushing for at least 700 yards have ranked as top-10 fantasy quarterbacks, and none have fallen below QB15.
This is a no-brainer late-round pick that offers tremendous upside and a safe floor at the same time.
Tyler Shough, Saints
I'm choosing Shough not for safety but because I believe his current price underestimates his possible role.
As a rookie, he demonstrated useful rushing ability and performed on a per-game basis. Now, entering Year 2 in Kellen Moore's offense, he benefits from an improved supporting cast.
Kellen Moore offenses can create plenty of opportunities for quarterbacks, and Shough doesn't need to become an elite passer to become fantasy relevant.
If he throws for 3,800-plus yards, reaches the mid-20s in touchdowns and contributes meaningful rushing production, suddenly you're looking at a quarterback who can sit inside the QB1 conversation.
Running Back Sleepers
J.K. Dobbins, Broncos
Fantasy drafters would not be unwise to avoid Dobbins; after all, when you hear his name, you immediately think of all the reasons to be cautious.
He's had a brutal injury history, which is enough to steer clear of the 27-year-old back. However, to put it very simply, when he plays, he's not only good but also extremely efficient.
He is playing alongside R.J. Harvey, who made a strong debut as a rookie, and Denver also selected Jonah Coleman in the draft. No offense to either player, but if the Broncos felt confident in them, they wouldn't have brought back Dobbins.
In his 10 games before the injury, Dobbins was the RB24 in fantasy points per game. You can select him as the RB34 off the board right now, and he'll probably be available even later in home leagues.
If you still aren't sold, I don't blame you. Let me leave you with one stat: since 2000, only three RBs have averaged more yards per carry than Dobbins on 500 or more carries: De'Von Achane, Jamaal Charles, and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Jonathon Brooks, Panthers
If you've been following fantasy football trends, Brooks is being talked about nonstop and is shooting up draft boards.
Fantasy football is a funny thing; a lot of people who are obsessed with it have egos when it comes to sleepers. If a player gets talked about too much and rises a bit, all of a sudden they're out on them.
While I agree that at some point the price can become too high, we're not there yet for Brooks. In fact, we're in a sweet spot where a lot of drafters are turned off the idea of Brooks because of his popularity right now.
Brooks is the high-risk, high-reward selection. The talent is not the issue; it's the health and workload. We've seen Carolina move off a Chuba Hubbard before, so if Brooks' talent shines through, it could happen again.
That brings us to his health, having torn his ACL twice before even playing a regular-season NFL game. However, he is participating in preseason and has looked solid.
Brooks is going off the board as the RB32, so while we are getting pricier, it's not at the point where you should fade him entirely.
MORE: Bijan Robinson vs. Jahmyr Gibbs
Wide Receiver Sleepers
Parker Washington, Jags
Perhaps this is unfair; Washington has gained recognition as one of the top breakout candidates for the 2026 fantasy season for a reason.
Washington ended 2025 with a solid late-season run and demonstrated the efficiency needed to play a larger role in Jacksonville's offense.
Washington could become Trevor Lawrence's primary target in 2026, given his fit for the team's slot-focused offensive scheme that Head Coach Liam Coen loves to utilize.
The nice part about Washington is that he has enormous fantasy potential regardless of whether he plays; we know how good he is. The key factor is whether Jacksonville provides him with enough targets. If he becomes Lawrence's primary option consistently, his PPR value could significantly increase.
If Washington reaches 120 targets, he could comfortably finish as a weekly WR2. If he somehow nears 140 targets, he might become even more. That's the upside I'm aiming for.
Michael Wilson, Cardinals
We all saw what Wilson is capable of when the centerpiece of the offense. When Marvin Harrison Jr, was sidelined for nine games, Wilson erupted for 19.8 PPR points per game.
Most of the concern is that Wilson averaged only 5.4 PPR points per game while MHJ was fully healthy. While this is a valid cause for concern, what if it's simply too late?
This might not be the groundbreaking analysis you're looking for, but everyone saw how dominant Wilson was last season. Why would the Cardinals simply treat him as anything but a legit option?
With how often Arizona will have to throw, we could see both MHJ and Wilson eat just like we see in other offenses with two good WRs.
The best part about Wilson is this risk is heavily baked into his ADP, and you can grab him as the WR36 off the board.
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Tight End Sleepers
Dallas Goedert, Eagles
If you're waiting on tight end for your fantasy football draft, Goedert is one of my top picks at the position that deserves more recognition.
At first glance, Goedert doesn't seem like an exciting sleeper. He's 31 years old, just finished a career-high 11-touchdown season, and there's clear worry he might not match that touchdown total again.
However, this seems lazy and overlooks a major aspect of his new situation: no A.J. Brown.
Dating back to 2024, when Brown is on the field, Goedert is targeted 3 times per game; when Brown misses, Goedert is targeted 7.25 times per game.
Between this clear opportunity for more usage and his always-present red-zone threat, Goedert is a great option late.
Isaiah Likely, Giants
Likely spent the initial four years of his career as a backup to Mark Andrews in Baltimore.
He is now in New York on a three-year, $40 million deal, reuniting with former Ravens coach John Harbaugh and likely taking on the role of the Giants' main tight end.
Likely never exceeded 60 targets in a season with the Ravens due to sharing targets with Andrews. Now, he's given the opportunity to be the primary tight end in an offense that has significantly invested in him.
The advantage of Likely is that we know his potential as the TE1 in an offense. When Andrews was out in 2023, Likely averaged 13.9 PPR fantasy points per game from Weeks 12 to 18.
Between buying in on Jaxson Dart and this offense, and the opportunity Likely has, it's a no-brainer to take a shot on the athletic TE late.
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