Fantasy football rankings 2026: Sleepers, breakouts, busts via the model that projected Daniel Jones’ big year

All 32 NFL teams now have just one preseason game left, and Fantasy Football ADP continues to solidify as depth charts come into focus. Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua and Jonathan Taylor are the players who, on average, come off the board first. Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was one of the biggest droppers in the draft over the weekend after getting hurt in practice. This is reportedly a sprained ankle and his timetable for returning is not certain, although it is not expected to be a long-term injury.

With the regular season quickly approaching, who are the best sleepers, breakouts, busts, and riskiest 2026 Fantasy Football picks, and how should you approach your 2026 Fantasy Football drafts? Before setting 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 Colts quarterback Daniel Jones would fully realize his potential in his first year in Indy. He was the QB10 before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 14. Jones finished the year as the QB17, as the model had him as a top-15 Fantasy quarterback entering 2025. Anyone who took a chance on him in Fantasy Football drafts was surely rewarded when he was in the lineup.

The same model has a proven track record providing fantasy football advice, calling out Jonathan Taylor’s monster season in 2021, calling Rachaad White’s breakout in 2023, and identifying Isiah Pacheco as a bust in 2025. Additionally, he’s called up Fantasy Football sleepers like AJ Brown in 2020, Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante. Adams in 2017.

Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and has released its latest 2026 Fantasy football rankings for PPR and non-PPR leagues, along with plenty of sleepers, leaks, and busts. Head to SportsLine now to watch them.

Best Fantasy Football Sleepers of 2026

One of the 2026 Fantasy Football sleepers the model predicts: Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. He was one of the league’s best big-play receivers last year, finishing second in the league with a 21.3 yards per catch average. He finished the year as a top-25 Fantasy WR with a 47-1003-6 receiving line, cashing in on a four-year, $114 million contract extension.

He’s rehabbing an ankle injury in camp, which could be one of the reasons he’s fallen to an ADP of around No. 84 overall. However, with Michael Pittman out, SportsLine’s model is extremely high on Pierce’s outlook, placing him above receivers like Maik Nabers and Justin Jefferson, who go much earlier in Fantasy drafts. See more 2026 Fantasy Football sleepers here.

Top 2026 Fantasy Football Previews

One of the 2026 Fantasy Football breakouts the model predicts: Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who comes off the board at pick No. 106. The second-year pro out of Ole Miss had a solid rookie season, throwing for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He added 487 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. He had a brief injury scare in Week 1 of the preseason, but was cleared and able to return to that game.

There is certainly some injury risk, but with an improved supporting cast and the return of Malk Nabers (ACL), Dart has a chance to be a steal at his current ADP. SportsLine’s model places him ahead of players like Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford and Justin Herbert, all QBs drafted before him. See more Fantasy Football 2026 previews here.

Top Fantasy Football Busts of 2026

As for players to avoid, the model identifies Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker’s fantasy stock is sky-high after he was dominant in the playoffs last year as a key part of Seattle’s Super Bowl run. Now he joins a Kansas City backfield without much competition, and he’s coming off the board at No. 19 on average in Fantasy drafts, up two spots in recent days.

However, Andy Reid’s pass-first offense hasn’t been running back-friendly from a fantasy standpoint, as no Kansas City running back has cleared 1,000 rushing yards since 2017. Walker also carries some injury risk after missing at least one game in 2022, 2023 and 2024. SportsLine’s model ranks running backs like Jeremiyah Love, D’Andre Swift and Bucky Irving at a higher level. tall, which makes Walker a player. to avoid in future Fantasy drafts. See more Fantasy Football 2026 busts here.

How to Find Proven 2026 Fantasy Football Rankings

SportsLine also has a surprising tight end that you’re not even thinking about being selected in the early rounds of the 2026 Fantasy Football drafts. This tight end is listed as an impressive top-8 option ahead of stars like Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta. You can only see who it is and the 2026 Fantasy Football ranking for each player on SportsLine.

So which 2026 Fantasy Football sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade, and which TE surprises the NFL with a top-8 performance? Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every position, all from the model that outlined Daniel Jones’ breakout season in 2025, and find out.

2026 fantasy football ADP

(PPR, via CBS)
Get Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets at SportsLine.

1. Jahmyr Gibbs (1.25)
2. Bijan Robinson (1.94)
3. Ja’Marr Chase (4.02)
4. Puka Nacua (5.19)
5. Jonathan Taylor (5.21)
6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6.92)
7. Christian McCaffrey (7.55)
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown (9.21)
9.James Cook (10.51)
10. De’Von Achane (13.66)
11. Chase Brown (12.45)
12. Derrick Henry (13.42)