It’s that time of the fantasy football season to start finding sleepers over the next couple of months for our drafts.
Well, I’m here to help with that research with three picks I believe can bring home a league championship at the end of the season.
With a deep talent pool at wide receiver this season, I’m going to avoid the position for now. (I’ll probably have another sleeper story later in the draft season when training camp battles play out).
But these three players will be must haves as training camps get into full swing.
Let’s get into my early preseason sleepers!
Sleepers: Quarterback
Tyler Shough, New Orleans
If I was going late QB in a draft this season, Shough is the guy I’m going to target.
And there many factors why I will be focusing on him as late round steal.
First, he helped the Saints win 4 of their last 6 games last season with QB1 numbers in four of those weeks. He averaged 20.1 fantasy points a game during that stretch.
Second, he’s a mobile QB as he ran for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns in his 10 games last season. He may not be a Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, but he can give you those added rushing yards points needed to win weeks.
Third, he can push the ball downfield. He had a 118.5 passer rating and a 67.9 completion percentage on passes between 10-19 yards. His QB rating was second in the NFL in this range.
Fourth, the Saints added more offensive weapons in the offseason for Shough and the Kellen Moore offense. New Orleans drafted Jordyn Tyson was the No. 8 pick in the NFL Draft and added free agent running back Travis Etienne. Plus, the Saints re-signed Alvin Kamara for his experience in the backfield and in the offense and WR Chris Olave also returns fresh off his career year in 2025.
There should be no “baghead” fans this season in New Orleans with Shough running the offense.
Sleepers: Running Back
Jadarian Price, Seattle
The Notre Dame backfield could have featured Jeremiyah Love and Price this season but both left for the NFL after their junior seasons.
Love was a Top 10 pick, while Price, Love’s backup with the Irish, was also a first round pick when the Seahawks took him with the 32nd pick.
Price will carry less hype in fantasy drafts even with his first-round draft pick equity and I’m here for that lesser hype in the middle rounds of drafts.
Price may have the inside track to start the season as Seattle’s starting running back as Zach Charbonnet returns from a torn ACL he suffered in the playoffs last season.
Seattle coach Mike Macdonald is optimistic that Charbonnet will be ready for the season opener, but ACL return timelines say that is not likely.
If Charbonnet can’t go, Price, who rushed for 674 yards and 11 TDs for the Irish, will compete with Emanuel Wilson and George Holani for the starting job. Wilson was signed in the offseason for less than $2 million, which is backup money.
Price’s 5-foot-11, 209-pound frame and 4.49 40-yard dash speed will be needed in the defending Super Bowl champions’ backfield until Charbonnet’s return comes.
Sleepers: Tight End
Isaiah Likely, NY Giants
Likely is finally out of Baltimore’s Mark Andrews’ shadow as he followed head coach John Harbaugh to the Big Apple after he signed a 3-year, $40 million deal with the Giants in the offseason.
And Likely lands in a spot where a Top 6 finish in TE fantasy scoring is a very good possibility.
He will be the receiving TE as the Giants still plan to use 2025 starter Theo Johnson in more 12-personel sets to put both TEs on the field at the same time.
Plus, Likely is a proven receiving TE commodity despite his previous second-man up status in Baltimore. His athleticism continues to prove to be matchup nightmare vs. linebackers and safeties, and his 6-foot-4 frame makes him a go-to guy in the red zone.
With Malik Nabers possibly missing the beginning of the season, Likely’s stock and possible targets improve as the Giants try to fill Nabers’ shoes until his return.
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