6 Fantasy Football Sleepers To Target In Dynasty Rookie Drafts (2026)

April 19, 2026

Dan's six fantasy football sleeper targets in late rounds of dynasty rookie drafts to accelerate team rebuilds. His top rookie sleepers to target for 2026.

The 2026 NFL Draft class lacks elite talent capable of making an impact at the NFL level. That is true of all positions, but even more so in fantasy circles.

Unfortunately, a lack of high-end talent doesn’t mean that we can pass on our rookie drafts in dynasty formats. That is especially true for fantasy managers who are struggling to turn their draft picks into proven veterans or future picks in a class many analysts consider weak.

If you find yourself in a position where you are stuck making one (or multiple) late-round picks in fantasy drafts, this article is for you. Our goal in this article will be to find and identify some deep cuts in the 2026 rookie class for those late rounds in your rookie draft. These players are all extreme long shots to hit, but all have appeal at their respective positions to pay off down the road in dynasty leagues. Be sure to check out RotoBaller’s rookie rankings to get an even better feel for how the class stacks up.

Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

Nearly every draft analyst agrees that the 2026 NFL Draft lacks talent at the top of the quarterback class (outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, of course). That isn’t great for fantasy managers looking to get younger or reset at the quarterback position.

However, there is one player who has the physical tools that we covet in fantasy: a strong arm with high-end athleticism that translated into collegiate rushing production. That player is Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green.

Taylen Green is a QB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.99 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 1126 QB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/hJQbrJcfaX pic.twitter.com/JK8y6F00Ld

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 13, 2026

At this point, it is well-documented that the best quarterbacks to target in fantasy football are quarterbacks who can score points as a rushing threat. In his four seasons as a starter (two at Boise State and two at Arkansas), Green averaged 113.5 carries for 600.8 rushing yards and 8.8 touchdowns per season. It’s also important to note that college quarterbacks lose rushing yards when they take sacks.

As a passer, Green has a lot of room to grow. But he showed the ability to be an average thrower of the football as a college starter. Green completed 60.1% of his 1,190 passing attempts the last four seasons while averaging 2,415.5 passing yards, 14.8 touchdowns, and 8.8 interceptions per season.

From a physical perspective, Green will naturally draw comparisons to Anthony Richardson Sr. Both players have strong arms, elite athleticism, and questionable production in the SEC.

That was enough to get Richardson drafted fourth overall by the Indianapolis Colts and kept fantasy managers believing in his ability to produce up to last offseason despite poor play and a lengthy injury history.

Of course, his lack of college experience (13 career starts) has proved to be insurmountable in the NFL. Green, on the other hand, is extremely experienced (46 career starts) with a similar production profile. That doesn’t mean he will be more successful, but it is a positive in his favor.

Fantasy managers who were willing to draft Richardson in the early first round of their fantasy drafts, given his immense physical gifts, should be more than happy to take a discount on Green after the second round in their fantasy drafts. We recently saw a super athletic quarterback get a chance to sit and develop before earning a starting shot in the NFL (Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis).

Will Green develop into an NFL starter? Probably not.

But a good landing spot and a patient coach with a development plan could allow Green to see the field at some point in his career. In a draft class that lacks high-end options in fantasy, that is worth taking a chance on.

Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

If you’re going to take a shot on a late-round running back in fantasy, you want to be sure that you target one with big-play ability, preferably with pass-catching upside. In this class, one player to know is Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne.

Claiborne lacks the size to be an every-down back in the NFL (5-foot-10, 188 pounds), but he could quickly carve out a role as a change-of-pace option or third-down back, thanks to his impressive speed (4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine).

Over the last two seasons, Claiborne handled 407 carries, 1,956 yards, and 21 rushing touchdowns while adding 51 receptions for 394 yards and two receiving scores. He consistently flashed above-average lateral speed and the ability to churn out breakaway runs.

Claiborne has a chance to be drafted early on Day 3 and could really make a positive impression if he lands on a team that utilizes zone running schemes.

Adam Randall, RB, Clemson

Adam Randall began his career at Clemson as a wide receiver, but never quite made an impact in his first three collegiate seasons (catching just 48 passes for 533 yards and two touchdowns). However, when the ball did get to him, he flashed the ability to make plays after the catch.

Those glimpses led Clemson to move Randall to running back for his final season. Not only did Randall lead the team in rushing (168 carries for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns), but he also nearly matched his career receiving totals despite shifting to the backfield (36 receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns).

Clemson RB Adam Randall (6-3, 232) is my dream Tyler Allgeier replacement as RB2 for the Falcons

3 year WR - 48 rec, 433 yds (9 YPC), 2 TD

🐅157 carries, 779 yds (5 YPC), & 9 TD w/career high 31 rec, 246 yds, & 3 TD his first year at RB

Hit 19.5 MPH at the Senior Bowl https://t.co/rQwsL1WuRZ pic.twitter.com/W2GevzaUtO

— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) March 13, 2026

Randall had a solid showing at the NFL Combine, measuring in at 6-foot-3, 232 pounds and running a 4.50 40-yard dash. He will need to continue to grow as a runner behind the line of scrimmage (especially in zone formats that require patience), but his burst and experience as a pass-catcher will intrigue teams. His background is even more appealing to offenses that want to create mismatches with their personnel.

Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

Of all the names on this list, Bryce Lance has the best chance to climb into the second round of rookie drafts in 2026. Over the last two seasons at North Dakota State, Lance caught 126 passes for 2,132 yards and 25 touchdowns. He averaged 17.6 yards per reception the last two years.

Lance locked himself in as a legitimate NFL prospect with a stellar combine. The FCS product measured in at 6-foot-3, 204 pounds and ran a blazing fast 4.34 40-yard dash. All of those traits consistently showed up on film, whether he was winning downfield on contested catches or generating big plays after the catch against overmatched opponents.

Like any FCS prospect, Lance will need time to acclimate to the talent jump from his level to the NFL. However, his blend of size and speed is enough to get him drafted as a second- or third-round prospect to earn a role as a field-stretcher with potential to grow into more at the NFL level.

Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati

Cincinnati wide receiver Cyrus Allen didn’t receive an invite to the NFL Combine, but he was able to flash high-end athleticism at his pro day by running a 4.47 40-yard dash with an 11-foot broad jump.

Allen showed strong route-running ability and a willingness to make plays over the middle of the field, skills that will serve him well at the NFL level.

However, his lack of size and strength (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) also showed up plenty throughout his career. He was also a mediocre producer at Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M to start his college career before making a big impact with Cincinnati in 2025 as a senior.

Not getting an NFL Combine invite certainly isn’t a nail in the coffin for Allen’s ability to get drafted and make an impact in the NFL. But what it will do is keep his name under the radar until the late rounds of rookie drafts. He’s certainly worth a flier in the final rounds of your draft as a receiver who can make an impact.

Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State

There are a lot of intriguing tight ends for fantasy football in the 2026 NFL Draft class. One who could fly under the radar is North Carolina State’s Justin Joly.

Joly was a modest producer during his four years in college, catching 166 passes for 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns in his time between Connecticut (2022 and 2023) and NC State (2024 and 2025). He isn’t the kind of athlete who typically explodes at the NFL level, but he consistently showed an ability to find open windows in the passing attack. That, combined with stellar hands, makes him a tight end who could be a red-zone weapon in the NFL.

Joly’s lack of 40-yard dash time and good, but not great, athleticism will keep him off the radar for most fantasy managers. However, he has a real chance to carve out a strong role as a secondary tight end in 12 personnel packages as soon as his rookie season.

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