The SportsLine computer model, the same one that absolutely nailed De’Von Achane’s breakout season last year, has just dropped its 2026 Fantasy football sleepers after simulating the NFL season a mind-blowing 10,000 times. With the 2026 NFL regular season kicking off in just five days, and fantasy drafts happening all weekend, finding those diamonds in the rough is seriously crucial for anyone trying to dominate their league.
This isn’t some shot in the dark, either. This model has a proven, ironclad track record. Last year, it called Dolphins running back De’Von Achane to comfortably outperform his ADP, which was RB12. What happened? Achane went off, racking up a massive 1,838 scrimmage yards, which was the sixth-most in the entire NFL, plus 12 touchdowns! The model projected him as RB6, and guess what? That’s exactly where he finished in Fantasy points in CBS Sports PPR leagues. Talk about hitting the bullseye! And that’s not all: this beast also identified A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, perfectly predicted Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous 2021, knew C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024, and called Daniel Jones’ big breakout in 2025. It’s even got past calls like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. If you banked on any of those guys, you were making a run at your league title, no doubt.
So, who’s the guy the model is shouting about for 2026? It’s New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely. This dude followed coach John Harbaugh from the Ravens to the Giants this offseason, and his ADP is sitting at 92. Think about that for a second. In Baltimore, he definitely showed off some big-play capability, but he was always battling Mark Andrews for targets. Now, he’s the clear-cut No. 1 tight end for the Giants, and word on the street is he’s already a favorite target for quarterback Jaxson Dart, especially with Nabers limited in camp due to a knee injury. He had two catches for 11 yards. This is the kind of player you absolutely have to snag before your buddies realize what’s happening.
With draft season winding down this weekend and the real games starting in five days, you need every edge you can get. Don’t let your league mates get to SportsLine first. Go check out the full 2026 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets, and get ready to grab those sleepers, breakouts, and busts. Trust the computer, your trophy might just depend on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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