The NFL regular season is barely three weeks away, and if you’re like me, you’re already scouring every corner for that one fantasy pick that’s gonna take you all the way. Well, a super legit computer model just dropped its 2026 sleepers, and one name jumped out big time: New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely. He’s reportedly the clear-cut number one TE on his new squad, and this model has a history of spotting major fantasy gold.
This Model’s Track Record Is Kinda Insane
Look, I get it, “computer model” can sound dry, but SportsLine’s simulation runs the entire NFL season 10,000 times, and its past calls are wild. Last year, this thing *nailed* it with Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane. The model said he’d blow past his RB12 ADP, and what happened? Achane racked up an insane 1,838 scrimmage yards, which was sixth best in the entire league, and punched in 12 touchdowns. He finished as the RB6 in Fantasy points in CBS Sports PPR leagues, exactly where the model slotted him. That’s not luck, folks.
And Achane wasn’t a one-off. This model’s been dropping truth bombs for years. It called A.J. Brown a sleeper back in 2020. It predicted Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous 2021 season. It even knew C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024 and called Daniel Jones’ breakout year in 2025. Remember players like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, or Davante Adams in 2017? The model spotted them as sleepers too. Anyone who bet on those guys was making a serious run for their league title, no doubt.
Why Isaiah Likely Is Your New Favorite Sleeper
So, who is this model saying you absolutely need to grab in 2026? It’s Isaiah Likely, the Giants’ new tight end. This guy just followed coach John Harbaugh from the Ravens to New York this offseason, which is a huge signal. In Baltimore, Likely always battled for targets with Mark Andrews, but he still showed off some serious big-play capability. Now? He’s the undisputed, clear-cut No. 1 tight end for the Giants. Think about that target share! His current ADP is 97, which feels like a total steal if he’s gonna be the focal point of that offense.
Fantasy football is all about finding those “diamonds in the rough” that everyone else overlooks. Sometimes that means taking a chance on injury-prone guys who are due for a bounce-back year. Last season, players like Dak Prescott, Christian McCaffrey, and Puka Nacua shook off the injury bug and came up huge for fantasy owners who took the gamble. This year, the simulation suggests Lamar Jackson, J.K. Dobbins, and Terry McLaurin could be those bounce-back steals.
The NFL regular season starts in less than three weeks, and draft season is absolutely roaring right now. You gotta be ready. SportsLine just dropped its latest 2026 fantasy football rankings, including all the sleepers, breakouts, and busts. You’d be crazy not to check them out before your draft, especially if you wanna snag a league-winner like Likely. Get ready, because this season is gonna be epic!
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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