The 2026 NFL regular season kicks off in just one day, and our Seattle Seahawks are right in the thick of it, facing a Super Bowl rematch against the Patriots to get things started. As we get hyped to watch Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba tear it up, fantasy players everywhere are making their final draft decisions, and one proven computer model from SportsLine is dropping serious intel.
This Model Called De’Von Achane’s EXPLOSION
Forget your gut feelings, this SportsLine model has a track record that demands attention. Last year, it called Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane’s monster season with pinpoint accuracy. Achane blew past his ADP of RB12, finishing the year with a shocking 1,838 scrimmage yards, which was sixth most in the entire NFL. He also racked up 12 touchdowns and ended up exactly where the model predicted: RB6 in fantasy points in CBS Sports PPR leagues. That is not a fluke, folks. This same model also tagged A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, perfectly nailed Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous 2021, somehow predicted C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024, and even called Daniel Jones’ breakout in 2025. When it comes to finding those hidden gems, or even predicting a dip, this thing is legit.
Meet the 2026 Sleeper Nobody’s Talking About
After simulating the entire NFL season 10,000 times, SportsLine has revealed its latest fantasy football rankings and, more importantly, some new sleepers. One name jumping off the page is New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely. Likely, who followed coach John Harbaugh from the Ravens to the Giants this offseason, had an ADP of 91. In Baltimore, he showed flashes of big-play capability, but he always battled Mark Andrews for targets. Now, he is the clear-cut number one tight end, and he is reportedly already a favorite target of Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, especially with Nabers limited in camp due to a knee injury. While his two catches for 11 yards in the preseason opener might not jump out, the model is banking on him, ranking Likely as TE9 in its fantasy football projections.
So, while we are focused on our Seahawks kicking off the season with a statement against the Patriots tomorrow, remember that nailing those fantasy sleepers can make or break your league. Keep an eye on guys like Likely, because if this model is right again, he could be giving fantasy managers a huge edge. Get ready, 12s, because our season starts now!
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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