Fantasy Red Zone: WR ‘Sleepers’

By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Particularly in Best Ball ,where you draft 20 players and they are your for the whole season, winning in Fantasy Football comes down to which pre-season draft manager identifies the best, most impactful value in the later rounds. The first, second and third round prospects are all good bets to score a lot of fantasy points, consistently, unless they get injured.

You never want to see a player lost for the season, whether or not you have drafted him your fantasy roster, but it is hard to predict who suffers a season-ending setback. Some fantasy managers avoid older players or draft them much later than their historical production might suggest they are worth. Derrick Henry, Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, and Travis Kelce are good examples of that. In recent years they have still been relatively good, if not exceptional producers, but the fantasy marketplace has started to discount them perhaps because of their age.

My focus for this report, though, is on players who currently are available in the fourth round and beyond. They are potential “sleepers” — guys who have some combination of good athletic ability and might have landed on a team where their perceived opportunity is above average.

Here are some notes on potential wide receiver sleepers, in no particular order. In parentheses is the range of where they are being taken (average draft position, or ADP) as of July 9, 2026, on platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel and Underground Fantasy. If you like them, I suggest picking them up closer to the front end of their range.

Remember, these are just one guy’s opinions. These notes are intended only to jumpstart your own research into YOUR own roster construction. As we get into training camp and closer to the regular season, expect the ADPs to change as more people become aware of a player’s potential and his “fit” (or not) with a team.

1. Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (ADP range 129-133): An ascending young receiver who seems to have an expanding role after a breakout season in 2025, Carolina obviously thinks of him as a central part of the offense’s passing attack after signing him to a 3-year, $35 million contract extension last month. He may not be QB Bryce Young’s first target option (Tetairoa McMillan), but he saw a lot of snaps and targets last year. With a reportedly improved offensive line giving Young better protection, it could spell more quality opportunities for all Panther receivers. I project Coker as a highly efficient “power slot” hybrid receiver.  According to metrics published by Sports Illustrated, Young’s efficiency and QB rating noticeably improve when Coker is on the field. Yahoo Sports reported that he averaged 13.4 yards per reception since entering the league.
2. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (ADP range 78-80): Pierce is now the undisputed No. 1 receiver for the Colts with the departure of Michael Pittman for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indy signing him to a massive, 4-year, $116 million contract extension. Out from under Pittman’s shadow, I expect Pierce to flourish with increased target volume and an expanded role. No longer is he just a deep threat, but should also absorb Pittman’s vacated targets in short-to-intermediate routes. This may lower his career-best average of 22 yards per catch, but that is offset by greater overall utilization. Cautionary note: Pierce underwent an ankle clean-up procedure in the spring, although the team expects him to be available well before the start of the regular season.
3. Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (ADP range 109-111): An elite route runner who could possibly lead Indy in receptions. As with Pierce, Downs also benefits from the Colts’ roster changes. The departure of Pittman to the Steelers and Adonai Mitchell to the NY Jets opens up over 100 vacated targets. As with Pierce, QB Daniel Jones returning for his second year leading the offense could be a net positive all the way around for Indy’s top two receivers.
4. Ted Hurst, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ADP range 220-223): Speaking of roster changes, nowhere has a departure been more potentially impactful than in Tampa Bay with Mike Evans leaving for San Francisco. At 6-4, 206 lbs. with 4.42 speed in the 40-yard dash, Hurst has the physical profile that NFL teams usually covet in an outside “X” receiver. Tampa Bay is an intriguing landing spot because of Evans’ vacancy and concerns about the other veteran receivers’ consistency. He needs to earn the trust of the coaching staff and QB Baker Mayfield, but his combination of size and speed provide him with a chance to become a significant downfield threat. His production after transferring from DII (Valdosta State) to the FBS level (Georgia State) was pretty seamless and he had strong Senior Bowl and Combine performances after the college regular season this year.
5. Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans (ADP range 113-143): For a receiver going outside the early rounds, Higgins has one of the better combinations of talent, quarterback throwing to him (CJ Stroud), offensive environment and upside. His rookie numbers (41 receptions, 525 yards, 6 TDs) don’t necessarily jump off the page, but he became much more productive in the second half of the season. Stroud, whose main target has been Nico Collins, can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers. At 6-4, 215 lbs., Higgins is a big, physical receiver who can win contested catches and be a complementary red zone target vs. Collins. Six TDs on limited volume last year is not a fluke.
6. Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks (ADP range 136-138): I am bullish on Shaheed, now that he has had both half a season and the whole off-season to develop chemistry with QB Sam Darnold and the Seahawks’ offense. Seattle signed him to a 3-year extension, so it is unlikely they see him as just a gadget player. Traded just before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4, more than halfway through the regular season, it is understandable that he didn’t immediately figure into the Seahawks’ offensive plans and had more of an impact as a return specialist. But in New Orleans, he was one of the NFL’s best success stories as an undrafted free agent out of FCS-level Weber State, where he was a 4-time All-American. For the Saints, he averaged 16-17 yards per reception. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is likely to remain Seattle’s WR1, but Shaheed’s 4.3 speed makes him a dangerous vertical threat for QB Sam Darnold. It may not be every game, but in any one game he could possibly score 25-30 fantasy points. Fun Fact: Out of Mt. Carmel High School in San Diego, he turned down an opportunity to run track for USC in order to play football at Weber State.
7. Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ADP range 59-60): Entering his third NFL season with Tampa Bay, McMillan is a potential breakout candidate with the departure of Mike Evans to San Francisco — if he can stay healthy. Veteran Chris Godwin seems locked into the slot and young 2nd-year standout Emeka Egbuka is projected by most analysts to lead the receiving corps, so McMillan may be primarily competing with Hurst for the primary downfield/X receiver role. Head coach Todd Bowles has praised McMillan’s technical route-running and an ability to ‘bait’ coverages. Those traits make him a potential trusted asset for QB Baker Mayfield.
8. Jacobi Myers, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP range 101-103): This will be Myers’ first full season in Jacksonville after signing a 3-year, $60 million contract extension. He is a veteran anchor to the Jags’ relatively young receiving corps and was particularly effective in immediately controlling the middle of the field, allowing rising stars like Brian Thomas, Jr. to operate more downfield. He is a polished, steady presence in head coach Liam Coen’s offense. In 2025, after arriving in Jacksonville following a mid-season trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, Meyers seemed to quickly become a favorite target for QB Trevor Lawrence — arguably Meyers’ first real pairing with stable quarterback play. With a full offseason to learn Coen & Co.’s full playbook, Meyers should have a high floor in fantasy points even if not the high ceiling of Thomas and, potentially, Parker Washington. He will compete with both of them for targets.
9. Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP range 170-185): The former Heisman Trophy winner is listed as a receiver, but we’ve seen reports that Hunter will be utilized as a full-time cornerback on defense with situational packages as a wide receiver. If that proves out, his fantasy upside may be limited. Personally, I am staying away from Hunter in Best Ball this year due to his unpredictability in playing on the offensive side.
10. Malachi Fields, New York Giants (ADP range 245+/-): A rookie WR selected in the third round (74th overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Fields has been described as a “power forward” pass catcher. At 6-4, 218 lbs., in college he excelled in contested catch situations and high-pointing the football. Malik Nabers is slated to be the No. 1 receiver for the Giants, but he is still on the mend from a torn ACL. So in OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Field saw a lot of first-team reps. I have taken him in late rounds of Best Ball because of his size, physicality and potential employment in “red zone” situations. Plus, Nabers’ time frame for return is still up in the air and the Giants’ depth in the receiving room is questionable, even if the room is crowded with Nabers, veteran boundary WR Darius Slayton, veteran Darnell Mooney with proven perimeter speed and Calvin Austin III, new to the team and projected to lead any battle for snaps in the slot. Aging veterans Odell Beckham Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster were marquee names added with one-year contracts. Second year WR Jalin Hyatt offers elite vertical speed, but has yet to really breakout since his years at the Univ. of Tennessee. Other names are Isaiah Hodgins, Braxton Berrios and Xavier Gipson. Some of these guys will be used solely on special teams. Fields might end up in that role, too, but his athleticism and physical characteristics make him intriguing.
11. Skyler Bell, Buffalo Bills (ADP range 277-302): Drafted in the third round out of UConn, speedster Skyler Bell is intriguing for High Country fans of former App State WR and kick returning star Jalen Virgil, who is also currently listed on the Bills’ roster. Virgil was an undrafted free agent signed by Denver out of college in 2022. Bell tested better for agility, Virgil is a shade faster in the 40-yard dash and a somewhat bigger receiver at 6-1, 210 lbs. vs. Bell’s 6-0. 192 lbs. I am admittedly biased toward Virgil, but Bell’s faster short-area burst may earn him an opportunity in the slot. ESPN currently lists newcomer D.J. Moore (X), Joshua Palmer (Z) and Khalil Shakir (slot) as the projected starters, with rotational backups projected as Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers and Bell. Virgil is projected to be competing with Mecole Hardman Jr. and Trent Sherfield for the coveted No. 6 WR, with Shavers currently rehabbing an ACL injury. It should be an interesting training camp.
12. Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (ADP range 300+): Selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Wilson’s rookie year was derailed by injuries and though he appeared in 13 games, recorded just 12 receptions for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2025. His pedigree as a key playmaker for the 2023 CFP National Champion, Michigan, suggest there is more to him at the next level. A fresh start under new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy provides a potential opportunity for a breakout season, but he has heavy competition for snaps behind DK Metcalf, newly acquired Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Germie Bernard, drafted in the second round this year. Bernard is projected by ESPN as WR3 (slot), with Wilson listed as second string to Metcalf. Another interesting name on the roster is Ben Skowronek, the former Los Angeles Rams receiver.
13. Bryce Lance, New Orleans Saints (ADP range 280-284): At 6-3, 204 lbs. the North Dakota State alum has reportedly opened some eyes at the spring Combine (4.34 in the 40, 41.5-inch vertical jump), selected in the 4th round of the NFL Draft. His brother is Trey Lance, currently the backup QB to Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers. At North Dakota State, the younger Lance developed a reputation as a “big-play machine,” averaging over 21 yards per reception and scoring 17 TDs with his large catch radius, body control and flat-out speed. Critics have emphasized the transition from FCS level college ball to the NFL, while also describing him as a “raw prospect” needing to expand his route running tree beyond basic vertical and go-routes. I doubt he will threaten Chris Olave’s or fellow rookie Jordan Tyson’s roles, but he could become a dangerous vertical weapon in coach Kellen Moore’s offense as he develops.
14. Omar Cooper, Jr., New York Jets (ADP range 140-160): Though a rookie, I suspect Cooper will slide into a prominent role with the Jets alongside alpha receiver Garrett Wilson, who may also benefit from Cooper’s presence. The newcomer has explosive physical traits and described as an effective and smooth route runner, with reliable hands (hardly ever drops the ball). He was the Indiana Hoosiers’ leading receiver in its undefeated run to the 2025 CFP national championship. The Jets WR room has been largely revamped, with Wilson (No. 1) joined by Adonai Mitchell, Cooper, Isaiah Williams, veteran Tim Patrick, and 2nd year guy Arian Smith. I suspect Cooper will join Wilson and Mitchell as the starters, arguably forming the most dangerous trio of WRs for the Jets (and QB Geno Smith) in several years. That said, if Wilson and Mitchell miss time, the Jets will be relying on young, unproven talents, including Cooper.
15. De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers (ADP range 169-204): At 6-2, 207 lbs., Stribling is a big-bodied WR out of Ole Miss mostly known for his explosive athleticism. He was selected 33rd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the 49ers. Especially for his size, he is fast, clocking a 4.36 40 at the Combine. Video available on YouTube shows he is tough to bring down after the catch and is a willing blocker (which makes him a valuable teammate!). All reports point to him as probably the No. 4 WR at the outset of the season, behind veterans Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and second season standout Ricky Pearsall. But he has the size and athleticism to develop into a primary target for QB Brock Purdy as he develops. He represents a fairly significant shift for the 49ers compared to the departed Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, being a taller, pure size-speed element on the perimeter.
16. Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns (ADP range 143-176): If the Browns can get more consistent QB play out of Shedeur Sanders and/or De’Shaun Watson, Jeudy could be a steal in Best Ball drafts given his ADP. After a highly successful collegiate career at Alabama, Jeudy was drafted No. 15 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He had flashes for Denver, but suffered from arguably erratic QB play from Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater and Russell Wilson. Traded to Cleveland in 2024, he benefited from relatively good chemistry with Watson before the QB suffered a season-ending injury and benefited by being peppered with targets from replacement QB Jameis Winston. In 2024, he set the Browns’ single season receptions record (90) and rolled up over 1,200 receiving yards (13.4 yards average). He has had some recurring hamstring injuries and a severe high-ankle sprain in 2021, but has not missed much game time during his NFL career, appearing in 91 out of a possible 99 regular season games over his 6-year professional career.