NFL Free Agency 2026: It might not look like it, but these players quietly boosted their fantasy football stock

After covering the biggest fantasy football risers and fallers from free agency, let’s set our sights a little deeper on some under-the-radar players whose value has quietly increased based on recent moves.

Here are nine sleepers you should target in the later rounds of drafts or keep on your waiver-wire watchlist for when their opportunity arrives.

Keaton Mitchell, Chargers

Mitchell flashed his game-breaking explosiveness many times in Baltimore, beginning with his rookie season, when he averaged 8.43 yards per carry and 10.33 yards per reception as a dangerous change-of-pace back. Injuries derailed his career for a couple of seasons, but we caught another glimpse of his potential down the stretch last year when he posted back-to-back stat lines of 6-76-0 and 8-66-0, respectively, in December. When the Ravens decided not to tender him, he quickly found a new home in Los Angeles.

As a disciple of the Shahanan scheme, new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has an affinity for smaller, speedy ball carriers like Mitchell, who should slot in as a weekly RB4/flex option in the No. 2 role behind Omarion Hampton. Though Kimani Vidal was a competent replacement starter for part of the 2025 campaign, Mitchell will be the one to benefit if Hampton misses time again.

Matthew Golden, Packers

The departure of Romeo Doubs will free up a starting role for last year’s first-round pick Golden, who struggled to see consistent snaps during his rookie season. While Golden is still likely to be featured behind Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and even tight Tucker Kraft (once he’s healthy), the sophomore wideout can emerge as a big-play threat downfield and offer similar spike-week potential as Doubs, who posted 724 yards and six touchdowns in 2025, including seven games with double-digit fantasy points.

Keep Golden in mind as a late-round selection with plenty of upside, playing in an offense with a variety of pass-catchers with durability concerns.

Jonathon Brooks, Panthers

With Rico Dowdle no longer factoring into Carolina’s backfield plans, Chuba Hubbard appears set to retake the starting spot. Hubbard is only one season removed from a 1,366-yard, 11-touchdown campaign that helped him finish as the RB12 in fantasy points per game. However, we did see him get surpassed by Dowdle last season and now the team’s former second-round pick, Brooks, is expected to be back to full health after overcoming ACL tears in 2023 and 2024.

While this likely ends with Brooks being the immediate backup to Hubbard, there’s a non-zero chance he could make a push for lead-back duties if he can recapture his pre-injury form. At worst, Brooks is an interesting bench stash to see how it all plays out.

Isaac TeSlaa, Lions

There are a lot of hands calling for the ball in Detroit, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. One name a little further down the depth chart that’s not in the mix anymore is Kalif Raymond. While that might not seem like a big deal to most, it could have a very notable impact on TeSlaa.

Raymond played at least 40% of the snaps in nine of the Lions’ first 11 games last season before getting hurt. From that point on, TeSlaa played at least 50% of the snaps each week, scoring four touchdowns and reaching double-digit fantasy points in four of the final six outings. The Lions traded three third-round picks to move up and acquire TeSlaa in the 2025 NFL Draft, so it’s clear they have high hopes for him.

A major breakout would likely require an injury to St. Brown or Williams, but even if that duo stays healthy, it’s safe to assume TeSlaa will have a more sizable stat line in Year 2.

Jalen Nailor, Raiders

Nailor has never given me reason to think he was an opportunity away from becoming a fantasy star, but signing with the Raiders at least puts him in an offense that’s desperate for someone to step up at receiver. Though tight end Brock Bowers is the true top target in Vegas, it’s very possible we could see Nailor compete to be the second option in the passing game behind him. After all, Tre Tucker and Jack Bech aren’t exactly instilling fear in opposing defensive coordinators. Though in the end Nailor will likely prove to be better cast as a No. 3 WR, he has a chance to overachieve in the short term on the Raiders’ wide-open depth chart. Consider him a late-round best ball target and dynasty stash.

Jahan Dotson, Falcons

Similar to Nailor, Dotson has been given opportunities in the past and not provided much in the way of consistent production. We’re also getting further and further away from his first-round draft capital and seven-touchdown rookie season. That being said, the Falcons’ WR room has very little behind Drake London.

Olamide Zaccheaus, who was also recently signed in free agency, is a journeyman wideout who will be 29 in July and has career highs of 533 yards and three touchdowns. So if you’re holding out hope for Dotson (which I am), this is his last shot to deliver. He’s another late-round best ball target and dynasty stash.

Gunnar Helm, Titans

Even while playing behind Chig Okonkwo in a struggling Titans’ passing attack, Helm managed to immediately carve out a role. In the second half of the season, we saw his potential sneaking through the cracks when he caught at least four passes in four of his last seven games, including a pair of top-12 weekly fantasy finishes with stat lines of 6-51-0 and 4-49-1.

Tennessee signed Daniel Bellinger, who played under offensive coordinator Bran Daboll in New York, but the veteran is there to provide depth as a solid No. 2 tight end and shouldn’t be a threat to Helm.

With so many quality fantasy options at the position, Helm is just a long shot to become a fantasy starter. However, we have seen other tight ends in recent seasons come out of nowhere to be meaningful fantasy options.

[Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season]

George Holani, Seahawks

Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III has joined the Chiefs and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from an ACL injury suffered in the playoffs, which could keep him out until November. If the season started today, that would leave Holani as the top runner in a Seahawks offense hoping to repeat as champions. Even with the best free-agent backs off the market, it would be shocking if the front office doesn’t sign a veteran or draft someone of note, but this isn’t the best crop of RB prospects to choose from. So, for the moment, Holani gets a bump to his fantasy outlook for 2026 and could even have value as a early-season spot starter — depending on who else the team brings in before Week 1.

Greg Dulcich, Dolphins

Identifying Dulcich as a fantasy riser is a big swing that’s probably not going to make contact when it’s all said and done. Even so, it’s worth mentioning that he had at least 40 yards in four of his last five games for Miami in 2025. As it stands, he’s pencilled in as the team’s starter, making him a dart-throw option at tight end entering his age-26 season. While the Dolphins aren’t likely to have a ton of passing volume with Malik Willis under center, they also lack a viable No. 2 receiver behind Jaylen Waddle. There’s a non-zero chance Dulcich could turn into one of the top target-getters in this offense, so keep him in mind as a deep stash.