The best fantasy football QB sleepers to target in 2026
Fantasy football expert Jacob Camenker breaks down the QB sleepers you should target before your 2026 fantasy draft.
Except for those chasing the final few roster spots, the fallout from NFL preseason games is typically limited.
As teams prepare to open the first full week of exhibition contests starting Aug. 13, most coaches have remained cryptic about their plans to involve top players. And with the growing list of injury hits underscoring the risk of giving key contributors extensive run at this time of year, it’s understandable why many teams have gravitated toward shielding their starters from potential injury.
Yet even with the matchups shaped by stripped-down schemes and deep dives on the depth chart, the preseason at least yields some entertainment value, as well as an additional data point for many young players.
With that in mind, here are nine standouts from training camp worth watching during the preseason slate:
At USC, Lane made a habit of using only one hand to snag throws that once looked bound to fall incomplete. Now, those same contortionist catches have amplified his buzz to a level unmatched by any other rookie.
The 6-4, 200-pound target was a strong bet to be a fan favorite in training camp, with his knack for securing catches well outside his frame sure to produce a handful of dazzling clips for fans. But the impression he’s made on teammates and coaches suggests he’s more than a social media star.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle likened the third-round pick’s strong hands to those of former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who still holds the NFL’s single-season receptions record. That’s a lofty comparison for Lane, but his burgeoning connection with Lamar Jackson augurs well for his early trajectory. His skill set also clearly sets him apart from Baltimore’s more modestly built receivers in Zay Flowers (5-9) and Rashod Bateman (6-1).
Lane can’t subsist on highlight-reel grabs alone, so he’ll have to become a more sudden route-runner in order to answer concerns about his ability to create separation. Getting consistently clean releases off the line of scrimmage and more effectively boxing out defenders at the catch point also could be challenges for the slender pass catcher. If he answers those concerns, however, the buzz might not end when the summer does.
WR Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns
If the Browns are to discover an offensive spark, it almost assuredly won’t come from behind center. That much seems clear as the lackluster quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders continues to sputter along. But even if signal-caller shortcomings keep the ceiling on Cleveland’s aerial attack relatively low, there are still avenues for growth.
One of the primary sources of optimism for the passing attack is Boston. Since the spring, the second-round receiver out of Washington has demonstrated himself capable of picking up the slack in the passing game, thanks to his prowess in contested-catch scenarios. Browns coach Todd Monken has taken notice, drawing a parallel between the catch radius of the rookie and five-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans.
Boston has been bumped up to first-team reps, which could allow Jerry Jeudy to be moved around more often rather than kept fixed in the X role. With Watson or Sanders likely needing to be bailed out at least a few times per game, especially as an overhauled offensive line comes together, the 6-4, 210-pound rookie might be called on fairly frequently to haul in jump balls.
WR De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers
Upon his surprising selection to start Day 2, Stribling became one of the NFL draft’s most heavily criticized picks. Less than four months later, the Mississippi product has raced past any questions surrounding his draft capital.
Already owning a rare blend of size (6-2, 207 pounds) and breakaway speed (4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash), Stribling figured to be a strong candidate to create mismatches in the passing game. He’s made his strongest impression, however, with his reliable hands, as several teammates have touted his adeptness at working in traffic.
Kyle Shanahan’s system isn’t easy for rookies to handle, but San Francisco can create opportunities for Stribling by streamlining his role as a big slot. From there, he should be able to capitalize on schemed touches and run-after-catch opportunities. That would no doubt aid an attack that ranked 28th last season in yards after catch per completion (4.5) and will be without key receiver Ricky Pearsall, who will miss the 2026 season due to knee surgery.
Any ball carrier whose number of NFL games played (three) only narrowly tops his career tally of anterior cruciate ligament tears (two) would typically find himself on the chopping block at this time of year. Brooks, however, doesn’t appear to have any cause for concern regarding his standing with the Panthers.
The 2024 second-round pick is an active camp participant for the first time in Carolina after his previous two offseasons were spent recovering from surgeries. Even if he can’t fully recover the explosive form he displayed as an all-purpose threat at Texas, Brooks could play a significant role for an offense in need of a complement to Chuba Hubbard. And with the team demonstrating it will stick with a hot hand after Rico Dowdle’s emergence last year, his big-play upside might be hard to ignore, especially for an offense that needs to do more than just “Keep Pounding.”
With Brooks having sat out the Hall of Fame Game alongside other key contributors, it’s a good bet that the Panthers will remain cautious with his usage throughout the preseason. But Panthers coach Dave Canales confirmed the third-year back would “absolutely” play in the opener against the Buffalo Bills. And Carolina is no doubt eager to get any glimpse of his playmaking ability after such an extended wait to get him back at full strength.
DT Peter Woods, Kansas City Chiefs
The natural choice here might have been Cyrus Allen, the fifth-round receiver who turned heads before being sidelined by a shin bruise. Though he’s back in action, there’s probably only so much to be gained in the preseason setting for a rookie pass catcher given Patrick Mahomes’ expected absence from the slate. If Allen is to push Kansas City’s top three receivers for playing time, his effort likely won’t begin in earnest until the regular season begins.
Woods, however, can continue to build a strong case to be a prominent part of the defensive line rotation. Once viewed as a potential top-five selection, the No. 29 overall pick has rediscovered the explosive streak that largely seemed to go missing during his final season at Clemson. Defensive line coach Steve Spagnuolo has tempered the early enthusiasm around Woods, saying last week he has “a ways to go” on several finer points, including his footwork and maintaining a low pad level. With some additional polish, though, he could see meaningful action on a front desperate for disruption beyond what Chris Jones and George Karlaftis can generate.
OLB David Bailey, New York Jets
Glimpses of the No. 2 overall pick shouldn’t be hard to come by in the preseason. Jets coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that when his team opens this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, “Everybody’s playing.”
That could give Bailey a prime opportunity to show off his advanced pass-rushing ability, which Glenn and linebacker Demario Davis have described as already having exceeded the considerable pre-draft hype. Confidence isn’t a problem for the explosive edge, as he ignited one of several brawls with the Buccaneers after calling out stellar right tackle Luke Goedeke to engage in a one-on-one drill. Goedeke likely won’t be the last offensive lineman to be frustrated by Bailey, who could have the inside track for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
CB Hezekiah Masses, Las Vegas Raiders
Maybe it seems like a stretch to highlight the Raiders’ second fifth-round selection rather than the No. 1 overall pick. But it goes without saying that Fernando Mendoza’s acclimation to the NFL bears watching. While the quarterback might have an extended wait before he makes his regular-season debut for the Silver and Black, some of his draft classmates are vying to make earlier contributions.
While fourth-round cornerback Jermod McCoy was the marquee selection of the Raiders’ Day 3 haul after his tumble in the draft, Masses might end up providing a quicker fix in an unsettled secondary. The Cal product has pushed 2025 third-round pick Darien Porter for first-team reps opposite Eric Stokes. Las Vegas also has started to give him looks in the slot. That might not be optimal usage for the ball hawk, who led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 18 passes defensed last season, but it could afford the defense additional flexibility to get its best coverage assets on the field.
Regardless of where he’s deployed, Masses is eager to respond to those who have doubted his tackling efforts.
“That was a big issue, they said I can’t tackle, so I’m going to show them,” Masses told reporters this week.
S Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys
In the preseason, new defensive coordinator Christian Parker might be understandably reticent to showcase the full spectrum of Downs’ potential usage. Even in a stripped-down role, however, the versatile defensive back might provide a sampling of the ripple effect he can have on the back end of the Cowboys’ formerly maligned defense.
Working as a nickel hasn’t proven disruptive at all to Downs, who shoots into the backfield to drop opponents for a loss as easily as he covers receivers and tight ends. That extensive range of capabilities could prove crucial to allowing Parker to unlock more advantageous looks for a secondary that repeatedly short-circuited last season, with many of the breakdowns stemming from problems in the slot.
Though every rep could be valuable for the No. 11 overall pick, it’s unclear how much work he’ll be afforded in the preseason. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer reiterated earlier in August he won’t play the bulk of his starters in exhibitions, though he noted the value of “the young guys playing a little bit.” Between facing the likes of George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb in practice and having joint sessions against the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints, Downs can easily be tested away from a game setting.
The Bears already made a considerable ask of their first-round pick, who was set to help reshuffle the back end of a defense that led the NFL with 23 takeaways last year. With fellow safety Coby Bryant now sidelined for 4-to-6 months due to a knee injury and cornerback Kyler Gordon still sidelined, Thieneman faces considerable pressure to be up to speed by Week 1.
That doesn’t seem to be a problem so far. Bears coach Ben Johnson has praised the rookie safety for his instincts, saying last week, “You can see his play speed start to show up.” At 6-0 and 201 pounds, the Oregon product boasts a variety of coverage capabilities, which have been sharpened by his matchups with Colston Loveland and other Bears pass catchers. Still, Chicago will need him to be a quick study.