Hidden Gems for 2026 Fantasy Drafts | Early Sleepers | 2026 Fantasy Football Advice (FFT Express)

Summary

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Fantasy Football Today Express – "Hidden Gems for 2026 Fantasy Drafts"

Date: February 27, 2026
Hosts: Adam Aizer & Jamie Eisenberg

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Episode Overview

This episode of Fantasy Football Today Express dives into early sleeper picks and overlooked prospects—those "hidden gems"—for the 2026 fantasy football season. Hosts Adam Aizer and Jamie Eisenberg methodically discuss undervalued players at every position, offering actionable draft advice for managers eager to gain an edge in their leagues. The episode is upbeat and loaded with practical insights for late-round draft success.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Quarterback Sleepers & Hidden Gems

Timestamps: 01:59–03:49

• Veteran Overlook: Jamie and Adam note that veteran QBs often get snubbed in favor of "next big thing" prospects.
• Value in Late Picks:
  • Jared Goff: Continues to slip to late rounds despite steady production.

    "It seems like Jared Goff is that guy every year. I think he'll be another guy this year as well." — Jamie Eisenberg (02:55)

  • Baker Mayfield & Brock Purdy: Reliable, overlooked options in solid offenses.
  • Jordan Love: Coming off a strong season and "someone I'll be looking to draft a lot of." — Jamie (03:10)
  • Cam Ward: Flashed potential late last season, making him a sneaky late pick.
• Draft Room Dynamics:

  "Quarterback's always going to be a good position for late round steals and gems." — Jamie Eisenberg (03:51)

2. Running Back Sleepers

Timestamps: 04:04–05:54

• Emergence of Sophomores:
  • Devin Neal (Saints): Poised to step up as Kamara ages and Kendre Miller recovers from injury.
  • Tyler Stuck: Another late-round option, especially after last year’s performance.
• Smart Handcuffs & Situation Watches:
  • Taije Spears (Titans): Not productive last year, but might carve out a pass-catching role under Brian Daboll.
  • 49ers’ No. 2 Back: With McCaffrey aging, backup could emerge as a major late-round value.

    "That's a team I'll be looking at in terms of who's the number two running back there." — Adam (04:49)

  • Sean Tucker (Bucs): Opportunity increasing with Rashad White’s likely departure.
• Deep Flyers:
  • Chris Rodriguez (Commanders): Won the job late last season; undervalued in most drafts.

3. Wide Receiver Sleepers

Timestamps: 06:40–09:05

• Attachment to Good Offenses:
  • Jack Besh (Raiders): Under-the-radar prospect in a thin receiving corps.

    "I like Besh coming out of college. I thought he had an opportunity to be a playmaker for the Raiders right away." — Adam Aizer (06:55)

  • Jerry Jeudy: Poor recent performance but a bounce back candidate due to talent and likely opportunity.
• Sophomore Surges and Upside:
  • Chimary DK (Titans): Showed "flashes" and is a potential big-play threat.
  • Trey Harris (Chargers): Could become the WR3 if Keenan Allen isn’t retained, especially under Mike McDaniel.
• Other Intriguing Names:
  • Jalen Coker (Bears?): Has upside if he keeps a major role.
  • Devon Valley (Saints): May seize more opportunity opposite Chris Olave.
  • Tory Horton (Rams): Good setup with potential departures and a depleted room.
• Monitor 49ers Situation:

  "Whoever is the second receiver there for San Francisco... that's a position to look at for sure." — Adam (08:55)

4. Tight End Sleepers

Timestamps: 09:05–10:07

• Invest in Youth & Opportunity:
  • Mason Taylor (Jets): Showed flashes when healthy and faces light competition.
  • Gunner Helm (Titans?): Could step into a bigger role if the team moves on from Chig Okonkwo.

    "Gunner Helm showed some flashes last year... but a guy I think that Cam Ward can lean on." — Adam (09:18)

  • Ben Sinnott (Commanders): Athletic, could benefit from a weak WR group and expanded snaps.
• Important Situational Watch:
  • Jake Tonjas (49ers): If Kittle starts season on IR, Tonjas could become a must-draft tight end.

    "I think Tonjas will be someone that's probably getting drafted in most drafts… he was really good while Kittle was out." — Jamie (10:07)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Veteran Quarterbacks:

  "We're all chasing the Jackson Darts, the next Jayden Daniels... I think we're going to forget about the Jared Goffs." — Jamie Eisenberg (02:15)

• On RB Handcuffs:

  "I'm going to be very interested in the number two running back for the San Francisco 49ers just because of Christian McCaffrey, all the work that he had this past season and he'll be 30 in June." — Adam Aizer (04:44)

• On WR Depth & Opportunity:

  "I like Besh coming out of college. I thought he had an opportunity to be a playmaker for the Raiders right away." — Adam Aizer (06:55)

• On Monitoring TE Depth Charts:

  "If he's back and Kittle starts the year on IR... I think Tonjas will be someone that's probably getting drafted in most drafts." — Jamie Eisenberg (10:07)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:59–03:49: Quarterbacks – hidden gems & philosophy
• 04:04–05:54: Running backs – targeting understudies and sophomores
• 06:40–09:05: Wide receivers – attaching to good offenses & overlooked talent
• 09:05–10:07: Tight ends – youth, injuries, and depth-chart watches

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Episode Tone

Practical, enthusiastic, and strategy-focused. Jamie and Adam keep the discussion light but informed, encouraging listeners to look beyond the obvious names and to leverage last-round picks for maximum upside.

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Summary

This express episode is a must-listen for fantasy football managers targeting hidden value in 2026 drafts. Adam and Jamie break down overlooked veterans, sophomore risers, and players positioned for breakout in each position group. Smart managers can leverage these insights to nab league-winning talent late, with special attention to players in strong offenses or those set to benefit from shifting roster situations.

Missed the episode? This summary arms you with the strategic highlights to find your league’s next big sleeper.

Transcript

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If you need some help with late

[Jamie Eisenberg]

round picks, we've got you covered right now on Fantasy Football Today Express. And some early sleeper Some hidden gems for you. I'm Adam Mazer with Jamie Eisenberg. What's up, J?

[Adam Mazer]

How are you?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, not great, but under the weather.

[Ethos Life Insurance Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Let's talk about these hidden gems. Give me a name to kick it off.

[Adam Mazer]

So let's go by position, just make it easy. And I think at quarterback it's always in your best interest, as we saw with somebody like Matthew Stafford, even Sam Darnold. You know, some of these veteran quarterbacks that people sort of overlook on draft day, Baker Mayfield two years ago, you know, they end up being very good fantasy quarterbacks when things are going in their favor and in the drafts that we've done so far, you just continue to see some of these guys just slip through the cracks. Understandably so, because we're all chasing the Jackson darts, the next Jayden Daniels, you know, all these guys that have, you know, huge upside. Trevor Lawrence is going to be that type of player this year. Justin Herbert's going to be that type of player this year. I think we're going to forget about the Jared Goffs of the world, the Baker Mayfields of the world, Brock Purdy, even maybe somebody that you can see, you know, get drafted late. But the couple that stand out to me, Jordan Love. When we saw last year what we saw from last year when he was able to throw the ball, he was successful and I think we're seeing Josh Jacobs playing through knee injury. Love will be somebody I'll be looking to draft a lot of. I think Cam Ward is going to be a great late round pick just because he started to show some flashes at the end of the season and started pick things up. But quarterback to me is easy. You look for these guys that just continue to fall on draft day, guys that are still in great offenses. It seems like Jared Goff is that guy every year. I think he'll be another guy this year as well. Just given the town around him and maybe still some of the defensive if it defensive deficiencies that the Lions are still working through.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I may feel a great call. There were just so many reasons why things didn't go right for them last year. Starting with their left tackle beginning the year on IR and Evans getting hurt. Godwin recovering from this injury and probably not being himself and not playing a full season and then the just missing on some big plays. So things didn't work. They got a new offensive coordinator. Mayfield, you know he, he I wonder is it possible in a 12 team league he won't even be drafted Maybe

[Adam Mazer]

in our crazy drafts but I don't think he did.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I took him in the 14th round which is the last round but so yeah he's and then Bo Nix was the next pick and then Sam Darnold was the pick after that. Quarterback's always going to be a good position for late round steals and gyms. How about running back?

[Adam Mazer]

We talked about one guy briefly on the sophomore running backs that I'm going to take a lot of and that's Devin Neal, second year running back for the Saints. Alvin Camara, year older. Kendra Miller coming off of an ACL tear. Even if he's still going to be on the roster, I'm not sure what his contract situation is but Neil, you know showed some flashes last year and I think this offense continuing to get better. Another quarterback we should probably mention Tyler Stuck just the way that he played last season. But that's a running back that I'll be looking at with with a late round pick. Depending on what the Titan situation looks like, I'll probably still try and take a flyer on Taije Spears. You know, Tony Pollard was good at times last year. Spears did not really do much of anything. But I do think again with Brian Dabel there, we know he's used multiple running backs in his past and I think Spears probably still can have a role as a pass catcher there. But again, I think you're looking at, you know, some of these, these handcuff situations. I'm going to be very interested in the number two running back for the San Francisco 49ers just because of Christian McCaffrey, all the work that he had this past season and he'll be 30 in June. So whether that's James, whether that's Garendo, whether they, you know, bring in somebody like they did Brian Robinson who's a free agent this off season, that's a team I'll be looking at in terms of who's the, the number two running back there. I'm trying to think just like guys that I'll be, you know, very interested in from a team perspective. Oh, Sean Tucker, that's one for sure. Rashad White looks like he's going to be gone. Bucky Irving, you know, battled through the shoulder injury, had off season surgery as well. Sean Tucker is definitely somebody I'm going to be very interested in. Just to take a flyer on for

[Jamie Eisenberg]

20, 26, I'll throw Chris Rodriguez there. He was a 14th round pick in the draft that we did a few weeks ago to Jacob and he was, you know, he basically just won the job over Jechore Crosby Merritt late in the season and was arguably better.

[Adam Mazer]

I believe it's free agent though.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Is he?

[Adam Mazer]

I'm sorry, it might be restricted if

[Jamie Eisenberg]

they bring him back. Then we'll take a look at Chris Rodriguez, who's definitely going to go later than than Jacori Crosky Merritt, even if he's back on Washington.

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All right.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And we're gonna take a break and be right back with some wide receiver gems after this.

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[Jamie Eisenberg]

Okay. Hidden gems Sleepers at wide receiver.

[Adam Mazer]

So this is another spot where I think you're looking at, you know, some guys that are just want to attach yourself to great offenses. This isn't necessarily a great offense, but I'm very intrigued by him as Jack Besh. The Raiders, as we know, you know, need some help in the passing game after Brock Bowers. So they tried a bunch of situations last year. Jacoby Myers traded him. Tyler Lockett was brought in. He obviously did not work out there to the extent I think but I like best coming out of college. I thought he had an opportunity to be a playmaker for the Raiders right away. Took him in a bunch of rookie drafts. So I'm excited to see what he can do. Hopefully with an expanded role. I'm gonna buy back in to a certain extent on Jerry Judy just because I don't think he was. He is as bad as the way that he performed last year. He's already going late in our drafts right now. Again, quarterback will matter there, but I think Jerry Judy's worth a late round flyer. Chimary dk. You know, we'll see what the Titans do in regards to the rest of their receiving corps, but we saw some flashes from him. Big time playmaker, obviously made a lot of plays in special teams. Another sophomore wide receiver as well as Trey Harris for the Chargers. If they don't bring back Keenan Allen, he could be the third guy there behind lad McConkey and Quinn Johnston. And again expecting a bitter, a better, more explosive offense with Mike McDaniel calling plays. So that's another guy that I'll be, you know, looking to draft quite a bit of trying to think anybody else that stands out.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I know you're a Jalen Coker guy.

[Adam Mazer]

Yeah. I don't know how late he'll go, but I think Jalen Coker's got an opportunity to build off what he did at the end of the season. Especially if they don't bring in somebody else. You know, looking at him as a second guy opposite Ted or McMillan I'll be excited about that. Want to see what the Saints do also because, you know, opposite Chris Olave there really wasn't much there. So bringing in Devon Valley, we saw some flashes. You know, he could be a guy that, you know is that big receiver that may be somebody that Kellen Moore wants to give a few more opportunities to. This guy I'll be drafting a lot of is Tory Horton another sophomore wide receiver, you know. So Rashid Shahid may resign, but if he moves on Cooper Cup's going to be 33. I like the setup there for him. And then we got to keep an eye on the 49ers wide receiver situation. My God, they are desperate for playmakers right now. You're talking about Ricky Piersol, one of significance right now under contract, assuming they move on for Brandon Ayuk. But Ayuk and and Juwan Jennings may not be back. So whoever is the second receiver there for San Francisco, especially with their tight end situation being what it is, that's a position to look at for sure. Okay.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And speaking of tight ends, any sleepers at that position?

[Adam Mazer]

Yeah, one of my favorites will probably end up being Mason Taylor. I like what he showed in some flashes last year, so hoping for better quarterback play for the jets. But we know this is a receiving core also that's definitely in flux after Garrett Wilson. There's not a lot there in terms of consistent production. And Taylor I think is somebody battled injuries down the stretch of the season, but somebody that I'm going to be very intrigued about. Another sophomore tight end will be Gunner Helm, assuming that they move on from a conquo. Gunner Helm showed some flashes last year. Again, different, you know, coaching staff, but a guy I think that Cam Ward can lean on. And then the third year tight end. I was excited about him last year, but we'll see what happens. But Zachary says he's going to try and play. He is a free agent. I don't think he's going to necessarily have to return to Washington or that's a player that they're going to have to go out and keep. Ben Senate was somebody I like coming out of college. I think there's an opportunity for him in an expanded role. Another receiving core that's very depleted in terms of talent right now. I hope Senate gets an opportunity to be that playmaker for the Commander, somebody I'll be taking with a late round pick as well if he's in that starting role.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And Jake Tonjas is a free agent, but I think he's a restricted free agent. So if he's back and Kittle starts the year on IR Puff, I think Ton just will be someone that's probably getting drafted in most drafts, you know, just to use him because he was really good while Kittle was out. All right, Jamie, thank you very much. That's it for fantasy football today.

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[Jamie Eisenberg]

We'll talk to you next time on fft.

[Adam Mazer]

See you.