QB Sleepers for Fantasy Football: 3 Late-Round QBs to Draft

While Josh Allen headlines a star-studded group of QBs, there are plenty of big names down the board who can help keep you competitive while allowing you to address other positions. If you end up missing out on the top 12, don’t fret—below is a breakdown of three of my favorite sleepers, including Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff, who are poised to bounce back while playing behind a pair of healthy offensive lines.

If you have not already subscribed to Fantasy Life+, you can get 10% off any tier sub with the promo code KODY at checkout, giving you full access to our tools and expert analysis to help secure the edge you need to win your leagues.

QB Sleepers For Fantasy Football 2026

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

With the position littered with talent, punting on QB has become increasingly popular, allowing you to target a top-tier TE while loading up on stud RBs and WRs. Before Kyler Murray won the starting job in Minnesota, the former Arizona Cardinals QB was my primary target in the later rounds of my drafts. With Murray’s ADP skyrocketing, my sights have turned toward Baker Mayfield, another QB who possesses a high floor due to his dual-threat ability.

Even though Mayfield struggled to avoid pressure last season, he will find himself better protected this time around with health back on his offensive line's side. When properly protected, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pass catchers will have more time in their routes to break away from their assignments, widening Mayfield’s passing lanes, which will help him connect with his WRs at a much more consistent rate.

Should the injury bug ravage his front five again, we can lean on Mayfield’s running ability to help mask the decline in pass production. When on the run, Mayfield was lethal, averaging nearly seven yards per carry. The Bucs' question marks at RB may also lead to a lower volume of carries in the red zone for the position, leading to an uptick in Mayfield’s total number of pass attempts.

Jared Goff, Lions

Like Mayfield, positive regression also looms large over Jared Goff while playing behind an offensive line that is expected to improve on last year’s below-league-average marks in True Pass Set Grade. Even when operating behind an underwhelming line, Goff was still able to put together a productive 2025 campaign, finishing in the top 15 in EPA per play and in CPOE.

While Goff lacks the rushing upside that is needed to rival the top of the position, his high floor as a passer will help keep you competitive on a weekly basis. The Detroit Lions also possess arguably the most explosive group of skill players in the league, including Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, who are both regarded as top-5 players at their respective positions.

Malik Willis, Dolphins

Once labeled as a popular sleeper pick, drafters have been hesitant to select Malik Willis after the Miami Dolphins' underwhelming performance throughout the offseason. Through hardly any fault of his own, Miami’s lack of talent at the skill positions has raised serious red flags.

Fortunately for Willis truthers, his running ability will help fill the void, averaging over four yards per carry throughout his career. With the Dolphins' offensive line struggling to hold their ground, Willis will find himself scrambling at a higher rate to help keep their drives alive, racking up fantasy points in the process.

If the lack of talent around him scares you off, you can also draft Goff if you have the roster space to do so, giving you a high-floor player to lean on while monitoring how Willis performs in the Dolphins' offense.