10 Fantasy Sleepers Who Could Emerge as Replacements for Departed NFL Stars in 2026

The world of fantasy football has an ever-shifting landscape that heavily impacts the game on a year-to-year basis. The NFL offseason involves a lot of roster shuffling, which inevitably alters fantasy value.

In 2024, for example, Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson finished the season as WR2 in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues. The Vikings parted with quarterback Sam Darnold last offseason, and Jefferson went on to finish the 2025 season as WR21.

While it's certainly important to consider how offseason moves will affect top draft targets, it's equally important to recognize that departed stars create opportunities for terrific sleeper value.

Last season, for example, the Pittsburgh Steelers parted with running back Najee Harris and brought in former Philadelphia Eagles backup Kenneth Gainwell. Gainwell and fellow Steelers running back Jaylen Warren finished the year as RB16 and RB17, respectively.

Here, we'll examine 10 of the biggest NFL stars who changed teams this offseason and the potential fantasy sleepers most likely to benefit from their departures, based on recent production, roster makeup, and projected roles.

Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Replacing: D.J. Moore, WR35 in 2025

Last year, Chicago Bears receiver D.J. Moore finished as WR35, which isn't overly impressive. However, the trade that sent him to the Buffalo Bills will still open up a big opportunity for third-year receiver Rome Odunze.

Moore led all Bears wideouts in receptions (50) and receiving yards (682), while finishing second behind Odunze in targets. The previous season, he finished as WR16.

Rookie Luther Burden III came on strong last season, with 357 of his 652 receiving yards coming in the final five games, and he's also a strong breakout candidate. However, with an average draft position (ADP) of 40, Burden is being valued as a breakout start—and is perhaps overvalued, since the breakout hasn't actually happened yet.

Odunze, meanwhile, is being undervalued a bit. With an ADP of 72, he'll provide massive value if he replaces Moore as Chicago's top wideout.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Replacing: Michael Pittman Jr., WR18

The trade that sent Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts to the Steelers certainly wasn't the biggest offseason deal involving a wide receiver. However, fantasy managers seem to be overlooking the impact it may have on Colts wideout Josh Downs.

Indy added Nick Westbrook-Ikhine this offseason to help replace Pittman, but Downs should still see a jump in target share as the top slot option. Downs ranked third in targets behind Pittman and tight end Tyler Warren last season.

Alec Pierce is Indianapolis' clear-cut top wideout heading into the 2026 season, as evidenced by the four-year, $114 million extension the Colts gave him this offseason. However, he's still recovering from ankle surgery and could potentially miss all of the preseason.

With Pittman out and Pierce not guaranteed to be at 100 percent early in 2026, Downs is being undervalued with an ADP of 149.

Christian Kirk, WR, San Francisco 49ers

AP PhotoJeff Chiu

Replacing: Jauan Jennings, WR33

When it comes to San Francisco 49ers receivers, most of the fantasy attention has rightfully gone to free-agent addition Mike Evans. While Evans had an injury-hampered and career-worst campaign last season (more on that shortly), he's expected to boost a receiving corps that lacks reliable targets.

Last season, inside-outside receiver Jauan Jennings was San Francisco's most reliable pass-catcher, aside from running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle. He departed for the Vikings in free agency, while the 49ers brought in Christian Kirk to help man the slot.

"What he brings to the room, just a vet guy, very smart, and I think for his position at the slot receiver, just how teams have used him, I'm excited that we get to now do that, too," quarterback Brock Purdy said, per Henry Cheal of SI.com.

Kirk last topped 500 receiving yards in 2023, but if he can exit camp as San Francisco's starting slot receiver, he'll be a strong late-round target in deeper leagues. He currently carries an ADP of 236.

Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Replacing: Mike Evans, WR75

With Mike Evans departing for San Francisco, plenty of managers are targeting second-year Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka, who has an ADP of 57. Injuries limited Evans to only eight games last season, but with his role vacated, Egbuka is expected to be Tampa's top receiver.

However, managers shouldn't discount Jalen McMillan, who missed the bulk of last season with a neck fracture. The 2024 third-round pick returned to record 17 catches for 178 yards in four games, and the Bucs are banking on a Year 3 jump.

"I think he fits in great with the receiver room and he is a workhorse," head coach Todd Bowles said, per Brianna Dix of the team's official website. "He comes out to work everyday and I think he has some great football ahead of him."

Evans was a perennial 1,000-yard receiver before last season, and while McMillan may not reach that mark, he should have a strong campaign as a perimeter starter opposite Egbuka. With an ADP of 185, he's significantly undervalued.

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Detroit Lions

AP Photo

Replacing: David Montgomery, RB27

Former Kansas City Chiefs starter Isiah Pacheco has had a rough couple of seasons due to injuries. In 2025, he was limited to 13 games by an MCL sprain and finished with just 563 scrimmage yards.

It didn't help that the Chiefs lacked the firepower in the passing game and quality blocking up front and ranked just 20th as a team in yards per carry last season.

Pacheco will get a fresh start with the Detroit Lions this offseason. While he isn't a threat to surpass Jahmyr Gibbs as RB1, he will replace David Montgomery as Gibbs' top running mate. While Detroit's offensive line is experiencing some shuffling, the Lions do have the receiving weapons to back off opposing defenses and give their ground game running room.

Pacheco may not mirror Montgomery's production perfectly, but he's a strong flex option, a tremendous handcuff, and a potential late-round bargain. He currently holds an ADP of only 170.

Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Replacing: Kenneth Walker III, RB22

Kenneth Walker III was a solid fantasy starter during the regular season before going on a red-hot postseason run that culminated with a Super Bowl MVP award. However, he departed for Kansas City in free agency, leaving the Seattle Seahawks searching for backfield answers.

Making matters worse is the fact that No. 2 back Zach Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in January and could miss a good chunk of the 2026 season.

Seattle added Emanuel Wilson and has George Holani, who got a lot of the first-team work in minicamp, according to Gregg Ball of The News Tribune. However, it feels likely that rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price will claim the RB1 role at some point during the 2026 season.

Considering Walker's departure, Charbonnet's injury, the fact that Seattle had a run-first offense last season, and the reality that Holani hasn't been a high-volume NFL back, Price should be getting more attention than he is.

The Notre Dame product currently has an ADP of only 112.

Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Kayla Wolf

Replacing: Romeo Doubs, WR37

The Green Bay Packers allowed Romeo Doubs to depart in free agency after he led the team in both receptions (55) and receiving yards (724) in 2025. Green Bay also traded Dontayvion Wicks, who ranked fifth on the team in receiving yards.

Reed's departure should boost the stock of second-year receiver Matthew Golden, who had just 361 yards. However, it should also boost the target share for slot receiver Jayden Reed, who had 857 yards and six touchdowns when he was last healthy in 2024.

A broken collarbone and a foot fracture limited Reed to only seven games this past season.

Golden, who has an ADP of 178, is worth a late-round flier for managers who believe he'll make a Year 2 jump. However, Reed, who has an ADP of 132, should provide even stronger value if he can stay healthy in 2026.

Jalen Tolbert, WR, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Replacing: Jaylen Waddle, WR24

To be perfectly fair, the Miami Dolphins might be a fantasy wasteland in 2026. Miami essentially gutted its roster in the offseason and hasn't added a lot of intriguing veteran talent—aside from promising but inexperienced dual-threat quarterback Malik Willis.

As part of the Dolphins' teardown, they dealt Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos. With Tyreek Hill also out, Miami will have two new starting receivers on the perimeter this season. Jalen Tolbert, who had 1,093 receiving yards in four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, is trending to be one of them.

According to NBC Sports' Patrick Daugherty and Kyle Dvorchak, Tolbert was Miami's top receiving target during the offseason program.

While Tolbert's ceiling is probably limited—and it will certainly hinge on the efficiency of Willis behind center—he carries a substantial amount of upside. Tolbert has a draft rank of 337.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Replacing: Travis Etienne Jr., RB10

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten is beginning to trend out of sleeper territory for a couple of reasons. For starters, the Jaguars didn't do much to replace 2025 starter Travis Etienne Jr. in the offseason, aside from bringing in potential role players Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Ameer Abdullah.

Secondly, head coach Liam Coen has spent the offseason hyping up the 2025 fourth-round pick.

"Tuten I thought had a really good spring," Coen said on The Schrager Hour podcast (h/t John Shipley of SI.com). "...He does a great job of finding the end zone, he does, and his yards after contact and rushing yards, man. When he can get going and get downhill, I mean, he was 4.28 coming out. So he can fly."

Still, Tuten's ADP ranks 25th among RBs, meaning he'll still provide tremendous value if he can replicate Etienne's production. Managers will want to consider Rodriguez as a late-round handcuff, though, since there's no guarantee that Tuten will be an every-down back.

Rodriguez rushed for 500 yards with the Washington Commanders last year and has an ADP of 159.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Replacing: A.J. Brown, WR11

The trade that sent receiver A.J. Brown from the Eagles to the New England Patriots was one of the biggest blockbusters of the offseason. In fantasy, most seem to expect rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon to replace much of Brown's production.

Lemon has an ADP of 82, which is fairly high for an unproven rookie who will most likely be in the slot. Fellow rookie Carnell Tate, by comparison, can already be penciled in as the Tennessee Titans' top perimeter receiver, and he has an ADP of 64.

Managers looking for a deep sleeper should consider Eagles trade acquisition Dontayvion Wicks, who has familiarity with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and a skill set suited to replace Brown on the outside.

"I think he has a very unique skill set of being able to get in and out of breaks and be really efficient at the line of scrimmage," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said, per Zach Berman of The Athletic. "For a guy that I've coached, he has some Keenan Allen to him and to his game."

Wicks is certainly unlikely to replicate Brown's fantasy production. With a draft rank of 214, however, he offers substantial value as a late-round flier.

*Fantasy scoring, ADP and draft rankings from FantasyPros.