Fantasy Football 2026 Sleepers to Target from Panthers vs. Cardinals Hall of Fame Game

Football officially returned Thursday night as the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals faced off in the NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. The game preceded Panthers great Luke Kuechly and Cardinals star Larry Fitzgerald being enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Saturday. 

The Hall of Fame Game provides the first meaningful opportunity of the NFL season for rookies and roster hopefuls to make an impression. That made Thursday night's game especially intriguing for two teams entering the season with plenty of unanswered questions on both sides of the ball.

A rash of injuries early in training camp depleted several key positions for the Panthers, including a season-ending knee injury to rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II. Meanwhile, Arizona kicked off a new era under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, using the first preseason game to begin evaluating how its revamped offense fits together.

Preseason box scores don't always translate to regular season production, but increased playing time can reveal emerging contributors before the rest of the fantasy community takes notice. From wide receiver competitions to overlooked skill-position players, Thursday night's preseason opener offered the first clues about which sleepers are worth monitoring as draft season heats up. The following players stood out.

Bam Knight, RB, Cardinals 

AP Photo

On the Cardinals' depth chart, rookie Bam Knight figures to slot behind James Conner, Tyler Allgeier and Trey Benson, none of whom saw action on Thursday night. 

Still, even with limited high-level competition, Knight was able to rack up touches, ending the night with 12 carries for 60 yards, including one 15-yard breakaway. He showed explosiveness and an ability to eke out more yards after contact. 

While Knight likely won't come into play for fantasy managers until waivers are open, he showed on Thursday that he shouldn't be written off completely.

Miles Davis, RB, Panthers 

AP Photo

After signing with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in May, running back Miles Davis was not expected to be a factor in fantasy this season. And it's not likely that fantasy managers will be selecting him in their drafts prior to the season opener. 

However, with the caveat that he was playing against a vanilla defense, there's no denying that Davis was one of the best players on the field Thursday night. He made an impact in all areas of the game, with four carries for 53 yards, including a 36-yard gain, and three receptions. By the end of preseason play, Davis may make a case for himself in deep dynasty leagues. 

After transferring to Utah State from BYU, where fans nicknamed him "the Scorcerer," Davis finished the 2025 season with 731 rushing yards on 131 carries with eight touchdowns, as well as 28 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns.

Reggie Virgil, WR, Cardinals

AP Photo

When the Cardinals selected Reggie Virgil in the fifth round of this year's draft, he was expected to compete with Kendrick Bourne for the No. 3 role. While there's still plenty of preseason action to come, Virgil made the most of his opportunity on Thursday night. 

The former Red Raider had a game-high five receptions for 66 yards, averaging 13.2 yards per reception. 

Virgil is another dynasty league option that managers in redraft leagues should keep an eye on when it comes time to bolster their bench with injury replacements.