Matt Bowen Names 5 Late-Round Sleepers in 2026 Fantasy Draft Targets

Q: Jordyn Tyson's sudden injury reshapes the Saints' offense, but which unknown receiver will steal the fantasy spotlight?

Devaughn Vele is the most likely Saints receiver to gain real fantasy value from Jordyn Tyson’s injury, with rookie Barion Brown the best deep sleeper. The clearest evidence is role and usage. Multiple reports say Tyson’s absence pushes the Saints back to Chris Olave as the unquestioned top target, with Vele next in line for No. 2 duties. Depth-chart projections already show Vele’s role rising sharply, and coach Kellen Moore has said Vele “finished off the season really well,” is healthy, and now has “a really defined role.” That matters in fantasy because Tyson’s two-month absence removes a major source of target competition early in the season. Vele also has the strongest production case among the lesser-known options. He caught 25 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns last year, with most of that damage coming late, when he produced 20 catches and 254 yards over his final five games. In an offense led by Tyler Shough that became more functional down the stretch, that late-season usage gives Vele the best chance to become an immediate waiver-wire name in deeper leagues. If the question is who could unexpectedly pop beyond Vele, Brown is the more explosive candidate. He has been one of camp’s biggest risers and carried that into preseason with four catches for 53 yards. Bryce Lance has also drawn praise and remains a name to monitor, but Brown appears slightly closer to early snaps. For fantasy purposes, Vele is the safest replacement-value add; Brown is the upside bet.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Aug 18

Bowen’s 2026 redraft board highlights Joe Burrow, Jonathan Taylor, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Colston Loveland as premium targets, with Burrow projected to deliver top-3 quarterback production.
The picks lean on recent output and role growth: Taylor scored 21.3 fantasy points per game in 2025, Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 receiving yards, and Loveland surged late as a rookie.
Bowen also flags breakout candidates at value prices, including Caleb Williams at QB11, Omarion Hampton at RB11, Emeka Egbuka at WR18 and Jake Ferguson at TE12 based on expanded opportunity and scheme fit.
Further down the board, he points to upside stashes such as Jadarian Price, Jordan Mason, Wan'Dale Robinson and Isaiah Likely, while listing five late-round names to monitor through preseason battles.
A late edit removed Saints rookie Jordyn Tyson after news he could miss about 2 months, underscoring how injuries are already reshaping 2026 draft boards ahead of draft season.