7 Sleepers to Target in ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues

Aug 27, 2026

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

ESPN draft rooms create a completely different sleeper pool than any other fantasy football platform. With its default full-PPR scoring, running backs we expect to go entire rounds earlier get pushed down the board, but that doesn’t mean other positions don’t pop up as we scour the boards, either.

For this exercise, we'll compare 4for4's full-PPR rankings against ESPN ADP, limiting the pool to players being selected outside the top 100. That PPR lens is useful, particularly for running backs and slot receivers whose receiving production may be worth more here than in other formats.

Jonathon Brooks, RB - Panthers (ESPN ADP: RB31, 106 overall)

Jonathon Brooks is finally healthy after two ACL tears effectively wiped out his first two NFL seasons, and Chuba Hubbard's preseason hamstring injury has potentially opened the door for more early-season work. Dave Canales has already said the Panthers plan to use a committee if Hubbard is ready for Week 1, but the team also has Brooks ranked as the more valuable fantasy option internally at 4for4.

There's obviously no such thing as a risk-free Brooks selection after what he's been through. The good news is ESPN doesn't require one. He's going 106th overall and RB31, while our full-PPR rankings have him at No. 62 and RB29. That's a 44-pick discrepancy on a player with three-down ability if his body cooperates.