Follow the NFL coaching carousel to identify fantasy football sleepers

The end of the fantasy football season always brings on a whirlwind of emotions. For many, you have the euphoria of winning a championship. For others, it is the agony of defeat. And, of course, there is the unbridled apathy for the rest whose teams never made it to Week 17. But there is one thing we all share — the undying love for this game and the desire to come back next season and win it all. You’re already thinking about draft strategy and, most importantly, who the 2026 sleepers will be. To do that, you need to look at who this season’s top sleepers were and see if there is a pattern to follow.

There were a number of preseason candidates to whom the fantasy community embraced, but the one that truly stands out was Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Current MVP candidate Drake Maye deserves a nod, but many expected him to stand out at the position. Lawrence, on the other hand, was an afterthought in most drafts; a backup option to whomever you selected earlier. But if you were a believer in Liam Coen, you reaped massive benefits throughout the season, including the playoffs.

Well-documented as a “quarterback whisperer” who helped turn around the careers of Matthew Stafford and Baker Mayfield, Coen not only turned the Jaguars into a division-winning, Super Bowl contender, but also turned Lawrence into a top five fantasy quarterback. After years of never quite living up to his potential, Lawrence finished the season seventh in passing yards, fifth in touchdown passes, 10th in quarterback rushing yards, second in quarterback rushing touchdowns and third in total fantasy points. His late-season run through the fantasy playoffs was a masterpiece as he averaged 36.5 fantasy points between Weeks 15-17, and this 12th-round pick helped deliver championships.

Though not as impactful as Lawrence during the fantasy playoffs, the running back position also had a couple of strong sleepers as both Zach Charbonnet and Javonte Williams went from ninth-round hopefuls to dominant fantasy performers throughout the year. Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who adopted his father’s run-first outside-zone scheme, turned Charbonnet into a touchdown machine when lead back Kenneth Walker was hurt in the preseason and. Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams did the same for Williams when he prioritized the run under head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Both backs were integral to the success of many fantasy teams.

The wide receiver and tight end positions also had their fair share of late-round sleepers who really took off this season. From names like Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Quentin Johnston to Harold Fannin and AJ Barner, all of these fantasy standouts shined bright with their new coaches and new roles. And perhaps that is the lesson we all need to take from the 2025 season and apply it to next year.

If you’re looking for who the 2026 fantasy football sleepers will be, follow the coaching movement. Every year, we see more and more head coaches and coordinators shift around the league and employ their own schemes and styles. Learn their track record for success and follow the path. Figure out who next year’s Liam Coen will be and which players he will turn around. There will be quite a number to follow. You can count on that.

Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football news and advice.