These 2026-27 sleepers are players whose projected draft rank sits ahead of where Yahoo managers have been selecting them. The comparison uses Yahoo ADP and public pre-rank from September 26, 2026, and the corrected 2025-26 season line beneath each player note. A sleeper can be a second-round guard or a late category specialist; the value comes from the price gap.
Some discounts reflect missed games or a changing depth chart. Others come from a category line the market has yet to price fully, such as steals with assists or blocks from a guard. Each write-up explains the upside and the risk that could close the gap.
Compare the 2026-27 Top 150 with the current Yahoo ADP and public pre-rank when you draft. Do not reach all the way to our projected rank and give back the discount. Pair these targets with the busts list and your roster's category needs.
The sleepers
Each name has a projected rank ahead of Yahoo ADP in the September 26 snapshot. The cards show ADP, Yahoo pre-rank, our rank and the corrected 2025-26 line; check the live draft room before acting.
Jamal Murray (DEN) — Round 2 target; Yahoo ADP 20.5; Yahoo pre-rank 9; our rank 7. Yahoo's own pre-rank puts Murray in the top ten, yet drafts are letting him reach the middle of round two. He averaged 25.4 points, 3.3 threes and 7.1 assists in 75 games, with 88.7% free throws and only 2.3 turnovers. Those are first-round guard numbers in nine-category play, and his established role beside Jokić gives the projection a firmer base than a speculative breakout. The discount disappears if your room takes him near Yahoo's pre-rank; at the current ADP, he is one of the clearest early values.
Lauri Markkanen (UTA) — Round 3 target; Yahoo ADP 38.7; Yahoo pre-rank 18; our rank 20. The market is treating Markkanen like a fourth-round player despite a 26.6-point, 2.7-three season with 89.6% free throws on meaningful volume. His 1.5 turnovers are especially useful for a high-scoring forward, and Utah's addition of Jaren Jackson Jr. does not erase the shooting role. The 42 games played and the Jazz's late-season habits explain the discount, so pair him with durable early picks. Yahoo's pre-rank is 18; if his draft cost stays close to 39, the gap is large enough to accept that risk.
Trey Murphy III (NOP) — Round 3–4 target; Yahoo ADP 40.1; Yahoo pre-rank 21; our rank 24. Murphy is going near the fourth-round turn even though his 21.5 points, 3.2 threes and 1.5 steals solve three scarce categories at once. He also shot 47.0% from the field and 88.6% from the line, making him easier to pair with a high-usage guard than most volume shooters. His 5.7 rebounds give him a little more insulation when the three-point shot is quiet. Yahoo ranks him 21st before the draft; the ADP near 40 is the opportunity.
Derrick White (BOS) — Round 4 target; Yahoo ADP 47.1; Yahoo pre-rank 26; our rank 29. White is a guard who can give you 2.7 threes, 5.4 assists and 1.3 blocks without forcing a turnover punt. He played 77 games and averaged only 1.7 turnovers, a combination that lets him balance an early scorer. The 39.5% shooting is a real FG% cost, so he fits best behind efficient first picks or in a punt-FG% build. Boston's Tatum return and Paul George addition may change the shot count, but a fourth-round ADP still underprices the defensive guard line.
Dyson Daniels (ATL) — Round 6 value; Yahoo ADP 62.9; Yahoo pre-rank 20; our rank 33. Yahoo's pre-rank recognizes Daniels as a top-20 category player, while drafters are waiting until roughly pick 63. His 2.0 steals came with 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists across 76 games; few guards can cover all three categories that strongly. The 0.3 threes and 61.5% free throws make him a particularly good punt-threes or punt-FT% fit, though only 1.6 free-throw attempts soften the latter cost. Draft him for that build at the market price, not as a substitute for your primary scorer.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL) — Round 5 target; Yahoo ADP 60.1; Yahoo pre-rank 24; our rank 36. Atlanta's larger role produced 20.8 points, 3.2 threes and 1.3 steals over 78 games, a much fuller line than the old defensive-specialist reputation suggests. His 90.2% free throws and 2.1 turnovers give that scoring a clean nine-category shape. The Hawks have changed their perimeter rotation, so last year's usage is not guaranteed, but Yahoo's pre-rank of 24 shows the upside is visible. An ADP around 60 still lets you pay for a step back and profit if most of the role holds.
9 more, with the full case on each, come with a free account.
What a sleeper actually is
A sleeper is a player whose projected value exceeds the price at which Yahoo drafts are taking him. That can happen in round two as easily as round ten. The comparison here is between our 2026-27 rank, Yahoo ADP and Yahoo's public pre-rank; last season's category line and current role explain whether the gap is worth buying.
Some gaps reflect healthy skepticism about missed games or a crowded rotation. Others persist because draft rooms lag behind a player's changed role or overlook categories such as steals, blocks and low turnovers. The notes identify the risk instead of treating every gap as a guaranteed bargain.
How to use this list
Target the Yahoo price shown on each card, adjusting to your room. Jamal Murray and Austin Reaves are early-round value calls; Jalen Suggs and Reed Sheppard are later category bets. Reaching to our rank erases much of the edge. Compare the player's best categories with the roster you have already built.
Spread role and injury risk across your picks. A roster can carry one health gamble more easily than several, and a late-round breakout candidate is easier to replace if the minutes never arrive. Revisit the case during camp when rotations become clearer.
What this list does not know
The Yahoo ADP and pre-rank values are a September 26, 2026 snapshot, not live prices. Camp injuries, trades and role decisions can close a value gap quickly. The 2025-26 stat line is historical evidence; our rank is a forward projection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are these different from the top 150?
The top 150 projects 2026-27 value using corrected 2025-26 results as its statistical baseline. This list is about the gap between projected value and draft cost; a player may appear in both, but the lists answer different questions.
How many sleepers should I actually draft?
Take value where your room offers it. Several names here are early-round targets, while later options carry more role risk. Avoid stacking multiple injury or minutes bets in the same draft.
Why does Yahoo pre-rank sometimes disagree with ADP?
Pre-rank is Yahoo’s ordering; ADP measures where people actually draft. When the two diverge, the price you can usually pay is ADP, while pre-rank helps reveal what the platform already recognizes.