Colts' Alec Pierce Named a 2026 Fantasy Football Sleeper

The Sleeper Call

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is one of the players a SportsLine computer model is picking out as a 2026 fantasy football sleeper, according to CBS Sports. A sleeper is a player expected to outperform where he is being drafted.

CBS Sports reports that Pierce was one of the top big-play receivers in the National Football League last year, finishing second in the league with an average of 21.3 yards per reception. He ended the season as a top-25 fantasy wide receiver with 47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns.

That production earned him a four-year, $114 million contract extension. There are complications. CBS Sports says he is rehabbing an ankle injury in camp and that the Colts have added veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen. The source text does not go on to explain what the model concludes about those factors.

Sponsored

FlightsNew York CityNYC to New York CityCompare fares

The Model's Record

SportsLine says it simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times before releasing its rankings for PPR and non-PPR leagues, the two main scoring formats used in fantasy leagues.

CBS Sports lists the model's past calls: it flagged Colts quarterback Daniel Jones as a breakout in 2025, and Jones was the QB10 before a season-ending injury in Week 14, finishing the year as the QB17. The outlet also credits the model with calling Jonathan Taylor's 2021 season, Rachaad White's breakout in 2023, and Isiah Pacheco as a bust in 2025. Earlier sleeper calls it cites include A.J. Brown in 2020, Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017.

Draft Board Context

With the preseason over and roster cuts made, CBS Sports reports the first players off the board on average are Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ja'Marr Chase, Jonathan Taylor, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Jadarian Price, Harold Fannin Jr. and George Kittle were among the biggest risers in average draft position over the final weekend of August.

FanDuel Research, writing about 12-team PPR leagues, treats Chase, Robinson and Gibbs as a clear top tier and argues no draft slot is inherently bad. Its analyst would take Gibbs or Chase first overall, giving Gibbs a slight edge if starting with a running back, and says the harder part is planning picks 24 and 25, since nearly two rounds pass before the next selection.

FanDuel notes its average draft position figures come from FantasyPros' half-PPR data and may change after publication.