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2026 NFL Draft Stock Report: 4 Sleepers Moving Up the Board
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- 2026 NFL Draft Stock Report: 4 Sleepers Moving Up the Board
College football's Week 11 slate gave us some strong performances from big-name prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but if you're looking for the some potential sleepers who earned a spotlight this week, you've come to the right place.
This week's stock report is a full-on glass-half-full version, featuring a handful of prospects who put on a show in the best way this weekend. The list includes an underrated quarterback, a game-wrecking slot defender, a converted quarterback-turned do-it-all linebacker, and a big-play wide receiver.
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Here are four prospects who are moving up the 2026 NFL Draft board after their performances this week:
Stock Up: QB Joe Fagnano , UConn
I could add a couple of his offensive teammates here, too (running back Cam Edwards , wide receiver Skyler Bell ), but Fagnano is the engine that's making the Huskies offense roll this season.
His latest outing was par for the course in 2025 so far, as Fagnano completed 27 of 39 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions) in a 37-34 comeback win over Duke. Fagnano also led the Huskies in rushing, carrying the ball six times for 51 yards.
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Through 10 games this season, Fagnano has tossed 25 touchdown passes, and has yet to throw a single interception. Zip. Zero. None.
The biggest drawback to Fagnano's draft stock is the fact that he's playing his seventh season of college football right now, having taken full advantage of his eligibility due to injury and the COVID-shortened 2020 season. But if Tyler Shough can be a top-40 pick, Fagnano deserves attention from NFL teams.
Listed at 6-4, 225 pounds, Fagnano checks a ton of boxes that are always valued highly at the next level. He can make tight-window throws with anticipation and accuracy, makes sound decisions with the football to avoid turnovers, and brings dual-threat ability as a runner. His age will weight down his stock, but on the field, he's one of the most underrated passers in the class.
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Stock Up: DB Jarvis Lee , USF
Two weeks ago in a crushing loss to Memphis, Lee was all over the place for the Bulls defense, making a ton of plays in the opposing backfield from his slot/nickel spot. In a blowout win over UTSA on Thursday night, Lee picked up right where he left off, and took things to another level.
Lee was in game-wrecker form from the jump, forcing a pick-six on the first play of the game with his immediate pressure and big hit on the quarterback:
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On the following drive, Lee once again knifed into the backfield, ripping the ball away from the quarterback and into the waiting arms of a fellow Bulls defender, who raced 85 yards for another score:
In those two games combined, Lee racked up 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. The 5-11, 185-pound junior now has 10.5 tackles for loss on the season, with 41 total tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Lee still has some development to make as a coverage player in man-to-man situations downfield, but around the line of scrimmage, he's an absolute agent of chaos who continues to wreak havoc in opposing backfields. His combination of physical and mental traits (quickness, toughness, athleticism, preparation, instincts, football IQ, read/react ability) is everything modern NFL defensive coordinators want in a impact player lining up in the slot.
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Stock Up: LB Jacob Rodriguez , Texas Tech
The Red Raiders made a statement Saturday with a dominant performance against No. 7 BYU , and Rodriguez was in the middle of it all as the Cougars were handed their first loss of the year.
Rodriguez racked up 14 tackles in the 29-7 victory, recovering a fumble and tipping a pass to himself for an interception:
Originally a three-star quarterback recruit coming out of high school, Rodriguez has developed into one of the best off-ball linebackers in all of college football. His versatility and knack for creating big plays against both the run and pass should pique the interest of NFL scouts, especially at a position where it's challenging to find instant-impact draft picks.
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As the Red Raiders continue to march toward a Big 12 title and a potential playoff berth on the back of their suffocating defense, Rodriguez's draft stock should continue to grow in the right direction.
Stock Up: WR Ian Strong , Rutgers
The 2026 receiver class is shaping up to be stronger than originally expected, and if you're looking for another emerging name to keep an eye on the rest of the season, Strong should be on your short list.
In a 35-20 win over Maryland on Saturday, Strong hauled in five passes for 88 yards, finding the end zone three times:
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The 6-3, 211-pound junior has impressive athleticism and explosiveness for his size, and continues to show the ability to win vertically down the field. He's equally impressive at the catch point, using his frame to box out smaller defenders on 50/50 balls.
NFL teams will always value big-bodied receivers with big-play ability who can stretch the field and create matchup problems for opposing defenses. Strong checks all of those boxes, and with more performances like the ones we saw Saturday, he could go from late-round sleeper to a potential Day 2 prospect as we look ahead to next April.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
