Pat Fitzmaurice· Aug 4, 2026
Fitzmaurice names three players to avoid in 2026 fantasy drafts: Jalen Hurts (a fade at his midrange QB1 price because his rushing production has declined), De'Von Achane (not worth a second-round pick amid a bad Miami situation), and Brian Thomas Jr. (no bounce-back expected in a crowded Jacksonville target ecosystem).
“With sensational rushing yards no longer bankable, Hurts is a fade.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 4, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
2 checkable claims — 2 fantasy bust calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
2 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (the second round of fantasy football drafts)
“It's possible Achane's talent overcomes the adverse conditions he faces in 2026, but that's not a bet I'm eager to make in the second round of fantasy football drafts.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jalen Hurts to fall short of his draft cost (midrange QB1 price)
“With sensational rushing yards no longer bankable, Hurts is a fade.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
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More fantasy bust calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ryan WormeliFantasy Bust Calls · Zay FlowersMiss · 0Host Ryan Warmley endorsed Ricky Pearsall as a bet worth making and put his rookie-receiver capital in Tetairoa McMillan, while fading Zay Flowers at his cost and opting out of Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Derek BrownFantasy Bust Calls · Zay FlowersMiss · 0Derek Brown ("Debro") laid out a slate of wide receiver breakouts — Ricky Pearsall, Jalen Coker, Egbuka, Jalen Waddle, Joshua Palmer, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith and Travis Hunter — while fading Xavier Worthy, Tyreek Hill and the cheap Cleveland/late-round types, and gave his own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.
- Chris WelshFantasy Bust Calls · Austin EkelerHit · 100Welsh drafted Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan, Travis Hunter, the Rams and Saints receivers, Justin Fields (a top-10 QB), Drake Maye (QB10-14), Travis Kelce and Tyler Warren, while passing on Joe Mixon, the Commanders backfield, Tyreek Hill, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.
- Joe PisapiaFantasy Bust Calls · Rashee RiceMiss · 0Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: he passed on Christian McCaffrey at pick 7, Breece Hall, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Travis Hunter and Chris Olave, while drafting RJ Harvey, Tyreek Hill, Tetairoa McMillan, Puka Nacua, Tyler Warren and a late-round Joe Mixon.
- Derek BrownFantasy Bust Calls · Chuba HubbardHit · 100Derek Brown ("Deebro") names three busts to avoid in 2025 fantasy drafts: Kyren Williams at an RB1 price, Chuba Hubbard as a top-20 RB, and Xavier Worthy as his ultimate bust, arguing Rashee Rice is the clear No. 1 receiver in Kansas City.
- Simon HunterFantasy Bust Calls · Tetairoa McMillanHit · 100Simon is drafting Ashton Jeanty in the late first/early second and is comfortable taking him in the first round, is all-in on DeVonta Adams with the Rams, and calls Puka Nacua one of the most overdrafted players who should not be taken in the first round.