Rich Eisen· Aug 26, 2026
Eisen delivered his top five most surprising players of the 2026 NFL season: Jacoby Brissett (5), Jihad Campbell (4), Jayshawn Barn/Jahdae Barron (3), Jonathan Brooks (2) and Jadarian Price (1), adding that Brissett would keep Carson Beck off the field, that Barron could be Defensive Rookie of the Year, and that Odell Beckham Jr. could return to the Giants for a good season.
“The five top five who I believe will be the most surprising players of the twenty twenty six NFL season.”
said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 1 award pick, 1 depth chart call, 1 game outcome pick, 1 super bowl pick, 1 top player list and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Jacoby Brissett · 2026 season9 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. Rich Eisen said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
6 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.
- Award PicksJaishawn BarhamDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Jaishawn Barham to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Defensive player of the year for the rookies. Defensive rookie of the year type stuff, man.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksSeattle SeahawksAug 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win
“So okay. So we're we're we we we guided on this. I think it's the Steelers Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksSeattle SeahawksAug 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win the Super Bowl
“For you to go back to back... I think it's the Steelers Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Odell Beckham Jr. to move to New York Giants
“Odell coming back for the Giants and having a really nice season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsAug 26, 2026
“I'm gonna go Jacoby Brissett... But I'm going Jihad Campbell of four... Jayshawn Barn from the University of Michigan... Jonathan Brooks for the Carolina Panthers... And number one, my most surprising player of the year... Jadarian Price”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart
“one of the most surprising things is you're not gonna see Carson Beck. He's gonna keep Carson Beck off the field.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Henry McKennaDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter.
- Michael HanichDepth Chart Calls · Bud ClarkMiss · 0Hanich suggests Nick Emmanwori may miss Week 1 after ankle surgery, and that Noah Igbinoghene is making a strong case to be the Seahawks' Week 1 starting nickel, with Bud Clark also possibly stepping into a starting role if Emmanwori is out.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win.
- Garrett PodellScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysMiss · 36Previewing the Week 1 'Sunday Night Football' game, the piece picks Dallas to beat New York comfortably, arguing Prescott, Lamb and Pickens will exploit the Giants' cornerbacks while the Cowboys' defense contains Jaxson Dart.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.