Pat Fitzmaurice· Aug 1, 2026
Fitzmaurice lists 11 players he's avoiding in 2026 fantasy drafts, arguing each will underperform his current draft price — including Jalen Hurts, Jaxson Dart, De'Von Achane, Quinshon Judkins, Rico Dowdle, Woody Marks, Rashee Rice, Davante Adams, Brian Thomas Jr., Trey McBride and Dalton Kincaid.
“With sensational rushing yards no longer bankable, Hurts is a fade.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls, 2 sleeper calls and 1 fantasy ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
David Montgomery · 2026 season21 calls from 15 pundits between 1 and 1. Pat Fitzmaurice 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
7 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.
- Sleeper CallsRome OdunzeAug 1, 2026
Rome Odunze to outplay his draft cost
“you'd probably be better off with one of the receivers available in that range – players such as Christian Watson or Rome Odunze.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsChristian WatsonAug 1, 2026
Christian Watson to outplay his draft cost
“you'd probably be better off with one of the receivers available in that range – players such as Christian Watson or Rome Odunze.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rico Dowdle to be 2nd on the depth chart
“My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh's primary running back this year, and it's possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsWoody MarksHouston TexansAug 1, 2026
Woody Marks to be 2nd on the depth chart
“The Texans signed David Montgomery to be their lead back, which means Marks can slide back into the third-down role to which he's better suited.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jaylen Warren to be 1st on the depth chart
“My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh's primary running back this year, and it's possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Texans signed David Montgomery to be their lead back”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy RankingsAug 1, 2026
“Pat Fitzmaurice's 11 Fantasy Football Players to Avoid (2026)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Jason McIntyreTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldMiss · 0Filling in for Colin Cowherd, McIntyre argued the 49ers' window is closed amid a brutal injury list and record travel, floated a Bijan Robinson trade to the Bears, predicted the Lions can win the NFC North, doubted Atlanta is even a playoff team, said Baker Mayfield's Tampa run ends after this season, and delivered a top-10 quarterback ranking.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Jordan DajaniGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Dajani expects the Steelers to comfortably beat the Falcons in Week 1, arguing Atlanta's quarterback situation under Tua Tagovailoa is a mess; he also picks the Vikings to beat the Packers in a low-scoring game.
- John BreechGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Breech picks the Texans to upset the Bills in Houston, trusting Houston's defense to smother Josh Allen, and takes the Raiders to beat the Dolphins by at least a touchdown.
- Judah FortgangGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0PFF's divisional-round same-game parlay picks: Tampa Bay beats Cincinnati with Cade Otton exploiting the Bengals' linebackers, Las Vegas beats Miami behind Kirk Cousins attacking a depleted Dolphins secondary, and Houston beats Buffalo with C.J. Stroud throwing effectively and Jaylin Noel benefiting from the slot matchup.
- Judah FortgangGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0An unsigned PFF betting piece argues Cooper Rush will struggle against Pittsburgh's disruption pressure in Week 1, and that Buffalo's rebuilt secondary without Sean McDermott will be exploitable by C.J. Stroud, leading them to back Houston winning through the air.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.