Pat Fitzmaurice· Sep 17, 2026
In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
“At the very least, Black is the most indispensable handcuff in fantasy football as the clear backup to McCaffrey.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 3 availability calls and 2 depth chart calls — 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 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Kaelon Black · 2026 season13 calls from 7 pundits between 2 and 2. Pat Fitzmaurice said 2. the room's median is 2. 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.
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Who this take is about
5 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.
- Availability CallsTua TagovailoaAtlanta FalconsSep 17, 2026
“The QB problems won’t be solved in Week 2. Tua Tagovailoa is unlikely to play due to an oblique injury”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Michael Penix Jr.,Atlanta’s one true hope at quarterback, isn’t quite ready to come back from his third ACL tear.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAaron JonesMinnesota VikingsSep 17, 2026
Aaron Jones to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jordan Mason went on injured reserve with a thumb injury this week, leaving Aaron Jones as the Vikings’ lead back in a Week 2 game against the Bears in Chicago.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKaelon BlackSan Francisco 49ersSep 17, 2026
Kaelon Black to be 2nd on the depth chart
“At the very least, Black is the most indispensable handcuff in fantasy football as the clear backup to McCaffrey”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“The Falcons’ fine young slot corner, Billy Bowman Jr., who tore his Achilles early last season, missed Week 1 but has been practicing this week and could return to help check Coker.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0The unsigned Pick Six newsletter expects Seth McLaughlin to step into the Lions' starting center job with Cade Mays injured, and suggests Tua Tagovailoa is on track to be Atlanta's Week 1 starting quarterback.
- Matt OkadaDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100In a PPR-framed fantasy draft guide, Okada makes a few non-fantasy claims: rookie Jeremiyah Love will be Arizona's featured back despite being listed as RB2, Tua Tagovailoa will be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, and Kyler Murray will open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback.
- theScoreDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0theScore's staff power rankings for all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last.
- Mike FanelliDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fanelli ranks all 32 NFL teams for 2026 fantasy purposes, with the Bengals first and the Dolphins last, and makes assorted calls including Joe Burrow winning Comeback Player of the Year, Drake Maye leading the league in passing touchdowns, various starting-role and depth-chart projections, plus sleepers (Godwin, Travis Hunter, Jonathon Brooks) and a bust call on De'Von Achane.
More availability calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jay MorrisonAvailability Calls · Shemar StewartPendingMorrison expects Shemar Stewart to appear on the Bengals' final injury report with a 'questionable' tag or no designation, and says that if Stewart is active against Houston, Cedric Johnson would likely be inactive.
- Ralph VentreAvailability Calls · Ty JohnsonPendingVentre expects both practice squad elevations, Frank Gore Jr. and Greg Dortch, to be active for the Bills' Thursday night Week 2 game against the Lions, and believes running back Ty Johnson will again be unavailable.
- Rich HribarAvailability Calls · Aaron DonaldPendingIn his Week 2 Giants-Rams worksheet, Hribar treats Jaxson Dart as a consistent QB1, Stafford as a fringe QB1, Kyren Williams as a touchdown-dependent RB2, Nacua as a front-end receiver, Nabers as an upside WR2, Adams as a WR2/WR3, and Isaiah Likely as an upside TE1, while calling Corum marginal and the Rams tight ends touchdown-dependent TE2s.
- Rich HribarAvailability Calls · Mansoor DelanePendingIn his Week 2 Colts-Chiefs worksheet, Hribar assigns fantasy tiers to the key players: Mahomes as a fringe QB1, Daniel Jones as a 2QB-only option, Jonathan Taylor as a volume-based RB1, Kenneth Walker as a trust/spike play, Rashee Rice as a WR2, Pierce and Worthy as WR3/FLEX and WR4/FLEX, Downs as a WR4/FLEX, Allen as a touchdown-dependent FLEX, and Kelce as a back-end TE1. He also expects Kansas City to lean on the run and Mansoor Delane to return.
- Carter BahnsAvailability Calls · Devontez WalkerPendingAn unsigned CBS Sports piece says Zay Flowers, who hasn't practiced all week with a hamstring injury, is in danger of missing at least one full game and is unlikely to suit up against the Saints, while Devontez Walker will make his season debut in that game.
- Mark Morales-SmithAvailability Calls · Nico CollinsPendingIn a Week 2 start/sit column, Morales-Smith names four benched players he expects to outperform expectations: Jordan Love, Kaelon Black, Jakobi Meyers and Dalton Schultz. He also predicts Green Bay beats the Jets, San Francisco blows out Miami, and that Nico Collins won't play against Cincinnati.