Nathan Jahnke· Aug 28, 2026
An unsigned PFF Fantasy piece names running backs drafted outside the elite tier who have the ceiling to finish as fantasy's top-scoring back in 2026, arguing De'Von Achane is undervalued but capped, Kenneth Walker has top-five upside in Kansas City, Chase Brown is a high-upside option with a healthy Joe Burrow, and Omarion Hampton could break out under Mike McDaniel.
“If his usage expands in the passing game or Andy Reid leans more heavily on the run than in recent seasons, Walker has the upside to finish as a top-five fantasy running back.”
published in writing · Pro Football Focus · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 5 positional finishes and 4 sleeper calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
9 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.
Kenneth Walker III to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 2.06)
“If his usage expands in the passing game or Andy Reid leans more heavily on the run than in recent seasons, Walker has the upside to finish as a top-five fantasy running back.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesDe'Von AchaneMiami DolphinsAug 28, 2026
De'Von Achane to finish top 10 at his position, by fantasy points
“Achane’s talent, combined with his status as the clear focal point of the offense, should keep him safely among the top 10 fantasy running backs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesJahmyr GibbsAug 28, 2026
Jahmyr Gibbs to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson enter 2026 as the favorites to finish as fantasy football's overall RB1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesJonathan TaylorAug 28, 2026
Jonathan Taylor to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor have each accomplished the feat before, and another No. 1 finish from either veteran would hardly be surprising.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsDe'Von AchaneMiami DolphinsAug 28, 2026
De'Von Achane to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 1.12)
“De'Von Achane is falling to round two: The Dolphins have talked about giving Achane the ball more than any other running back, yet concerns about the quality of Miami’s offense are keeping too many fantasy managers away.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsChase BrownCincinnati BengalsAug 28, 2026
Chase Brown to outplay his draft cost
“Chase Brown is a high-upside option alongside a healthy Joe Burrow : Operating against light defensive fronts in a loaded Cincinnati passing attack...”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesChristian McCaffreyAug 28, 2026
Christian McCaffrey to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor have each accomplished the feat before, and another No. 1 finish from either veteran would hardly be surprising.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsOmarion HamptonLos Angeles ChargersAug 28, 2026
Omarion Hampton to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 2.07)
“If McDaniel elevates the Chargers' offense into one of the league's best and Hampton handles the clear majority of backfield touches, he could be in for a special season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesBijan RobinsonAug 28, 2026
Bijan Robinson to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson enter 2026 as the favorites to finish as fantasy football's overall RB1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pat FitzmauriceTrade and Signing Calls · Trey HendricksonMiss · 0Fitzmorris made picks 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 in the 2026 mock, ranked the top three receiver prospects Tate-Lemon-Tyson, said Caleb Downs won't fall to Day 2, and predicted Trey Hendrickson won't be back in Cincinnati.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Prisco is the lone expert cited picking Kansas City, 20-17 over Denver.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Pluym's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Matt VerderameGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Verderame's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Mike KadlickGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Kadlick's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-NjigbaHit · 100Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.
- Pat GustavsonPositional Finishes · Josh AllenMiss · 17Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out his own coaching landing spots.
- Rich EisenPositional Finishes · George PickensHit · 100Eisen called the Rams-winning-it-all take an overreaction but expects Los Angeles to win the NFC West, said he doesn't see how Myles Garrett fails to win Defensive Player of the Year, and called George Pickens perhaps the third-best receiver in the NFL this season.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonPositional Finishes · Christian GonzalezMiss · 0Ochocinco says Christian Gonzalez belongs in the top-five DB conversation, believes Kyler Murray will be elsewhere next year, expects Chase to get a one-game suspension, backs Sam Darnold to bounce back, and floats Jaxon Smith-Njigba reaching 2,000 receiving yards. He also reminds listeners he called the Bears and Panthers as teams to watch before the season.
- Rich EisenPositional Finishes · Puka NacuaHit · 92Eisen defended his preseason call of the Packers reaching the Super Bowl, said the Chiefs will win the AFC West, called the Ravens the favorites in the AFC North, said the Colts are a playoff team, expected Denver to handle Cincinnati and the Giants to beat the winless Saints, and endorsed Puka Nacua as the league's best receiver.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Puka NacuaHit · 92Brockman claimed the AFC North would send only the Steelers to the playoffs, that the Chiefs will win the AFC West, that Puka Nacua is the NFL's best wide receiver, and that the Jaguars are a top-eight team; he also had a preseason prophecy of the Ravens reaching the Super Bowl.