Pat Fitzmaurice· Aug 8, 2026
Fitzmaurice lays out a round-by-round 2026 fantasy draft plan, ordering his first-round board (Bijan Robinson slightly over Jahmyr Gibbs, then the 'Big Three' receivers), flagging Trey McBride and Jerry Jeudy as players to avoid at their cost, and naming mid- and late-round values including Brock Purdy, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence and several tight ends and Round 3 targets.
“Round 1 starts with a coin flip between Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs at the top — Fitzmaurice gives a slight edge to Robinson’s bigger frame.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
14 checkable claims — 10 sleeper calls, 3 fantasy bust calls and 1 fantasy ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
14 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.
- Fantasy Bust CallsJosh AllenAug 8, 2026
Josh Allen to fall short of his draft cost (ADP sits right around where Ladd McConkey goes)
“Josh Allen’s ADP sits right around where Ladd McConkey goes ... a Purdy/McConkey combo of two weekly starters beats an Allen/Wilson combo”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (the second round)
“he’s comfortable taking Brock Bowers or Colston Loveland at their going rate in the second round, but not Trey McBride, whose value is tied to a huge target total in Arizona that’s likely to shrink”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTrevor LawrenceAug 8, 2026
Trevor Lawrence to outplay his draft cost
“He highlights Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence as other quarterbacks worth the wait”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsZay FlowersAug 8, 2026
Zay Flowers to outplay his draft cost (Round 3)
“His favorite Round 3 targets include ... Zay Flowers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsColston LovelandAug 8, 2026
Colston Loveland to outplay his draft cost (Round 3)
“His favorite Round 3 targets include ... Colston Loveland”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock PurdyAug 8, 2026
Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (ADP sits around where Michael Wilson goes)
“while Brock Purdy’s ADP sits around where Michael Wilson goes — and a Purdy/McConkey combo of two weekly starters beats an Allen/Wilson combo”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTetairoa McMillanAug 8, 2026
Tetairoa McMillan to outplay his draft cost (Round 3)
“His favorite Round 3 targets include ... Tetairoa McMillan”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jerry Jeudy to fall short of his draft cost
“he doesn’t see the case for Jerry Jeudy in 2026, given Cleveland’s early investment in other receivers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsHarold Fannin Jr.Aug 8, 2026
Harold Fannin Jr. to outplay his draft cost
“Tucker Kraft, Harold Fannin, and Kyle Pitts as tight ends who can be had well after the position’s top tier”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJustin HerbertAug 8, 2026
Justin Herbert to outplay his draft cost
“He highlights Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence as other quarterbacks worth the wait”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy RankingsAug 8, 2026
“Round 1 starts with a coin flip between Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs at the top ... Next come the “Big Three” receivers — Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, and Jaxson Smith-Njigba ... After that, it’s a McCaffrey-vs-St. Brown decision ... followed by Ashton Jeanty, James Cook, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, and Jonathan Taylor rounding out the round.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTucker KraftAug 8, 2026
Tucker Kraft to outplay his draft cost
“Tucker Kraft, Harold Fannin, and Kyle Pitts as tight ends who can be had well after the position’s top tier”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsKyle PittsAug 8, 2026
Kyle Pitts to outplay his draft cost
“Tucker Kraft, Harold Fannin, and Kyle Pitts as tight ends who can be had well after the position’s top tier”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJeremiyah LoveAug 8, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to outplay his draft cost (Round 3)
“His favorite Round 3 targets include Jeremiyah Love (leaning on the historical track record of top-12 rookie running backs)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Paul KerenDepth Chart Calls · Teven JenkinsMiss · 0Keren says Teven Jenkins still projects as Cleveland's Week 1 starting right guard despite a push from KT Leveston, and that Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams will be the Browns' lead linebackers.
- 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.
- Conor OrrGame Outcome Picks · Cleveland BrownsMiss · 0Orr's Week 1 straight-up picks, including several upsets (Patriots, Buccaneers, Browns, Dolphins, Commanders, Broncos).
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Raheim SandersHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Matt Money SmithSleeper Calls · Tre HarrisMiss · 0Smith says Ladd McConkie is a legitimate No. 1 receiver who could post a Jaylen Waddle-like season of roughly 1,700 yards and eight touchdowns, and he predicts second-year Chargers receiver Trey Harris will have a big year under Mike McDaniel. He also expects Philip Rivers to become an NFL head coach and thinks the Chargers offense will be good in the coming season.
- Brandon CarneySleeper Calls · Javonte WilliamsHit · 100Carney predicted AJ Brown would not be back with the Eagles, forecast a wave of free-agent landing spots (Breece Hall to the Chiefs, Alec Pierce to the 49ers, Rico Dowdle to the Saints, George Pickens to the Patriots, Mike Evans to the Bills), and named Week 1 starting quarterbacks for several teams in flux. He also gave fantasy takes on Javonte Williams, Chris Olave and others.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonSleeper Calls · Saquon BarkleyMiss · 0Johnson says the Steelers aren't legitimate Super Bowl contenders even with Aaron Rodgers back, and that Saquon Barkley can have a bounce-back season in year nine with the Eagles competing for a championship if the offensive line stays healthy.
- Ross JacksonSleeper Calls · Devaughn VeleMiss · 0Ross Jackson agreed to the same Saints mock draft board — Jeremiah Love at eight, Akeem Mesador in the second, Keonte Scott at 73, Keelan Rutledge and Ted Hurst in the fourth, Xavien Harris at 148, Aaron Anderson in the fifth and Bryce Boettcher in the sixth — and also called Devon Vellet a 2026 breakout candidate.
- Greg CosellSleeper Calls · Omarion HamptonMiss · 0Cosell expects the Nick Bonito vs. Will Campbell matchup to be pivotal, predicts Caleb Williams' future is bright, expects the Chargers' run game to improve dramatically under Mike McDaniel with a good season from Omarion Hampton, and expects Sean Payton not to hide Stidham.
- Andrew EricksonSleeper Calls · Malik NabersMiss · 0Erickson gave his 2026 first-round board, leaning on running backs early with Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, Ja'Marr Chase as his WR1 and Christian McCaffrey slipping to 12. He also touted Malik Nabers as a buying opportunity, projected big touchdown numbers for Burrow and Chase, and called Barkley a buy-low.