# Pat Fitzmaurice: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 8, 2026 **Pundit:** Pat Fitzmaurice — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/pat-fitzmaurice **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/08/2026-fantasy-football-draft-strategy-guide-expert-advice/ 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. > 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. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Josh Allen to fall short of his draft cost (ADP sits right around where Ladd McConkey goes)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Josh Allen - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (the second round)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trevor Lawrence to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Trevor Lawrence - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zay Flowers to outplay his draft cost (Round 3)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Zay Flowers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Colston Loveland to outplay his draft cost (Round 3)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Colston Loveland - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (ADP sits around where Michael Wilson goes)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Brock Purdy - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tetairoa McMillan to outplay his draft cost (Round 3)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Tetairoa McMillan - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jerry Jeudy to fall short of his draft cost** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Harold Fannin Jr. to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Harold Fannin Jr. - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Herbert to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Justin Herbert - Verdict: not settled yet - **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.** - Kind: Fantasy Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tucker Kraft to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Tucker Kraft - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kyle Pitts to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Kyle Pitts - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jeremiyah Love to outplay his draft cost (Round 3)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jeremiyah Love - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Josh Allen — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/josh-allen - Trey McBride — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/trey-mcbride - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Trevor Lawrence — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/trevor-lawrence - Zay Flowers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/zay-flowers - Colston Loveland — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/colston-loveland - Brock Purdy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/brock-purdy - Tetairoa McMillan — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tetairoa-mcmillan - Jerry Jeudy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jerry-jeudy - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns - Harold Fannin Jr. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/harold-fannin-jr - Justin Herbert — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/justin-herbert - Tucker Kraft — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tucker-kraft - Kyle Pitts — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kyle-pitts - Jeremiyah Love — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jeremiyah-love ## What others said about the same people - Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0) - Paul Keren on Teven Jenkins: Keren 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/86b36112-724c-4f9c-a4fd-cf74a38be8e4 (scored 0) - Henry McKenna on Carson Beck: McKenna 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9025c533-03e6-4e1f-8773-b8ef2f1d46ea (scored 0) - Conor Orr on Cleveland Browns: Orr's Week 1 straight-up picks, including several upsets (Patriots, Buccaneers, Browns, Dolphins, Commanders, Broncos). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/54ae8d21-7621-4c3d-816c-e879aed9b5c2 (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Raheim Sanders: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) ## More sleeper calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Matt Money Smith on Tre Harris: Smith 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1f779ee4-78d9-4f01-a069-bcd0ef45fc72 (scored 0) - Brandon Carney on Javonte Williams: Carney 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9337347d-fde9-46c9-9bb6-26ade467538b (scored 100) - Chad Ochocinco Johnson on Saquon Barkley: Johnson 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cd0eab3d-1392-41f3-a9b6-026860f9ffa5 (scored 0) - Ross Jackson on Devaughn Vele: Ross 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b4c58f9f-23b8-4857-8505-17c213d3a342 (scored 0) - Greg Cosell on Omarion Hampton: Cosell 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/26c1330e-ee04-42a9-b29d-d6f0cc6bab6a (scored 0) - Andrew Erickson on Malik Nabers: Erickson 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/abd0628c-1338-467b-9ac3-d89c922468eb (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=pat-fitzmaurice