Derek Brown· Sep 1, 2026
Brown names five tight ends he loves to target in 2026 fantasy drafts, projecting Brock Bowers as a possible runaway TE1, Tyler Warren as a top-five tight end, Isaiah Likely as the Giants' clear starter and a late-round value, Colston Loveland as a TE1-crown contender, and Dallas Goedert as a repeat top-six tight end and the Eagles' second passing option.
“2026 Brock Bowers could be 2025 Trey McBride and be the runaway TE1 for fantasy, with little target competition existing on the Raiders' depth chart to challenge him.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
10 checkable claims — 5 sleeper calls, 3 positional finishes and 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 4.
Where this call stands in the room
Isaiah Likely · 2026 season8 calls from 8 pundits between 1 and 2. Derek Brown 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.
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Who this take is about
10 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 CallsBrock BowersLas Vegas RaidersSep 1, 2026
Brock Bowers to outplay his draft cost
“Here are five tight ends fantasy football expert Derek Brown loves to target in 2026 drafts. Brock Bowers (LV)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsColston LovelandChicago BearsSep 1, 2026
Colston Loveland to outplay his draft cost
“Loveland could easily pick up right where he left off this season and compete with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride for the TE1 crown.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dallas Goedert to outplay his draft cost
“At his floor, he's a strong TE1 even with the additions of Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, and Eli Stowers this offseason.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTyler WarrenIndianapolis ColtsSep 1, 2026
Tyler Warren to outplay his draft cost
“Tyler Warren had a fantastic rookie season as the TE10 in fantasy points per game, but there was plenty of meat left on the bone”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Isaiah Likely to be 1st on the depth chart
“Likely should be their clear starting tight end and a strong part of their passing game”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Bowers to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“2026 Brock Bowers could be 2025 Trey McBride and be the runaway TE1 for fantasy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsIsaiah LikelyNew York GiantsSep 1, 2026
Isaiah Likely to outplay his draft cost
“Likely could easily be a solid TE1 this season and is worth a late-round dart in a ton of drafts in 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dallas Goedert to be 2nd on the depth chart
“With A.J. Brown out of town, Goedert could easily be the clear second option in the Eagles' passing attack this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Warren to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points
“Warren is a top-five tight end this season, but his week-to-week volatility increased somewhat with the addition of Keenan Allen.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dallas Goedert to finish top 6 at his position, by fantasy points
“I wouldn't rule out Goedert finishing as a top six fantasy tight end again in 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Keenan AllenHit · 100Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
- Noah ComptonDepth Chart Calls · C.J. AllenMiss · 0After watching the Colts' eleventh training camp practice, Compton says rookie linebacker CJ Allen is still expected to start the regular-season opener, identifies Alec Pierce as the team's top receiver and Cam Taylor-Britt as the first cornerback behind the starting trio, and declares the kicking job Blake Grupe's to lose.
- Pete MartuneacDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1.
- Fernando Alfaro-DonisTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option.
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.
- 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.
- Joe PisapiaSleeper Calls · Omarion HamptonMiss · 0Joe Pisapia's 2026 first round is receiver-heavy, starting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ja'Marr Chase, insisting Amon-Ra St. Brown belongs in the top five, keeping Justin Jefferson in round one, and dropping Christian McCaffrey to 12. He also sees Omarion Hampton as a value who will be a top-10 pick a year later.
- Mike HarmonSleeper Calls · Zay FlowersHit · 100Harmon gave his Week 18 fantasy rankings — top five quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers — plus lists of 'hot plays,' 'cold sores' (players to avoid) and 'ninjas' (sneaky plays), and said Trevor Lawrence would land around a top-four fantasy quarterback finish for the season.