Derek Brown· Sep 12, 2026
In his Week 1 start/sit running back advice, Brown projects several backs to handle workhorse or lead-back roles for their teams — MarShawn Lloyd in Green Bay, Jonathon Brooks over Chuba Hubbard in Carolina, Tony Pollard in Tennessee, and David Montgomery in Houston — and calls Bhayshul Tuten a candidate for a big breakout season.
“I'm not buying the offseason narratives that the Texans backfield will be a 50/50 split. David Montgomery will likely operate as the team's workhorse.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 1 sleeper call — 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
MarShawn Lloyd · 2026 season21 calls from 13 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
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Who this take is about
6 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.
- Depth Chart CallsDavid MontgomeryHouston TexansSep 12, 2026
David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart
“David Montgomery will likely operate as the team's workhorse.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMarShawn LloydGreen Bay PackersSep 12, 2026
MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st on the depth chart
“MarShawn Lloyd looks primed to enter Week 1 as the Packers' workhorse back with Josh Jacobs on the commissioner-exempt list.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTony PollardTennessee TitansSep 12, 2026
Tony Pollard to be 1st on the depth chart
“Brian Daboll has a long history of utilizing one workhorse back in his offenses, so I'm still projecting Tony Pollard to be that guy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jonathon Brooks to be 1st on the depth chart
“I expect Jonathon Brooks to lead the backfield this season, but Hubbard should still be a sizable portion of the rushing attack to open the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsChuba HubbardCarolina PanthersSep 12, 2026
Chuba Hubbard to be 2nd on the depth chart
“I expect Jonathon Brooks to lead the backfield this season, but Hubbard should still be a sizable portion of the rushing attack to open the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBhayshul TutenSep 12, 2026
Bhayshul Tuten to outplay his draft cost
“This could be the big breakout season for Tuten, who, on a per-touch basis, flashed the immense talent that I really liked when he was in college.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Jacob WestendorfScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 24Westendorf picks the Packers to win the opener 27-21, with Tucker Kraft leading the team in catches, Christian Watson in yards, Jayden Reed in touchdowns and Josh Jacobs in rushing. He tabs Bo Nix as MVP, the Broncos as the AFC's top team and Super Bowl winner over the Rams, the Lions to win the NFC North, and the Packers to finish 8-9.
- Eric CohenGame Outcome Picks · Tennessee TitansMiss · 0Cohen says the Bears win easily in Carolina, and that Tennessee starts 1-0 over a Jets team he considers the third-worst in the league.
- John BreechGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Breech picks the Texans to upset the Bills in Houston, trusting Houston's defense to smother Josh Allen, and takes the Raiders to beat the Dolphins by at least a touchdown.
- Judah FortgangGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0PFF's divisional-round same-game parlay picks: Tampa Bay beats Cincinnati with Cade Otton exploiting the Bengals' linebackers, Las Vegas beats Miami behind Kirk Cousins attacking a depleted Dolphins secondary, and Houston beats Buffalo with C.J. Stroud throwing effectively and Jaylin Noel benefiting from the slot matchup.
- Judah FortgangGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0An unsigned PFF betting piece argues Cooper Rush will struggle against Pittsburgh's disruption pressure in Week 1, and that Buffalo's rebuilt secondary without Sean McDermott will be exploitable by C.J. Stroud, leading them to back Houston winning through the air.
- Simon HunterGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Hunter picked Houston and the Giants as underdog money line plays, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit as favorites, and used Pittsburgh plus the Chargers as his survivor picks for week one.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- 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.
- 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.