Pat Fitzmaurice· Aug 20, 2026
Fitzmaurice lists his favorite 2026 fantasy draft targets, arguing each will outperform their current draft cost: Trevor Lawrence and Brock Purdy at QB, Kenneth Walker III, Jeremiyah Love, Bucky Irving, Blake Corum and Jonathon Brooks at RB, Emeka Egbuka, Christian Watson and Makai Lemon at WR, and Brock Bowers, Colston Loveland and Kyle Pitts at TE.
“There's a good chance we get a full Egbuka breakout in 2026.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
18 checkable claims — 13 sleeper calls, 4 depth chart calls and 1 positional finishe — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 26 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 2 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
Kenneth Walker III · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. Pat Fitzmaurice 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Bucky Irving
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Blake Corum
- Los Angeles Rams
- Brock Purdy
- San Francisco 49ers
- Kyle Pitts
- Atlanta Falcons
- Christian Watson
- Green Bay Packers
- Emeka Egbuka
- Makai Lemon
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Trevor Lawrence
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Colston Loveland
- Chicago Bears
- Jeremiyah Love
- Arizona Cardinals
- Kenneth Walker III
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Chuba Hubbard
- Carolina Panthers
- Jonathon Brooks
- Brock Bowers
- Las Vegas Raiders
18 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 CallsBucky IrvingTampa Bay BuccaneersAug 20, 2026
Bucky Irving to outplay his draft cost
“It seems as if everyone in the fantasy community is fading Bucky Irving. I'm buying... Buy the dip.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 20, 2026
Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart
“At worst, Blake Corum will be the backup to Kyren Williams all season in what should be an outstanding Rams offense.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock PurdySan Francisco 49ersAug 20, 2026
Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds)
“Purdy is a fine value for those who wait until the middle rounds to draft a quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsKyle PittsAtlanta FalconsAug 20, 2026
Kyle Pitts to outplay his draft cost
“If you miss out on Bowers and Loveland, grab Pitts before the sharp drop-off at the tight end position beyond the top eight.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsChristian WatsonGreen Bay PackersAug 20, 2026
Christian Watson to outplay his draft cost (his current cost assumes he'll miss a few games)
“With a season of good health, Watson investors could reap handsome rewards.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 20, 2026
Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (his ADP as of this writing is RB34 (96th overall))
“You'd have hit big on a mid-round pick. This is a bet worth making.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsEmeka EgbukaTampa Bay BuccaneersAug 20, 2026
Emeka Egbuka to outplay his draft cost
“There's a good chance we get a full Egbuka breakout in 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 20, 2026
Makai Lemon to outplay his draft cost
“This is another "miss small, hit big" proposition. At worst, Lemon will make modest contributions as a rookie. At best, he's a star from the get-go.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTrevor LawrenceJacksonville JaguarsAug 20, 2026
Trevor Lawrence to outplay his draft cost (being drafted as a low-end QB1)
“There's high-end QB1 potential here — as we saw late last season — and yet Lawrence is being drafted as a low-end QB1, according to average draft position (ADP).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trevor Lawrence to finish top 10 at his position, by passing yards
“the splendidly long-haired quarterback has finally become a top-10 quarterback”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
- Sleeper CallsColston LovelandChicago BearsAug 20, 2026
Colston Loveland to outplay his draft cost (the fourth round)
“If you miss out on Bowers in the second round, target Loveland in the fourth round.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJeremiyah LoveArizona CardinalsAug 20, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to outplay his draft cost (expert consensus ranking (ECR) as of this writing is RB13)
“Drafting Love is a great way to capitalize on an irrational fear... I still expect a big season from the explosive rookie.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kenneth Walker III to be 1st on the depth chart
“Walker should get a chance to be a workhorse for Andy Reid's Chiefs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kenneth Walker III to outplay his draft cost
“That should change with the arrival of big-play RB Kenneth Walker III. Walker should get a chance to be a workhorse for Andy Reid's Chiefs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsChuba HubbardCarolina PanthersAug 20, 2026
Chuba Hubbard to be 1st on the depth chart
“The projected starter is Chuba Hubbard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJonathon BrooksCarolina PanthersAug 20, 2026
Jonathon Brooks to outplay his draft cost (likely to be inexpensive in drafts)
“Brooks is likely to be inexpensive in drafts because of that terrifying injury history. But the potential payoff could be sweet if the talented Brooks stays healthy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKyle PittsAtlanta FalconsAug 20, 2026
Kyle Pitts to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Kyle Pitts could very well be Atlanta's No. 2 target-earner this season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock BowersLas Vegas RaidersAug 20, 2026
Brock Bowers to outplay his draft cost (anywhere in the back half of the second round in 12-team drafts)
“I'm willing to take Brock Bowers anywhere in the back half of the second round in 12-team drafts... The Raiders have an anemic wide receiver corps, so Bowers should be awash in targets this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- 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.
- Jon GrudenTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done.
- Joel CorryTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause.
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.
- 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.
- 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.