Derek Brown· Sep 8, 2026
In his Week 1 fantasy primer, Brown projects Rhamondre Stevenson to keep the Patriots' lead back role over TreVeyon Henderson, names roles for several receivers, calls for QB1/TE1 weeks from Tyler Shough, Brock Purdy, Juwan Johnson and Sam LaPorta, and flags a series of Week 1 starts and sits.
“Especially out of the gate for the 2026 season, I expect Rhamondre Stevenson to retain the lead back role.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
22 checkable claims — 8 fantasy bust calls, 6 depth chart calls, 4 positional finishes and 4 sleeper calls — 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 6 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 5.
Where this call stands in the room
Rhamondre Stevenson · 2026 season6 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Cade Otton
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Bryce Lance
- New Orleans Saints
- Juwan Johnson
- Sam LaPorta
- Detroit Lions
- Devaughn Vele
- Rashid Shaheed
- Seattle Seahawks
- TreVeyon Henderson
- New England Patriots
- Hunter Henry
- AJ Barner
- De'Zhaun Stribling
- San Francisco 49ers
- Terrance Ferguson
- Los Angeles Rams
- Cooper Kupp
- Brock Purdy
- Travis Etienne
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- Romeo Doubs
- Tyler Shough
- Jadarian Price
- George Kittle
22 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 CallsCade OttonTampa Bay BuccaneersSep 8, 2026
Cade Otton to outplay his draft cost
“He’s a viable streaming option for Week 1 against a Cincy defense that was ripped in half by tight ends last year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Bryce Lance to be 3rd on the depth chart
“With Jordyn Tyson injured to begin the season, I expect Bryce Lance to be in the starting trio of receivers for the Saints.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Juwan Johnson to finish top ? at his position, by fantasy points
“Johnson could easily post TE1 numbers in Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesSam LaPortaDetroit LionsSep 8, 2026
Sam LaPorta to finish top ? at his position, by fantasy points
“LaPorta doesn’t have the best matchup to open the season, but he could still get in the end zone and finish as a TE1 in Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBryce LanceNew Orleans SaintsSep 8, 2026
Bryce Lance to outplay his draft cost
“Lance is a deep league flex that could pay off handsomely in Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsDevaughn VeleNew Orleans SaintsSep 8, 2026
Devaughn Vele to outplay his draft cost
“Vele isn’t the sexiest name, but in deeper leagues he’s a viable flex play for Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rashid Shaheed to fall short of his draft cost
“I’m sitting him until we see what his usage looks like for 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
TreVeyon Henderson to fall short of his draft cost
“Sit Henderson this week if he’s active (he’s currently nursing an ankle injury).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Hunter Henry to fall short of his draft cost
“Henry is an easy sit this week.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsAJ BarnerSeattle SeahawksSep 8, 2026
AJ Barner to fall short of his draft cost
“Barner will have streamable moments in 2026, but this isn’t a week where it’s likely worth going this direction for your fantasy lineups.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to fall short of his draft cost
“I’m sitting him in Week 1. I need to see what his role is with all of the other talent around him.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Terrance Ferguson to fall short of his draft cost
“I would have to be desperate in a DEEP league to start Ferguson for Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cooper Kupp to fall short of his draft cost
“Kupp is a sit this week against a secondary that allowed the ninth-fewest yards per target”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Purdy to finish top ? at his position, by fantasy points
“Purdy could still post QB1 numbers this week, but it won’t be easy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Travis Etienne to be 1st on the depth chart
“He’s set to see a similar workload in 2026 with the Saints... Etienne should see enough volume that it won’t matter with Alvin Kamara already injured to begin the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rhamondre Stevenson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Unless Stevenson falls off in 2026, he should remain the lead back for New England after playing at least 57% of the snaps in nine of his 14 games played in 2025.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
TreVeyon Henderson to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Especially out of the gate for the 2026 season, I expect Rhamondre Stevenson to retain the lead back role.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Romeo Doubs to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Romeo Doubs should be A.J. Brown‘s running mate this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to be 4th on the depth chart
“De’Zhaun Stribling should operate as the third or fourth option in the 49ers’ passing attack in Week 1 with Mike Evans and George Kittle playing.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Shough to finish top ? at his position, by fantasy points
“Shough could post QB1 numbers in Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJadarian PriceSeattle SeahawksSep 8, 2026
Jadarian Price to outplay his draft cost
“Price could find plenty of running room in Week 1 ... (listed under Strong Starts)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
George Kittle to fall short of his draft cost
“Kittle could have another amazing season in 2026 for fantasy, but I’m willing to sit him in Week 1 with the playing time concerns and a tough matchup.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.
- Michael HanichDepth Chart Calls · Bud ClarkMiss · 0Hanich suggests Nick Emmanwori may miss Week 1 after ankle surgery, and that Noah Igbinoghene is making a strong case to be the Seahawks' Week 1 starting nickel, with Bud Clark also possibly stepping into a starting role if Emmanwori is out.
More fantasy bust calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Mike HarmonFantasy Bust Calls · Joe BurrowHit · 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.
- Ryan WormeliFantasy Bust Calls · Ashton JeantyMiss · 0Warmley predicted Kyle Pitts and Trey McBride both finish as top-five tight ends in the Cardinals-Falcons game, Justin Jefferson bounces back into the top 15 receivers, Quinshen Judkins finishes top 12 against Buffalo, the Ravens beat the Patriots, and the Raiders produce no startable fantasy players against Houston.
- Patrick ClaybonFantasy Bust Calls · Aaron RodgersHit · 100Claibon says Aaron Rodgers' deep-passing outburst was a one-week product of Baltimore's defense and won't continue, still endorses starting Jacoby Brissett in a tough Houston matchup, and picks Devon Achane as the top running back and AJ Brown as the top receiver for Week 15.
- Marcas GrantFantasy Bust Calls · Michael PittmanMiss · 0Grant calls Christian Watson the Packers' clear No. 1 receiver and RJ Harvey Denver's lead back, while labeling Mike Gesicki's and Tony Pollard's big weeks mirages to avoid; he also wants no part of Colts pass catchers with Philip Rivers signing. For Week 15 he picks Matthew Stafford as the top quarterback and Puka Nacua among the top receivers.
- Andrew EricksonFantasy Bust Calls · Garrett WilsonHit · 100Erickson reiterated his prediction that Jordan Mason will lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns, backed the Broncos to blow out the Titans in Week 1, called Garrett Wilson a sell and Jacoby Myers a buy-low, expects little from Cooper Kupp, and made several depth-chart calls (Thornton starting in New England, Myers as Vegas' No. 1 receiver, Croskey-Merritt eventually taking the Commanders' 'A back' role).
- Ryan WormeliFantasy Bust Calls · Zay FlowersMiss · 0Host Ryan Warmley endorsed Ricky Pearsall as a bet worth making and put his rookie-receiver capital in Tetairoa McMillan, while fading Zay Flowers at his cost and opting out of Marvin Harrison Jr.