Pat Fitzmaurice· Aug 31, 2026
In a preseason Week 3 takeaways piece, Fitzmaurice sorted out numerous depth-chart battles — naming MarShawn Lloyd the Packers' lead back while Josh Jacobs is out, Emmett Johnson the Chiefs' top backup, Roman Wilson Pittsburgh's No. 3 receiver — and gave fantasy draft advice on several rookies.
“Lloyd sits comfortably atop the Packers’ RB depth chart while Jacobs is out”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
16 checkable claims — 12 depth chart calls, 2 fantasy bust calls and 2 sleeper calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 25 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 12 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 10.
Where this call stands in the room
MarShawn Lloyd · 2026 season15 calls from 9 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Jalen Nailor
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Makai Lemon
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Kaelon Black
- San Francisco 49ers
- Cyrus Allen
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Kendre Miller
- New Orleans Saints
- Germie Bernard
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tre Tucker
- MarShawn Lloyd
- Green Bay Packers
- Mike Washington
- Ja'Kobi Lane
- Baltimore Ravens
- Seth McGowan
- Indianapolis Colts
- Roman Wilson
- Emmett Johnson
- Josh Downs
- Oronde Gadsden II
- Los Angeles Chargers
16 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 CallsJalen NailorLas Vegas RaidersAug 31, 2026
Jalen Nailor to be 2nd on the depth chart
“WRs Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker played the most WR snaps with starter Kirk Cousins... it seems as if Tucker outranks Nailor”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 31, 2026
Makai Lemon to be 1st on the depth chart
“Lemon is expected to be Philadelphia’s primary slot receiver”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKaelon BlackSan Francisco 49ersAug 31, 2026
Kaelon Black to be 2nd on the depth chart
“it appears that Black is the top backup to starting RB Christian McCaffrey”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCyrus AllenKansas City ChiefsAug 31, 2026
Cyrus Allen to be 4th on the depth chart
“appears to be no better than No. 4 on the team’s WR depth chart”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKendre MillerNew Orleans SaintsAug 31, 2026
Kendre Miller to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Miller appears to outrank Audric Estime and will likely be the top backup to Travis Etienne early in the season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Germie Bernard to fall short of his draft cost (a late-round pick)
“it’s probably wise not to spend a late-round pick on Bernard in drafts”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTre TuckerLas Vegas RaidersAug 31, 2026
Tre Tucker to be 1st on the depth chart
“it seems as if Tucker outranks Nailor”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMarShawn LloydGreen Bay PackersAug 31, 2026
MarShawn Lloyd to outplay his draft cost (RB36 (93rd overall))
“If you have a fantasy draft this week, Lloyd should be a top-100 pick.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMike WashingtonLas Vegas RaidersAug 31, 2026
Mike Washington to outplay his draft cost
“Washington should be considered one of the top backup running backs in fantasy football... Washington could provide some stand-alone fantasy value”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJa'Kobi LaneBaltimore RavensAug 31, 2026
Ja'Kobi Lane to be 3rd on the depth chart
“appears to be locked in as the No. 3 receiver behind veterans Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsSeth McGowanIndianapolis ColtsAug 31, 2026
Seth McGowan to be 2nd on the depth chart
“appears to be the top backup to Jonathan Taylor, ahead of 2025 fifth-round pick DJ Giddens”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsRoman WilsonPittsburgh SteelersAug 31, 2026
Roman Wilson to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Roman Wilson, the Steelers’ third-round pick in 2024, is going to start the regular season as Pittsburgh’s third receiver, ahead of rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Emmett Johnson to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Kansas City waived Demercado Sunday, so Johnson is clearly the top backup to Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMarShawn LloydGreen Bay PackersAug 31, 2026
MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st on the depth chart
“Lloyd figures to start any games Jacobs misses... Lloyd sits comfortably atop the Packers’ RB depth chart while Jacobs is out”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJosh DownsIndianapolis ColtsAug 31, 2026
Josh Downs to be 1st on the depth chart
“indicating that Josh Downs is still going to be the Colts’ primary slot man”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Oronde Gadsden II to fall short of his draft cost
“Gadsden, a fantasy phenom over a sterling four-week run in 2025, doesn’t appear worthy of selection in 2026 fantasy drafts.”
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- 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.
- Jason McIntyreTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldMiss · 0Filling in for Colin Cowherd, McIntyre argued the 49ers' window is closed amid a brutal injury list and record travel, floated a Bijan Robinson trade to the Bears, predicted the Lions can win the NFC North, doubted Atlanta is even a playoff team, said Baker Mayfield's Tampa run ends after this season, and delivered a top-10 quarterback ranking.
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.
- 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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- 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.