Nathan Jahnke· Aug 10, 2026
In a general fantasy draft strategy piece, PFF names several running backs expected to reach high touch volume in 2026, calls Khalil Shakir a limited flex option while preferring Jayden Higgins as an upside pick, and touts Isaac TeSlaa as an upside stash who could become a top-36 fantasy receiver if a Lions teammate gets hurt.
“Instead, someone like Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans is a better pick.”
published in writing · Pro Football Focus · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls, 2 sleeper calls and 1 fantasy bust call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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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 CallsTyrone Tracy Jr.Aug 10, 2026
Tyrone Tracy Jr. to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Alvin Kamara, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Woody Marks are all backups now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsWoody MarksAug 10, 2026
Woody Marks to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Alvin Kamara, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Woody Marks are all backups now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsIsaac TeSlaaDetroit LionsAug 10, 2026
Isaac TeSlaa to outplay his draft cost
“Instead, consider drafting a player with potential upside, like Isaac TeSlaa.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAlvin KamaraAug 10, 2026
Alvin Kamara to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Alvin Kamara, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Woody Marks are all backups now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsKhalil ShakirBuffalo BillsAug 10, 2026
Khalil Shakir to fall short of his draft cost
“He is a fine bye-week fill-in or flex option in a deeper league, but he is not the kind of player who will win you your fantasy league.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJayden HigginsHouston TexansAug 10, 2026
Jayden Higgins to outplay his draft cost
“Instead, someone like Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans is a better pick. Higgins only finished 47th in fantasy points per game last season, but he is younger; there is more reason to expect his role to increase”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 86Sullivan picks the Bills 31-27 over the Lions and the Eagles to beat the Titans 27-17.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 90Dajani picks the Bills 36-30 over the Lions and the Texans to beat the Bengals 27-23 in Houston.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 83Dubin picks the Bills to win a shootout over the Lions 35-32 and takes the Patriots to beat the Steelers 21-13.
- John BreechScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 93Breech picks the Bills to beat the Lions 38-31 on Thursday night, floats the game as a Super Bowl preview, and takes the Cardinals to upset the Seahawks 20-17 in Week 2.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 90Prisco picks the Bills 36-30 over the Lions and has the Jaguars upsetting the Broncos 23-20 in Denver.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 86Unsigned CBS Sports preview of Bills-Lions picks Buffalo to win a high-scoring Thursday night game 35-31, and expects Larry Borom to step in as Detroit's starting right tackle for the injured Blake Miller.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Hribar previews the Week 1 Dolphins-Raiders game, calling Malik Willis a strong floor-based QB2 for fantasy, noting Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' starter and not a Week 1 streamer in 1QB leagues, and listing expected defensive starters for both teams.
- Randy GurziDepth Chart Calls · Jadarian PriceHit · 100Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.
- Warren SharpDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100Sharp argues Raiders rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is not ready to play, predicting he won't start Week 1 or Week 2 and that Kirk Cousins will be the Week 1 starter, with Mendoza sitting behind him for a long stretch.
- Greg AumanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Auman states Malik Willis will be Miami's Week 1 starting quarterback and the player the Dolphins build their season around, despite having only six career starts.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100The newsletter says Shedeur Sanders' preseason Week 2 start may have won him the Browns' starting quarterback job over Deshaun Watson, and that Kirk Cousins will lead the Raiders' offense in Week 1. It also asserts Florida is the best college basketball team heading into 2026-27.