# Derek Brown: Brown names five quarterbacks he targets in 2026 fantasy drafts, projecting Drake Maye as a top-five fantasy QB with QB1 upside, Jalen Hurts to bounce back into the top 3-5, Dak Prescott as a locked-in QB1 with top-five potential, Jaxson Dart as a strong QB1, and Trevor Lawrence as a locked-in QB1. **Claimed:** Aug 30, 2026 **Pundit:** Derek Brown — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/derek-brown **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/08/fantasy-football-5-must-have-quarterbacks-2026/ 7 checkable claims — 5 positional finishes and 2 sleeper calls — 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. 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. > Maye should be considered a strong top-five fantasy quarterback option with the ability to push Josh Allen for the QB1 spot if everything goes his way in 2026. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Jalen Hurts to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trevor Lawrence to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Trevor Lawrence - Verdict: not settled yet - **Drake Maye to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Drake Maye, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Hurts to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaxson Dart to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Jaxson Dart, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dak Prescott to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Drake Maye to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Drake Maye, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Jalen Hurts — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jalen-hurts - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Trevor Lawrence — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/trevor-lawrence - Drake Maye — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/drake-maye - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Jaxson Dart — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jaxson-dart - New York Giants — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/giants - Dak Prescott — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dak-prescott - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cowboys ## What others said about the same people - Mike Moraitis on DaRon Bland: Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/66b5ed7b-41bd-4f67-9b4d-16eae4675e67 (scored 100) - Jeff Kerr on Michael Carter: Kerr 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/922a9343-f96d-419d-8091-49b64dd471d9 (scored 0) - Chad Millman on New York Giants: Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/bd767876-d060-44de-aa5a-3fc87ff4e749 (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Philadelphia Eagles: Sullivan takes the Jaguars to beat the Browns, doubting Deshaun Watson, and takes the Eagles over the Commanders at home. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ac678dcb-56cb-48c5-912c-3e8c8522e681 (scored 100) - Garrett Podell on Dallas Cowboys: Previewing the Week 1 'Sunday Night Football' game, the piece picks Dallas to beat New York comfortably, arguing Prescott, Lamb and Pickens will exploit the Giants' cornerbacks while the Cowboys' defense contains Jaxson Dart. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/994d94d2-7aa5-4911-8404-9efbdfc22a46 (scored 35.71) - Gregg Rosenthal on Philadelphia Eagles: Rosenthal picked the Texans to reach the Super Bowl, the Eagles to win the NFC East and to beat Washington in Week 1, and the Dolphins to end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/506d4078-f2ff-4a40-bff4-b764e136a7e7 (scored 100) ## More positional finishes The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Brockman on Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c47d130c-5598-4cd0-b546-1121046b9166 (scored 100) - Ryan Tracy on Bryan Cook: Tracy argues the Chiefs should address edge rusher and defensive tackle via the draft and use free agency on running back and wide receiver; he names Brian Robinson as his target, expects Kenneth Walker III to re-sign with Seattle, thinks Nick Bolton-style veterans like Jerry Tillery, Derek Nnadi and Mike Pennel shouldn't return, believes Bryan Cook is a top-10 safety the Chiefs can't afford, and predicts a quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) will rocket up boards so more than one QB goes in the top 10. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/18bb787c-4f93-4c95-b8c2-02daeeffe823 (scored 0) - Pat Gustavson on Bijan Robinson: Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out his own coaching landing spots. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/06884586-5b21-40c8-9439-e303a3e8a806 (scored 75) - JP Acosta on Bijan Robinson: JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/660e3494-2b0b-415e-beb7-9e3bf3464e30 (scored 75) - Rich Eisen on Puka Nacua: Eisen defended his preseason call of the Packers reaching the Super Bowl, said the Chiefs will win the AFC West, called the Ravens the favorites in the AFC North, said the Colts are a playoff team, expected Denver to handle Cincinnati and the Giants to beat the winless Saints, and endorsed Puka Nacua as the league's best receiver. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e0759bb3-fd2c-400d-8ee9-f77e5c5fe3e6 (scored 91.67) - Chris Brockman on Puka Nacua: Brockman claimed the AFC North would send only the Steelers to the playoffs, that the Chiefs will win the AFC West, that Puka Nacua is the NFL's best wide receiver, and that the Jaguars are a top-eight team; he also had a preseason prophecy of the Ravens reaching the Super Bowl. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/224a89ec-12c3-4755-96d7-07ff3fcd3b25 (scored 91.67) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=derek-brown