Henry McKenna· Sep 1, 2026
In a set of 12 bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season, McKenna forecasts A.J. Brown leading the league in receptions, Caleb Williams topping 4,000 yards with a Bears playoff berth, the Lions going worst-to-first in the NFC North, Tyler Shough cracking the top 10 in passing, Aaron Donald reaching 14 sacks, Maxx Crosby leading the league in sacks, a Seahawks rookie back winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Dak Prescott winning MVP as Dallas makes the playoffs.
“They’re going to make the playoffs. And when that happens, Prescott’s numbers and win totals will put him in the MVP race.”
published in writing · Fox Sports · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 3 positional finishes, 2 award picks, 2 player season numbers, 2 playoff picks, 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 16 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Caleb Williams · 2026 season · passing yards4 calls from 3 pundits between 4,000 passing yards and 4,500 passing yards. Henry McKenna said 4,000 passing yards. the room's median is 4,000 passing yards. 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
12 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.
- Trade and Signing CallsMaxx CrosbySep 1, 2026
Maxx Crosby to move
“He might even get traded again before the deadline.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsSep 1, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“the Bears will see Caleb’s stats go crazy — and Chicago will make the playoffs again”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Shough to finish top 10 at his position, by passing yards
“I think he can jump into the top 10 in passing stats.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Javonte Williams to be 1st on the depth chart
“second-year Cowboys back Williams, who will likely be the uncontested RB1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Maxx Crosby to finish top 1 at his position, by sacks
“Crosby should be able to tee off on quarterbacks and land at the top of the leaderboard for sacks”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 1, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“The Lions are angry and hungry. And they’re simply way, way too talented to stay in the basement of the NFC North. (article headline: "Goes Worst To First")”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Sam Darnold to record 14 sacks
“It’s reasonable to think he could get 14 sacks this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to record 4,000 passing yards
“And it would make him the first Chicago Bears quarterback to top 4,000 passing yards. Ever.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksDak PrescottDallas CowboysSep 1, 2026
Dak Prescott to win MVP
“Prescott’s numbers and win totals will put him in the MVP race (article headline: "Who Wins MVP")”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysSep 1, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“They’re going to make the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksRay RiceSeattle SeahawksSep 1, 2026
Ray Rice to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“That should be enough for him to edge any of the receivers and/or No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
A.J. Brown to finish top 1 at his position, by receptions
“which is all the more reason to get him to the top of the receptions category in 2026”
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.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis 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.
- 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.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
- Pete MartuneacDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1.
- 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 positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-NjigbaHit · 100Brockman 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.
- Ryan TracyPositional Finishes · Bryan CookMiss · 0Tracy 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.
- Pat GustavsonPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75Gustafson 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.
- JP AcostaPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75JP 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.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Josh AllenMiss · 17Brockman opened with a series of week-one overreactions: Josh Allen repeats as MVP with Buffalo as the AFC's No. 1 seed, Bills-Ravens is both the game of the year and an AFC title game preview, Aaron Rodgers mirrors his 2021 MVP season with 40 TDs, the NFC Championship is played at Lambeau, the Colts are AFC South front runners, Cincinnati's slow start dooms them, Christian McCaffrey has a top-five MVP season, and the Chargers are the team to beat in the AFC West.
- Ndamukong SuhPositional Finishes · Nnamdi MadubuikeMiss · 0Asked who is the best at his position in the league today, Suh named Justin Madubuike, saying Jalen Carter is still too raw.